It feels like a privilege that I finally have the opportunity to praise and speak to the success of…read moremy experience with Plum Coaching--I called Lora expecting a fairly transactional conversation about costs and expectations, but I decided to move forward because she genuinely listened to the specifics of my situation. In summary: I was seeking new opportunities in my field of UX design, had built an impressive portfolio but was consistently failing to communicate my work in a way that resonated with hiring managers. I had gone through 12 unsuccessful interviews before I decided it was time to seek some professional and objective advice. What I appreciated most about the mock interview with Lora was that she never tried to steer me away from being myself...she gave me practical tools to make sure that I was able to speak on my own behalf and recognize the intention behind every interview question. Long story short, I found myself with an offer letter about three weeks after our session in a role that is perfect for my professional development. If you're in a tough or confusing spot, don't make decisions based on the cost of services--just find someone who you trust that understands your goals and needs and it will pay off a thousand times in the future. Plum served that purpose for me and I can't reccomend their services highly enough.

I attended Plum Consulting's "You Can Use LinkedIn and Love It" workshop, and loved it. Lora is…read morehigh energy and carried the room, keeping everyone interested and engaged. It is a workshop, so you really are encouraged to bring a laptop and check things out for yourself as she walks you through how you want your profile to appear, how to contact people you are already connected to, and how to make new connections particularly to the people who make hiring decisions. I think you'll get more out of the workshop if you are able to do some homework beforehand, like get a Linked In account, and perhaps read Lora's blog posts. I liked that she asked folks to say what they were hoping to get out of the workshop, and then circled back at the end to make sure these things were covered. People came with many issues: out of the workforce for a decade, new to the Seattle area, trying to transition to a new industry, etc. I felt Lora was deft at handling these particular concerns with strategies that could be used through Linked In. I also have to say that I'm very familiar with software. I'm very familiar with web sites. But, I was not familiar with how recruiters and hiring managers used Linked In, and it was helpful to see things from their perspective. So, if you are holding off on doing this because you think it's just software and just a website, I think you'll still find value. This workshop was the first thing I did with Plum Consulting and Lora, but it left me with a favorable impression of the tenacity to expect from their other services.

Kathryn is INCREDIBLE at what she does and came into my life at a time that I really needed her…read more Her attitude towards career trajectories and goals is refreshingly holistic. None of the cookie-cutter personality-test-like career indexes in this work, because Kathryn understands that career paths like life are chaotic, full of unpredictable elements like fate and luck, and she will help you WORK with all the unpredictability coming at you to best leverage your chances at finding your dream career and next dream job. With her generosity and wisdom Kathryn's help seriously changed my life over a course of working together on and off for several years. Could not be more happy or grateful that I found her!

I reached out to Kathryn when I was looking to change jobs. I talked to a few coaches before…read moredeciding to work with Kathryn. I liked her approach and communication style. I think that's very important when selecting a coach. I had made a lot of assumptions about the next step in my career. Kathryn helped me explore the rational and logic behind these assumptions. I learned just how much they were limiting my options. That was a big eye opener for me. Further, she pushed me to think about many other important factors about my next job that I was not really considering. Once we figured out the type of roles that excited me, we focused on tactical strategies to reach out to potential employers. My networking skills were already good, but she helped sharpen them further. Last week, I started a job that I am very excited about and I am very thankful to Kathryn for all the help.

Stephanie is a phenomenal personal trainer who I recommend highly…read more I had reached the point in my life that after decades sitting in front of a screen, pushing around a mouse and typing on a keyboard I realized that I needed serious help with my strength, mobility, flexibility and overall fitness. After a lengthy first visit where Stephanie probed in depth regarding my various conditions (arthritis, compressed lumbar disks, autoimmune disease, etc); we started working together several months ago. I could not be more impressed with her comprehensive knowledge of physiology. In addition, she is incredibly observant of the various "misalignments" all over my body - e.g. neck, shoulder, hips - and then proceeding right into exercises to address those challenges. It is amazing how she can have me do what would appear to be simple moves that turn out to be incredibly challenging and therapeutic. If you are considering engaging a personal trainer I highly commend Custom Fitness and Stephanie Wayt.

Stephanie, who works with our daughter, is one of those rare people who actually care about what…read morethey do and try to exceed an already high bar they set for themselves. It comes from a place of passion to genuinely help her clients. That makes her look at the well being of the client overall and she is able to tailor her work accordingly! It includes understanding what motivates a person, how to push them just the right amount to make the seemingly impossible things possible. She does make it look easy and does it with a great attitude. Of course, all this is in addition to her superlative competent skill as a trainer. Glad to have found her for our daughter!

I originally signed up for one of the many courses that Context International offers on the…read moresuggestion of a close friend. I didn't know what to expect, but decided I would give it a shot. What I found was an incredible set of tools and methods to be more effective in my every-day life. By understanding and focusing on what is most important to me, I have been able to combine my passion for technology with my love of working with people in a tech management role at an early-stage startup. I have since taken a variety of other courses from Context and each one has been incredibly valuable, helping me understand what motivates me, the experiences I want in life, and the legacy I want to leave behind. I would highly recommend these courses to anyone who wants more out of life.

