We recently connected with Zeina Kronfol and have shared our conversation below.

Zeina , appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

When people think about working with a Career Coach, they typically think that they just need tactical guidance (ie: resume updates, interview preparation, etc.). Making these types of external changes are good short term, but will only get you so far, especially if you are considering making a career change or transition. In order to really move the needle and help my clients get from where they are to where they want to be, I take a holistic approach, guiding them through the “inner work” needed to identify any blocks that may be holding them back so that they can achieve long lasting results. This opens them up to a world of possibilities.

That being said, it’s not uncommon for our coaching sessions to cover topics that may feel seemingly unrelated to my clients’ careers, but when you think about it, everything is connected. My clients are always happy to know that they’re in a laid back and confidential environment, so they can truly open up and do the deep-digging necessary to identify their problems and help them gain clarity on potential solutions. We are constantly inundated with unsolicited feedback and advice on what we should do with our careers and how to live our lives, so I strive to create a space where my clients can quiet any outside noise and put the spotlight on themselves, in order to gain clarity on what it is that they want to be, do and have, as it relates to their personal and professional lives.

While many people find themselves struggling in one area of their lives and thriving in another, there can be underlying patterns that are present in both that may not be immediately apparent because they show up differently. Once you are able to heal or overcome any barriers in one area, there is often a domino effect that will in turn resolve and take care of the other(s).

My clients who have experienced a layoff are a great example. They are anxious to find a new job, but likely haven’t worked through any of the trauma that the unexpected release from their old job has caused. Instead of being encouraged to address this loss of safety/security, while determining their next move, much of society instead pushes them to simply “get over it” and hurry to find a new job. By addressing the root cause, they are able to take the next step in their career without stringing along any unnecessary baggage collected along the way.

My clients continuously report that they find our sessions to be “therapeutic,” giving them the “clarity and confidence” to pursue promotions, change jobs, and even start and grow their own businesses. From employees to entrepreneurs, I work with a diverse range of people at different stages in their careers. All that I ask is that my clients are open to introspection so they can develop a strong sense of self-awareness, learn how to listen to their intuition, and trust the process.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Absolutely! Let’s start with the boring stuff. I’m an ICF-Certified Career Transitions Coach and Consultant, who takes a holistic approach to helping people navigate career changes. Whether you’re looking to gain more confidence and grow in your existing role, switch jobs/industries, or even take a leap and transition into starting your own business and working for yourself, my job is to guide and support you every step of the way.

In college, I had big dreams of working for the United Nations (UN) with a double major in Political Science and International Studies, and a minor in Global Cultures. Everything changed my junior year, when I fell into marketing, and continued down that path after graduation (queue my first “career pivot”). I went on to pursue a Masters in Communication, and during my first job in advertising, I realized that while I loved what I was doing, I felt like there was something more out there for me. The only problem was I had no idea what.

Because the type of help I needed didn’t exist at the time, I spent over 12 years making external changes (switching jobs, moving to different states, etc.) thinking that I just needed the “right” job/boss/opportunity to feel happy and fulfilled. But even at the height of my career, when I was working in an industry that couldn’t have been a better fit for my passions, traveling the world while doing what I loved, I realized that I was still feeling miserable and lost. I didn’t know what to do, or who to talk to. And I felt completely stuck and alone.

After years of being on this hamster wheel, I made the best decision ever — I started investing in myself. As a result of heavily diving into personal development, holistic healing modalities, and working 1-on-1 with my own Coaches, I decided I wanted to dedicate myself to guiding and inspiring others. I completed several training and certification programs, and decided to specialize in Career Transitions Coaching and Consulting, where I now help people navigate their own personal and professional transitions, in the way I wish I had access to years ago.

My own career pivoting process led me to not only change careers, but also exit the corporate world and start my own business (something I never dreamed of doing). The personal and professional growth that I have undergone since I started coaching and working for myself has been beyond anything I thought possible. I’m so thankful to have walked the walk myself, so that I am better equipped to serve a very diverse group of globally-based clients.

