Inspiring
Change | Empowering Success 
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Pianist and DMA, Juilliard School
I initially began coaching because my boyfriend, a big fan of Astrid's, saw that I was confused about a lot of things regarding the direction my life was taking career-wise. He purchased five coachings for me for my birthday with the caveat that nothing was binding and that I could opt out any time if I felt uncomfortable. From my very first session, it was clear that Astrid is one of the most insightful and generous people I have met. I walked into this session last fall, thinking that I had come to a dead-end in my music career and that perhaps I would benefit from heading in a new direction. After only a couple sessions, I renewed my sense of love for music and began to see possibilities for myself that I never dreamed of. Astrid is extremely dedicated and focused in each session. One major breakthrough I have had is the idea that being authentic is a major value for me and that I have spent so much of my life trying to please others or do activities I feel like I "should" do. I feel like I have blossomed in so many ways this year, taking on creative projects that I might have been cautious of before, meeting incredible colleagues, and being excited about the future instead of fearful of it. Astrid has a great gift of seeing the beauty in each person and allowing their strengths to come through.
— JC, New York, NY
Composer
Astrid has turned around the way I look at my career in the most extraordinary way. I used to think that the professional part of what I do was very separate from the creative and deeply personal aspects of being a composer. Going after professional opportunities to get my music out there felt to me like a very daunting task--one that I found a little distasteful because it felt like "selling myself." Astrid really helped me realize that building a career has to come from the most genuine part of myself--in the same way as building a piece. With this understanding, the professional world looks much less scary to me now, and I'm able to reach out to my professional network with the courage of my conviction, and with the kind of personal investment and care that makes professional experiences deeply meaningful. Career building is about believing in what you do, and its validity; it is about communication and courage. It only works if it feels true to who you are.
With her supportive and positive attitude combined with her incredible sensitivity and intelligence, Astrid has created for me a wonderful safe space to discover how I want to develop my goals from the inside out. I have found in her a true kindred spirit as well as a powerful ally and coach.
—Hannah L,. New York, NY
Attorney and ??????
There seem to be an infinite number of resources available to people looking to make career changes these days, and I think I looked into most of them before I met Astrid. Numerous books advised me to do what I loved. That sounded good, except that I didn’t know what I loved. A career test provided some insight and long lists of possibly compatible jobs, but ultimately directed me to do what I loved - back to square one. Another career coach, dispensing with frivolities like love, laid out a practical approach to a career path that objectively made some sense, but I knew in my heart that I would hate it. I felt deficient for not knowing what I loved, unreasonable for rejecting a sensible path that didn’t appeal, and in general, completely hopeless about my situation.
When I began coaching with Astrid, I was struggling with a strong feeling that there was some ‘perfect’ thing out there for me to do, if only I could think of what it was. I had a vague idea that finding the answer would involve going through the racks of possible jobs and holding each one up in front of the mirror to see if it might fit, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that we would take a more bespoke approach. There would be no squeezing me into a readymade career in this process - instead, we would be focusing on my strengths, values, work style, etc., to think about what might be right for me. Astrid’s willingness to cheerfully abandon any exercise that wasn't working for me kept me comfortable with everything we did, and helped me to get the most out of the process.
The work we did helped me to form a foundation for understanding why certain things, career-related or otherwise, are a better choice for me than others. With Astrid’s warm encouragement, I have also started to reconnect with the creative, less self-limiting side of myself that I feared was permanently lost. I feel more like myself than I have in a long time, and I have a career direction that I am looking forward to exploring. This may or may not turn out to be the ‘perfect thing‘ that I was looking for, but I no longer feel the pressure of that search; rather, I am hopeful that by taking actions that are consistent with my character, staying open to the possibilities that arise with each action, and correcting my course as necessary, I will enjoy the process just as much as whatever result I reach. I am grateful to Astrid for helping me to readjust my direction and my outlook, and I highly recommend her services to anyone who feels lost, stuck or anything less than wholeheartedly enthusiastic about what they are doing.
— Andrea K., New York, NY
Cellist and music entrepreneur
A good friend recommended I see Astrid because I was stuck. Stuck. Stuck. Stuck, and suffering. She has helped me parse through all the detail in what seemed panoramic hopelessness. She has worked in a distinctly different way than my psychotherapist, more pragmatically, and the combination of the two ... has been, for me, very effective. I have made tectonic shifts in the way I see myself, my place in the world and how I move through it. There have been some very painful changes and realizations, but most important, I have found a source for joy, hope and energy, undiluted by difficulties, so that I actually feel better, and stronger. This is my testimony to Astrid.
