Get To Know Lu Swart

Hello. I'm Coach Lu Swart I'm an experienced Life and Business Coach & Mentor. I have been coaching for a long time. It's my calling. And I've had the honor of working with hundreds of great people all over the world, helping them move forward in their lives and careers and achieve some amazing things.

To my life coaching practice I bring compassion, optimism, integrity, creativity, intuition, practicality, all my coaching and business skills, and a lifetime of experience. Over the years I've been; an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, publisher, human service worker, internet marketer, free lance writer and photographer, truck driver,rancher, investor, mom, wife, explorer, life enthusiast, and student of life. Looking back now, it seems all my life experiences were important, and in some way led me to coaching. They also allow me to better support and assist my clients.

I'm very grateful for the opportunities and experiences I've had. It hasn't always been easy, but in my experiences and life travels: I am achieving far more than I thought was possible when I started out.

In life coaching, I now do what I truly love. And I really enjoy seeing clients get inspired to do more than they thought possible. I have a very busy practice, usually working with over 30 clients, who come to coaching with a diversity of personal and professional interests.

I actively support the growth and raising of standards in the young profession of coaching. I am working hard daily to establish higher standards of training, credentialing and ethics within the coaching community. I am continually working on increasing my skills as a coach and an entrepreneur.

Personally, I've been married to my best friend, Dennis, for 20 years. He is still the person I most want to share my life with. Together we are the proud parents of five delightful children; whom have turned into wonderful young adults. I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the world with family, friends and a community that are very important to me. I believe in giving back to my community and enjoy my work as a Council member of the Lincoln County Community Health Council.

Life Coach Background Summary

Lu Swart: life coach
Memberships: ICF, NWCA, LCHC
Training: AAS Human Services, C.N.A. C.D.L.
Education: Coach Training Alliance, Utah State University, Flathead Valley Community College, Western Montana College, School of hard knocks.
Specialty: I work one-to-one with individuals, new coaches, executives, leaders and entrepreneurs helping them; gain clarity, align their passions and strengths, create a plan to get the results they want, and live inspired and balanced lives.
Top Values: Family, integrity, making a difference, growth and learning, nature and creativity.
Favorite Place: In Hawaii snorkeling
Favorite Activity: exploring life with family
Favorite Book: Can't choose I love to many of them
Favorite Meal: homemade with lots of family and friends there or a date night with my best friend my husband

What I Do

What I do for a living, is to help people find their strengths and passions, become inspired, believe in themselves, stay focused, and really find & go after their biggest dreams.

focus making a positive difference in life and in business, and through my volunteer work, coaching and workshops, I've had the pleasure of helping many hundreds of people overcome challenges and live happier, more abundant lives. It is the most rewarding work I've ever done. If you are interested, here's how I came to do what I do.

My Outlook on Life Coaching

I love coaching. It allows me to use my gifts and all my business and life-skills training and experience, and make a difference in people's lives. I really enjoy working with my Clients, and admire their determination to make the changes required to get the results they want.

I also believe that we all have unique skills and talents. It is deeply rewarding to coach Clients to discover their potential, and then help them apply their own special gifts - in their businesses and personal lives. I greatly appreciate the trust my Clients put in me. The gift that they give me by allowing me to share in their journeys to the top of their worlds.

I love to help people grow, re-discover their dreams, and create more value, wholeness, abundance and peace in their lives. I think we all have a purpose, here on earth, and I love to help people find theirs.

I consider myself very fortunate to have had the personal and business experiences I've had. In business I am proud of the many ventures I've been a part of. Personally, I really enjoy my family life, and along the way I have had some great adventures including; snorkeling in Hawaii with my mom, husband, my son and his beautiful bride, my experiences in coaching and owning "My Life at the Top", driving truck across the lower 48 and Canada, owning our own trucking company, owning since 2001 DenLu Distributing LLC, then adding Cruise Walker Travel agency in 2007 and then DenLu Publishing LLC in 2008. Starting my own paper that focuses on the positives "Surf N Fun News LLC". To me the most important thing anyone can do is to work each day of who you want to become and utilise each chance you have to make a positive difference in as many lives as is possible. To me it all forms part of who I am, and what I have to offer to you.

My Outlook on Life

I view life as a journey, rather than a destination. And it's a journey that changes us all. To the extent that we get in touch with, and honor, our deepest values, that journey will be fulfilling. In my practice I often tell the story of the young Russian Soldier manning a lonely guard post at a country crossroad. When the soldier is startled out of his night vigil by someone approaching his checkpoint, he leaps forth and shouts: "Halt". "Who are you?" "Where are you going?" and "How are you getting there?"

The stranger turns out to be the village priest, who is quickly recognized. Yet rather than accepting the soldier's apologies, the priest offers to pay the young man 30 rubles to ask those same questions every day.

The point of the story is that if you have answers to these questions frequently, you are attending well to your life. At its deepest level, "Who are you?" inquires as to why you are here on this earth? "Where are you going?" inquires into the vision you have for your life, or how you are going to use the gifts of time and talent you have. "How are you getting there?" inquires into your calling, the next step, or the best path forward.