I currently offer 1-on-1 individualized coaching/consulting for private clients, as well as growth and development coaching/consulting for individuals and teams within businesses and organizations. I am also planning on offering group coaching and retreats in the future.

Common themes and topics covered with my clients include:
-Building confidence
-Overcoming limiting beliefs
-Achieving conflict resolution
-Dissecting imposter syndrome
-Establishing and setting boundaries
-Gaining career clarity / navigating career transitions

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There are a handful of societal and cultural beliefs I’ve had to unlearn throughout the process of not only switching career paths, but more so from exiting the corporate world and becoming self-employed. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the years, that will probably hit home for a lot of people, is that your worth is not defined by your job.

No matter where you are in your career, it’s imperative that you are able to uncouple your worth from your career. Many people end up learning this unintentionally or abruptly (ie: as a result of a layoff). Your job is simply what you do. Nothing more, nothing less. To a business, the harsh reality is that you are just a number. It doesn’t matter if you’re the CEO, most junior/most senior, most “valuable” based on sales, knowledge, etc. Everyone is replaceable when it comes to business, due to its inherently transactional nature. While jobs may come and go, it’s important to remember that you are a unique individual, who is irreplaceable to your family, friends, and society as a whole.

Alternatively, if you own your own business, and you ARE the business (ie: you’re a service provider), it can be difficult to separate the two at times (trust me, I know firsthand). You are likely much more invested in your business’s growth and success, and it may feel like that’s a direct reflection of who you are, but it’s not. You will never be able to please everyone, and that’s ok. You can’t control your environment and those around you, all you can do is control yourself and how you react to the situations and experiences that life throws at you.

As we find ourselves trying to navigate big life transitions, or up-leveling, as I like to call it, you may find that you have outgrown some of the people and environments you were once comfortable with. Quite often, we will even find ourselves getting in our own way. Once you begin to give yourself permission to be who you are and have what you want, people and situations will begin to fall off as you continue to up-level, and more aligned people and experiences will start to connect with you. Long-lasting change starts from within, so once you start working on yourself, everything else will follow and fall into place.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

When people think of working with a Career Coach, they tend to expect a very formal and impersonal relationship – one where they have to dress up and put their best face forward, as if they were interviewing for a job – but that’s just not my personality or how I work. I like to serve my clients in a similar fashion to how I like to receive help, and pride myself on being very transparent, relatable, and funny (laughter really is the best medicine).

As someone who identifies and being both an introverted extrovert and empath, I know firsthand how hard it can be to trust and open up to people. I’m passionate about being able to cultivate a “come as you are” environment for my clients, where they don’t have to worry about external perceptions and judgements, and are able to fully focus on letting their guard down, opening up, and pushing past any obstacles or limiting beliefs that have been getting in their way.

Much of my Coaching and Consulting style stems from my own personal experiences (including working in the corporate world, switching career paths/jobs, leaving the corporate world to start my own company and work for myself, entrepreneurship, etc.), as well as having worked with my own set of Coaches, Mental Health Practitioners and Holistic Healers. Ensuring the psychological safety for my clients, is of the utmost importance and a crucial element to being an impactful coach.

My goal in our time together is to connect with you, the real you. The person that may live deep within you but has been afraid to come out for fear of shame, judgment, etc. that you may have received from friends, family, and society. I want to know your hopes and dreams, help you to realize your full potential, and support you in giving yourself the permission to turn your dreams into reality.

Since I have started sharing my own personal struggles and experiences, I’ve had many people connect with after hearing me speak on podcasts, seen me on social media, or at virtual and live events/conferences. I’ve found that when I share my stories, it allows others not only to relate, but more importantly inspires them to get into the driver’s seat of their lives and start to create a life they don’t want to retire from.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.searockcoaching.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/searockcoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/searockcoaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeinakronfol/
• Other: Download your complimentary Career Clarity workbook: https://www.searockcoaching.com/freebie Stay in the know about upcoming events and speaking engagements: https://linktr.ee/searockcoaching

Image Credits
Diana Davis @ddgoesdigital ddgoesdigital.com