My Story

To share my story, I can give the heartfelt, gut-wrenching story of how life kicked me in the teeth. The challenges I faced were not surface level. The challenges were deep, hidden, and they were mine alone. And in the face of these, I overcame great adversity. But not all was bad.

I came from a loving family, a solo parent who raised six children after the love of her life died at 33 years old. We were poor but we never knew. I just knew I had to work for anything I wanted.

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Our lack of finances was a reality. But I lived in a great neighborhood of friends who liked and accepted me, and no one ever criticized me for things I did not have. We knew we were friends, friends whom no amount of money could buy, nor did they care.

Early on I struggled in school and could not figure out how or why this was my reality. I did start first grade at five years of age and was always one of the smallest in my grade. I hated to study because it took me four to five times to gain an understanding when others caught onto the concept in the first or second time.

There were times I focused on a topic for a solid week and did well on a test, only to realize I had five or six other topics that also needed my attention. How could I possibly commit that much time when we only had 24 hours each day and I needed 30, without sleep to stay even.

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I love athletics. Individual sports like swimming and running captured my interest because I knew my work ethic would keep me even and occasionally enable me to get ahead. I was too small to play basketball or football, which really sucked since those were the guys who got the cheerleaders. Yes, I have typical hormones of any teen.

Through this entire process, one constant was prevalent in my life, I was well-liked and accepted by most, if not all. I was not physically intimidating so guys never considered me a threat. I was welcoming of everyone, so the ‘average Joe’s” felt I related to them. The biggest curse, I was in the “friends’ zone” with most of the girls. The kiss of death, without a kiss. Ugh!

I got through high school and into college before I was diagnosed with a learning disability. I thought I may have an LD but until I had confirmation, I avoided the reality.

I took a remedial English course so I could get through the basic courses. I considered myself a step up from menial labor only because I was admitted into a university.

I graduated then I began to lead.

I pursued a career not in teaching to facilitate my education degree, but in coaching. I coached people who happened to use swimming as their tapestry to create an incredible picture of their lives. I facilitated those who desired excellence athletically. My life was in shambles as I had no organizational skills and flew by the seat of my pants. I wanted something I could not grasp.

When I thought I would be going this life alone as no sane person would put up with the life of a coach, I met and married the most incredible person I still share my life. We wrote the book how opposites attract.

Over the next 30 years, I accepted coaching jobs that took us across the United States. I, lacking discipline, would jump at what seemed to be a great situation, only to find reality sucks. I personally have cost my family hundreds of thousands of dollars because I believed people who told me what they thought things would be. I am happy to say, I left the situation better than I found them, but my family paid a big price for these decisions.

I continued helping, coaching, advising, and advising people only to realize, old habits die hard. I needed help and I needed a career that was suitable to my strengths.

I began to pursue options when I was diagnosed with cancer. I knew I could no longer “outwork” others and survive. Something had to change.

When I shared my dream of being a life coach, ALL my friends had the same reaction, “Duh, you have been doing that your entire life.”

At that point I knew, to reduce stress and improve my chances against cancer, I needed to make a change, quickly.

Life coaching was my calling and how I would change lives. No title nor accolades were not beyond relocation to a box in storage. I wanted to make an impact.

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Finding a coach to help me find clarity and purpose completely changed my life. I have now been blessed with the opportunity to share my experience, use it, and dramatically affect the lives of others.

I was fortunate in the athletics to coach athletics to perform on the international stage. I now life coach individuals to achieve their goals previously perceived as a dream, an unattainable dream, with a process that makes their goal, a reality.

For me, I found working with a life coach, who understood my experience and pains, helped me to gain perspective and find solutions to my own problems. If I can be a guide for you, and help you to find answers to your challenges through coaching and sharing my experiences, please do email me to arrange an initial conversation.

Please email me: jimlutz@jimlutzcoaching.com.