Inspiring
Change | Empowering Success 
Follow Astrid on
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
Time Management from the Core: Overcome Your Inner Obstacles to Effortless Use of Your Time
What comes up to interfere with your effective use of your time? Perhaps you have heard yourself think the following thoughts:
“I can’t say no to this person." so you commit yourself to an activity even though you do not have the time to do it.
“I hate this task and don’t want to do it and I feel overwhelmed.” and then you put off doing the task, only to find yourself rushing to get things done in the last minute.
“I have to do it perfectly or else....” and then you worry and perhaps procrastinate or spend incredible amounts of time getting something done.
These thoughts represent the inability to set boundaries, procrastination and perfectionism. Inevitably, they will lead you to lose countless hours that could be better spent on the things that you want to accomplish. By tackling these three inner blocks, you can achieve a much greater sense of mastery over yourself and your time. Let’s take a closer look.
Just Say No
One reason that you may not have a lot of time to do things that you really want to do is that you are saying yes to other people and their activities. In fact,”Just Say No” is quite challenging because we do not want to disappoint people whom we like or miss out on “all that cool stuff” that is out there. So what can we do about this?
First, if your priorities are compelling and fit your values and represent genuine heart-felt choices, it is easier to say no. Moreover, knowing that you are in charge of your priorities and can shift them at the appropriate time is also helping in turning down another commitment.
And when you say no, do so without apology because you are honoring your choices! Just remember that saying yes to “them” is saying no to you.
Procrastination
I have heard many high-achieving people say that they are “lazy” because they procrastinate. In my experience, these “lazy” folks are procrastinating for a reason. By examining why you procrastinate, you can tackle the obstacle head-on and save many hours that you would otherwise spend putting off those very tasks that you are avoiding!
The next time you find yourself avoiding a task, look for the reason behind your procrastination.
1. I hate the task.
Does this task fit into my short-term or long-term goals? If the answer is no, no wonder you are avoiding the task! Honor your commitment this time and say no next time.
2. I feel overwhelmed. Where do I even start?
Break down the project into discreet parts. Think of the first step in the project. Usually that is enough to jump-start your activity.
3. I don’t know how to do this.
High-achievers do not like not knowing how to do something! That’s okay. Use the occasion to learn how to tackle something that you do not know. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you need to learn a new skill?
- Do you need additional information and/or more research?
- Do you need to consult someone for advice or input?
- Do you need some quiet thinking time to remember how you solved a similar challenge in the past?
4. I can’t decide.
This is another area where knowing your values and goals comes in. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What is my big-picture goal and where does this task fit in?
- What values am I honoring? What values am I ignoring?
Perfectionism
A third reason that high-achievers lose control over their time comes from perfectionism. On the one hand, some people spend countless hours on a project thinking that if only they work hard enough, it will be perfect. On the other hand, there are those who avoid doing things out of the fear that it will never be perfect. Either way, you lose a lot of time.
The next time you find yourself in the downward spiral of perfectionism, here are some things that you can do:
1. Ask yourself what is at stake and how important is it for a particular task to be perfect. Not all tasks are equal!
2. How well is being a perfectionist working for you? If you find yourself losing sleep, losing friends, feeling stressed because you are devoting yourself to the illusion of perfection, maybe it is time to stop.
3. Set a time limit for a project. Once you have hit the deadline, STOP.
4. Reframe your thoughts: instead of thinking that something has to be perfect, think “excellence” or “be my best” or “share my gift”. That will reduce the pressure and help you to feel less stress around the task.
* * *
By tackling these three big areas head-on, you will begin to experience a greater sense of mastery over time and see what it is like to manage yourself effectively and effortlessly around time!
© Astrid Baumgardner 2011
REPRINT
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.