Testimonials

Even then, this new team of ours was so effective that in fact, some of my primary goals were significantly impacted less than three weeks after we started!  It was crazy!  After this initial success though is when we really buckled down and started to make some big progress.  The ‘what if’ statements got bigger, the goals got more audacious and I was more willing and prepared to take on larger, more structural issues.

Over the last year we’ve tackled communication issues, relationship issues, life goals, time management, along with a host of other areas.  What’s really been amazing is how often I use the skills.  Yesterday, for example, I practiced three different times a new communication technique we’ve been working on.

Now, you would have thought that in a year I would have had all of these nailed: like any new endeavor, though, you start with the novice exercises and then work to build the skill set.  We continue to try more and more advanced exercises and yes, there’s regression that happens. Always vigilant, we try to be aware when I’m slipping back to past behaviors and identify why the regression is happening.  Consequently I continue to fine tune my skills and see opportunities to make even more improvements.

Certainly one of the tougher issues to come to grips was, “how long is this going to last?”  With a year of experience I can now say for as long as it can.  I see the results not only in my productivity but in my attitude as well.  Being in a far better place at work has made my whole life a happier place.  It is amazing to think back to that first conversation when Melanie said, “What if…”  When she says that, dare to think that she can make that come true!*”

– Client since June 2010

In terms of investments that I’ve made in myself over the years, life coaching was not something I thought I’d ever be willing to put resources towards or even take seriously. I have really good health insurance so I can always see a psychiatrist or therapist for whatever ails my psyche. I have a great life partner that is particularly pragmatic and enlightened. I have supportive and loving family and a tight circle of friends that have seen me through a number of life experiences. But, all of that wasn’t enough.

Two and a half years ago, I found myself saying hello to an on-coming mid-life crisis, anxious, angry about having to give up a sport I loved and devoted all of my free time towards, and physically injured, with major scary surgery scheduled. The holidays were approaching and I was a bundle of unhappy nerves. My usual self-help method of a couple of tune-ups with the psychiatrist, a few weeks with a therapist and trying to talk myself out of that funk wasn’t working. I knew I was getting into deep trouble. I could see it in my partner’s face and body language and I was withdrawing into a place that was self-defeating and quite cruel. I couldn’t see my way out and things were getting worse, quickly.

During the summer of 2012, I ran into Mel at a skydiving event and we had a couple of minutes to catch up with each other’s lives. Six months later, while I was hiding from life (in the bathroom, my favorite place to regroup, don’t ask), I remembered that short chat with Mel. First one’s free, right? I’m desperate; let’s see what this life coaching is all about.

As it turns out, life coaching was the missing piece to my puzzle. Up until that point, I had addressed all of life’s issues one-by-one, usually in crisis mode. Have a big problem, fix it quickly, file it away. Mel was the one to show me that while it’s easy to narrow your focus down to the crisis du jour, it’s a much bigger deal to be able to expand your vision and capacity to see the entire landscape: the patterns of your life, and to tackle things accordingly.

As I mentioned, my approach to mental and emotional healthcare had been quick application of professional care on an as-needed basis. This is something completely different. Coaching is all about getting in the practice. Identifying life’s troublemakers, recalling methods and skills learned from coaching sessions, and applying them and seeing new, better results takes practice. Accountability is a huge factor, as well. It isn’t just enough to have a couple of chats about major life issues. It takes a whole lot of repetition, conscious focus and dedication to reset a lifetime of patterns. A great life coach facilitates that practice and makes sure you’re staying on track. In my time working with Mel, I have had a number of occasions when I found something I had already addressed was coming back up as a show-stopping issue again. Each time, however, I was getting better and faster at identifying and problem solving. Having a coach that I know only has my best interest in mind and wants to see me succeed for the long haul gives me the confidence to confront my issues, both one by one and with a big picture approach. Life coaching has been the only effective way I’ve found to learn how to do that.

In one of the lowest points of my life, Mel came in with her energy, ELI assessments and relentlessly positive approach to (pardon the language) un-fucking my shit up. I like to call her my flashlight in the darkness. She brought in illumination, focus and with her clenched tightly in my hands, the strength I needed to uncover and tackle the not-so-pleasant parts of my life that were driving my dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

When I say Mel Curtis is cheap, I mean for the invaluable return I’ve received and continuously benefit from, I sometimes think I should direct-deposit paychecks into her bank account, make small burnt offerings or build tiny, glittery shrines in her name. Am I Buddha now? Not by a long shot. But I can confidently say that I’m a happier, better version of me every single week that I put the work in and that peace and awareness is worth its weight in gold.”

– Laura Song

June 4, 2015

The BOB group wasn’t just a post and go type of relationship; I became incredibly close with every member of the BOB group and consider then an extension of my family.

As usual Mel runs an amazing group, surrounded by amazing people, providing amazing results. The BOB group was more than an accountability group to me, it was a way to really push myself harder than I ever have and for me to be accountable about the goals I set.

My goals started out small like work out once a week, eat healthier ect, but I found myself as I began to immerse myself into the BOB group and with Mel’s motivation my quality of life increased ten-fold!!  My goals got bigger to gym more, eating more, life goals, career goals and it only increases as time goes on.

If you want amazing groups led by an amazing woman (Mel of course) and want a life-changing result hit up BOB.

#F**kyeahlife #BOBer4life

I had no idea what to expect or what would be expected of me, but I’d check it out, see how it goes. BOB = Beyond Our Bullsh*t – in other words, going beyond the typical BS that trips you up or prevents you from achieving the tasks you have set for yourself – from the lofty (fixing up the resume and looking for a new job) to the mundane (that closet needs to be cleaned out). Being involved with a group of people that has helped me set goals and then offers advice and encouragement to achieve them – I feel I can accomplish almost anything. BOB changes the things you *need* to do into the things you *want* to do. Seriously, I have seen it, been in the mix, and am so inspired by how BOB is truly *working* for the people involved. Thankfully, I’m one of those loving these very tangible results.

The feeling of elation that comes with completing something that seemed impossible (or a total pain in the butt) is such a lift. That’s the massive takeaway – self-satisfaction – it makes you feel so dang good! Personal growth – YES!!! With BOB in my corner, I am so totally excited about what I’m going to achieve going forward in this new year.

Sometimes the crazy idea that your friend wants you to try totally works – and sometimes it changes your life. BOB has changed mine. The ever-elusive ideal of being the best person we can be – we all strive for it – well, BOB actually makes that happen.