I've taken a number of courses from Context and have received tremendous value from them…read more I took the first course when I was in college. I'd say that my experience in college was pretty typical - world of possibilities and a lot of confusion on what road to take. Through the tools and exercises in the courses, I gained a lot of clarity on what I wanted in both my professional and personal life. Having that clarity was awesome, but what really sealed the deal for me was that the courses were structured to help me achieve my goals and sustain lasting results. The most recent course I've taken is Presentation Dynamics and I would highly recommend that course to anyone. The instructor, Jim Sorensen, is an incredible public speaker and teacher. He takes a very unique approach to teaching public speaking that is extremely effective for all personality types. If you are a professional looking to get a taste of what Context has to offer, this is the course to take! Amazing!

I've thought for awhile about the resume support I received. In some ways it was helpful. In some…read moreways it was counter productive. Ultimately, both with a temp agency and a recruiter I was given the opposite advice of this service and had to redo my resume entirely twice. The person I was working with no longer lived in Washington and I wonder if not having someone local impacted the advice I was getting. In the end, the most important way to get a job is not a resume. The service I got was good enough but it was very expensive. I think relying on my existing networks and getting support from friends and peers and mentors would have saved me money. If you can't afford this service and you are feeling worried about your resume -- exhaust all other free and lower cost resources before this one. It's a vulnerable time when you're looking for a job. Be safe out there. Reaching out to your existing networks and community is always going to be the best way to get a job.

Amie & SIP do great work. I had a fantastic experience being educated and working alongside their…read moreteam to revamp my resume and improve my online presence. Their process is thorough and constructive, which is important when you're overhauling your entire life's work. I completely overhauled my resume with their guidance and was more than pleased with the results.

I have been working with Jody for almost a year. I am a lower school teacher and an owner of two…read moresmall businesses. I was overwhelmed, lost in my purpose and direction in my life. Something was holding me back from living the life I wanted. I didn't feel fulfilled as a person and had no idea where to begin figuring that out. Then Jody came into my life and in this short time of working with her, I have grown to be more confident, more loving and accepting person with others and more importantly, with myself. I am getting closer to the life I want. Jody is a perceptive listener and coach. She has helped me navigate difficult moments with self acknowledgement and acceptance that they happened and forgive myself. And she gave me a safe space to unravel and unpack what some of those traumas meant for me. I have been able to heal from years of guilt and shame. With Jody's coaching, I have found clarity in the stories I tell myself. The stories that have held me back from opportunities or experiences I have wanted. She does it with self discovery exercises she calls "play" and when you are willing to let go of the awkwardness you may feel at first and go along with it you find that with her guided questioning you have known the answer all along. It was inside you and you only needed to give yourself the space and time to discover it. I cannot believe the positive changes I have made in myself because of Jody's unique coaching. The way that I approach situations is with a more positive self concept and calmer state of mind. I have also started to develop an awareness of how my emotions and thoughts show up in my body. I know how stress or discomfort shows up in my body now and how to relax. For anyone who feels stuck in their personal or professional life, I would highly recommend that you consider working with Jody. I have made realizations about myself with Jody that I couldn't do on my own. Thank you for everything, Jody. It has been an awakening.

Jody is intuitive, caring, and knows how to help you dig into the dark places of yourself to work…read moreout whatever has kept you stuck. This was my first experience with a Life Coach, and hands-down I would recommend it over conventional therapy. For the year I worked with Jody, I almost always felt like I was doing intensive work - actually feeling like I was accomplishing digging up my dirt and working through it. The experience was much more tangible for me than the tools used in conventional therapy. Jody has a slew of credentials and years of experience, too. I am glad I chose Jody McCrain as my Life Coach.

Easy and fun to work with, thoughtful and personable. Handles lots of projects without seeming…read morestressed.

Allie has an incredible ability to make things beautiful and organized with ease. I have…read moreexperienced first hand her organizational skills and it's quite impressive. She works with speed, thoughtfulness, and excellence to ensure that her clients are well taken care of. She also genuinely cares for her clients as her own family. You are truly in great hands with Allie. She is one of a kind!

Unless you have a simple marriage or divorce issue they are not interested. Anything complicated…read moreseems to throw them. I would avoid

Though most people don't ever hope for a divorce, those who go through them hope for a good one…read more And one way to have a good one is of course to have a great lawyer, but perhaps also to think about the process as a way to come to mutual agreements about moving forward, as opposed to a battle of separate interests. For those who lean toward the former approach, Adrienne Keith is a fantastic resource, not only as a lawyer but as a calm, steady person. She works in Collaborative Law as well as mediation, and is active not only in volunteering but also in writing an insightful, funny, sensitive blog about divorce and family law-related topics (http://splitsvillenews.com/). While I didn't technically utilize Collaborative Law (she provides legal divorce services other than just that process), Adrienne was so helpful in carefully walking me through each step of the process, always calm, professional yet warm, and perfectly prepared. I truly appreciated her attitude of non-combativeness and of working to find mutual solutions to sticky issues. Should you find yourself or know someone who's in the situation of needing representation through a divorce or family law issue, do yourself a favor and get in touch with her. Plus, on the way out of the courthouse she handed me a really thick envelope....When I got home, I opened it. A lovely bar, of bittersweet chocolate. What more can a girl want when she gets her old name back?