Meet Michelle Woods of Woods Life Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Woods. 

Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to give back to my community. I was actively involved in my youth group, community service, and eventually even traveled internationally to work on a community-based building project. I’ve always felt my purpose was in helping others. Fast forward to my early 20’s and I decided to pursue a career in education. I became a classroom teacher working with high school English as a Second Language students. I loved the work but wanted to have a broader impact on education. After finishing my Masters in Education, I started working as a curriculum writer and eventually instructional coach. Coaching quickly became my passion. I realized that I had an uncanny talent for helping teachers understand the systematic breakdown of their curriculum in order to help them improve student outcomes. My success as an instructional coach generated the attention of district leaders and I was hired as a consultant on several new initiatives. My career was on track to take the “normal” career path for educators which was school administration. Problem was I didn’t want to. Instead, I wanted to pursue Leadership Coaching. So, in 2016 I enrolled in an Authentic Leadership Coaching Program in Raleigh with the intention of “just improving my coaching.” I had no idea it would change the trajectory of my life. 

At some point in my coaching certification program, I realized I could actually be a full-time Leadership & Life Coach. More importantly, it became clear that through the power of coaching I could continue to make a profound impact on my community. So, in January 2017 I took the first step and started my own coaching business Woods Life Coaching. Today I help post 40 women stuck in Midlife Misery find fulfillment and meaning in their lives again. I use the same approach I learned while working with teachers. I help my clients start with the end in mind by getting clear on their goals and defining what fulfillment means to them. From there we set up systems that build confidence around the actions and goals they make. With accountability and 1:1 life coaching, I help my clients design the life they want. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ha. Definitely not smooth. My coaching and the work I do with women stems from my own struggles with finding fulfillment in my life. I was married young…like 20…and never got a chance to really live out my dreams. In my early 30’s I had two beautiful boys and a loving husband, but I didn’t feel connected to my purpose anymore. I had wanted to live and teach internationally most of my life but it wasn’t an option anymore. My husband made it clear he didn’t want to and I felt stuck. I put my dreams in a closet and quickly shut the door. Problem was those emotions still lingered. As a result, I started to hold a lot of resentment. Eventually, I made some really bad choices that almost ruined my marriage. 

It was shortly after this that I started the coaching certification program. Raleigh Coaching Academy and the Authentic Leadership Coaching Program was a vehicle for my personal healing. It wasn’t a program where you put in a specified number of instructional hours, got a certificate, and walked out the door. Oh no. This was a spiritually transformational process of learning the power of coaching and also learning how to be that conduit for others. In this process I was able to discover my own meaning for fulfillment, how I wanted to show up for myself, and what I wanted to create that would lead to my happiness. It was freakin’ hard work, but it was possible. 

We’ve been impressed with Woods Life Coaching, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner of Woods Life Coaching. I focus on helping post 40 women stuck in midlife misery stop fantasizing about a life they wanted in the past and find fulfillment right now. 

My signature coaching program is called “Midlife Design: From Misery to Meaning.” This coaching program is hands down transformational for my clients. What makes my process unique is the care I take in helping women get really clear on what fulfillment means to them, how they want to show up for themselves and their long-term goals. I take a design approach. We start with the end in mind and work backwards to create a tangible Midlife Design Life Map that is fluid and changeable but gives the client a visual representation of where they want to go. We use this as a springboard to create celebratory milestones and checkpoints for accountability. I embed bi-weekly 1:1 coaching sessions to support the client’s self-discovery. The client also gets customized & co-created homework that feels right for them and their personal growth. 

From a client’s perspective when they complete “Midlife Design: From Misery to Meaning” they walk aways with 3 things: Clarity – They’re clear about the life they want; Confidence- Their actions and baby steps toward their goals-built confidence knowing that what they want is possible; Contentment- Their personal victories and new confidence spark a light inside them. They love who they are becoming and they’ve found meaning again. 

The application for this program can be found on my website at https://woodslifecoaching.com/midlifedesign 

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Life and Leadership Coaching is a growing industry. I am proud to be a member of the International Coaching Federation and the local Raleigh Chapter because of the global impact coaching has on personal and professional development. 

As the owner of Woods Life Coaching, I want to continue serving women and supporting them in their personal growth. My focus is on growing my company so that I am able to commit to this work full-time in the next five years. 

Contact Info:

• Email: woodslifecoaching@gmail.com
• Website: www.woodslifecoaching.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodslifecoaching/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodsLifeCoach

Image Credits:
Allison Nichole Photography