— TM, Rhode Island
Educator
Astrid Baumgardner is a true facilitator, and in that capacity she has guided me to discover the values and deeply held beliefs essential to my happiness and fulfillment in the workplace, wherever it may be....Through our coaching sessions, I was able to draw out and fortify my self-confidence, without which my ambitious relocation would not previously have been conceivable. When you are determined to strive diligently for change in your life, Astrid will be there to help you to create a roadmap to navigate and overcome every obstacle you encounter throughout your life-altering transition.
— MH, New York, NY and Tokyo, Japan
How to Get Unstuck - Tap Into Your Ideal Self As Your Secret Weapon For Success
Where are you in your life right now? Maybe you have a vision of where you want to be down the road. Maybe you have some ideas and are not sure which direction you want to go in. And maybe you have no idea at all and are worried about the fact that you can't figure it all out. How would you like a powerful tool to get you unstuck?
1. Your Ideal SelfNo matter where you are in your life and your goal-setting process, it helps to take a moment and reflect on what you are like when you are at your best. Think of yourself when you are totally in flow, doing what you do best, feeling incredibly confident and joyful. Don't you feel as though you could do anything you put your mind to?
That's because you have just tapped into the Ideal You. Let's get to know your Ideal Self a little better.
First of all, start thinking about a few experiences that you have had where you have felt incredibly joyful, confident and in the flow. These experiences can come from your creative life, your career, your relationships, your leadership positions--anything where you feel you are at your best.
Once you have a few of these experiences in mind, describe what you are like when you are at your best and in the flow. Make a list of these qualities.
Think about what are you like in terms of your
• Favorite personality traits
• Artistic talents
• People skills
• Leadership skills
• Thinking skills
• Organizational skills
Now ask yourself the following questions:
• How do you describe your attitude when you are at flow?
• What do you feel like when you are at flow?
Write these down. This is the Ideal You, the person you are when you are using your favorite strengths and living your passions. And, chances are that when you are experiencing joy, you are honoring your top values. Don't you feel better now that you can see yourself at your best?
In a recent workshop that I did with a talented group of young professional pianists, here is the composite list of qualities that came up as the Ideal Self:
Creative
Loving
Risk-taking
Present
Focused
Living in the moment
Accountable
Empathetic
Productive
Confident
Positive
Committed
Inspiring
Passionate
Energetic
Enthusiastic
Consistent
Authentic
Generous
Curious
How does your list compare with this one?
Once you have your long list, pick the 3-5 words that represent you at your absolute, authentic best. You might even want to give your Ideal Self a name.
2. How your Ideal Self can help you get unstuck
Your Ideal Self can be a powerful ally to help you anytime you feel stuck.
Suppose you do not have a good idea of what you want right now. And it is getting you down because you worry all the time about the fact that you do not have a direction. Go back to your Ideal Self. Think about what makes you feel the most alive. What situations allow you to live like your Ideal Self? What is working for you in life right now? Where do you want to be? That should give you some clues on where to direct your efforts. Maybe you need to go back to school. Perhaps you need to acquire some new skills or expand your knowledge base through reading, networking or meeting some new people. If you are in school and still unsure of your direction, what courses or mentors or colleagues can help you get the clarity?
Listen to your Ideal Self and stop worrying because worrying only adds to the confusion. Once you stop worrying, you will find yourself a lot freer to take in information about what works best for you. Before you know it, you will gain clarity and have the tools and the information to set the right goals. Again, your Ideal Self will let you know when that moment is and what goals are the right ones for you.
Or what if you are unsure about a decision? Again, ask your Ideal Self. Chances are that if you are listening closely to what makes you feel you best and you honor that best self, your Ideal Self will help you to make a choice that reflects your values and your best interests.
Enjoy how great it feels to be in alignment with the real you--Your Ideal Self!
(C) Astrid Baumgardner 2010
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I would be delighted if you should wish to reprint (for free) any part of this article in your newsletters, blogs, websites, and message boards. Please include the following attribution:
Astrid Baumgardner, JD, PCC is a professional life coach and lawyer, Coordinator of Career Strategies and Lecturer at the Yale School of Music and the founder and President of Astrid Baumgardner Coaching + Training, which is dedicated to helping musicians, lawyers and creative professionals take charge of their lives and experience authentic success. In addition to her work at YSM and her individual coaching practice, Astrid presents workshops at leading conservatories and law firms on topics including Career Planning, Goal-Setting, Time Management, Dynamic Communication, Conflict Management and Personal Branding and Networking. She is the author of numerous articles on the various aspects of how to achieve and live authentic success.