Answering these questions for your life can provide a great deal of clarity, inspiration and a much greater sense that you are living the life you are meant to live.

For me, as relates to the "Who" question - I believe I am here to learn, love, laugh and be of service. As to the "Where Are You Going" question - I am committed to help make a more inspired world through coaching. As to the "How" - I coach, teach and lead people to find their inspiration their way to the top of their worlds.

I don't claim to have all the answers. That's not what coaching is about. But if you are ready to make some positive changes in your life -- and you choose to work with me -- I will be dedicated to help you get the results you want and find the answers that add the most value to your life.

Feel free to email me at MyLifeattheTop@gmail.com I will be happy to answer any questions and give you a free, no obligation, coaching demonstration.

Loving Life

Lu Swart

Wow! Tons of questions out there, please keep them coming in! You can write your questions to MyLifeAtTheTop@gmail.com or call me at 541-921-7281 I am on Pacific Time Zone.

Okay so lets answer a few frequently asked questions!

What is life coaching?

To answer this I would like to tell you 2 things: What life coaching is and what life coaching isn't.

Life coaching is:

• A practice of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals. Life coaches use multiple methods that will help clients with the process of setting and reaching goals in such a way that the client is in total control of the process.
• Focuses on effecting change in a client's current and future behavior.
  
• Coaches are "sounding boards" and "motivators".
• Clients are looking for a coach "to really listen to them and give honest feedback." The top three issues in which clients seek help are time management, career and business.

Life coaching is not:

• Targeted at psychological illness and coaches are neither therapists nor consultants.
• Does not focus on examining nor diagnosing the past.
  
• Does not delve into diagnosing mental illness or dysfunction.
  
• Clients are not looking for coaches to fix them.

How do I start the life coaching process?

You can take my coachablity quiz or contact me via email or phone to schedule an appointment for a Discovery session, which is the initial, structured session that forms the foundation of our work to follow (during the Discovery session we will explore values, focus areas and goals). Then we can decide what kind of schedule would work best for you.

How much does life coaching cost?

Prices for life coaching services and programs range from $40 to $450 per month, depending on how many sessions and how long they are. Typically people receive life coaching for 2 hours a month, divided up into either (4) 30 minute sessions per month or (3) 45 minute sessions per month or (2) 60 minute sessions. However, my services are flexible and can accommodate the wishes and needs of my clients. Some discounts may apply, as well.

All life coaching rates include updates and spot coaching via email between sessions. (Clients have found spot coaching to be a potent way to stay on track and remain motivated and connected with me.) Fees are always paid upfront on a monthly basis. Payment can be made by credit card or pay pal. Life coaching can pay for itself in increased productivity and quality of life.

How long does personal life coaching take?

I request that clients make a three month commitment to the coaching to give it a full chance to demonstrate its effectiveness. This is not a financial commitment but a psychological one. Therefore, the coaching might last only three months or it may continue on for a year or more. You will know when it is time to end.

What makes personal life coaching so convenient?

Life coaching can be conducted on the phone in the convenience of your home or office. Some local folks might opt to do it in person (my office is located in Dallas, Oregon). People have full and busy lives and some might not like not to deal with traffic or weather conditions; coaching on the phone is a viable option for them. Location is truly no obstacle.

How is life coaching different from counseling and psychotherapy?

Life coaching deals with the present and future. It does not examine the past but instead creates your future. The life coaching I provide is therapeutic, but it is not therapy. Counseling and psychotherapy usually deal with problems and healing from things that happened in the past.

I understand people and the dynamics of change. I am warm, wise and non-judgmental; I have good intuition and insight. And you benefit when I bring my skills and wisdom to the coaching table. When I coach, and the client is truly involved, personal growth happens.

How is personal life coaching different from consulting?
As a personal life coach, I help you find your own answers. People are more likely to take action if it is something they themselves have come up with and not been told to do. A consultant is an expert who dispenses advice and has all the answers. I do not give advice per se but do problem-solving and brainstorming with you.

Does life coaching focus on work or personal issues?
The life coaching that I provide is very holistic in that the person's entire life is considered grist for the coaching mill. Different parts of people's lives that might be worked on are: career, health/wellness, money, spiritual development, home, family, friends, fun/recreation, etc. Coaching helps you bring balance and satisfaction to all of the various parts of your life.

How do the words partner, collaborate, and alliance help define life coaching?
As a personal life coach trained in the co-active model, I view each and every client as creative, resourceful and whole. What this means is that you are capable of setting and reaching goals and finding your own answers. Count on me to ask the questions! Our coaching relationship is a designed alliance and you get to "design the coach" based on your own personality style and needs. Your dreams comprise the big agenda and you set the agenda for each coaching call. As your partner, I will always see and point out your greatness and potential, even when you lose sight of it.

Is personal life coaching just about action and doing?
Not at all. Life coaching is about growing and learning, too. It's about being all you can be, to coin a phrase. It's about evolving and becoming … and enjoying the process. That being said, it certainly involves planning, action and accountability (reporting back to me via email or in our next session). When I coach, I get people moving where they want to go based on their own agenda and what is important to them.