Meet ICA Coach, Sarah Creek (CANADA)

Sarah Creek, Simplicity Coach

ICA Graduate Sarah Creek is a founder of Pure Simple Change. Sarah has been a Life Coach & Interior Decorator for 23 years working with people in elementary schools & in the interior decorating industry. Sarah speaks French & English, she’s originally from Montreal and resides in Airdrie, Alberta with her husband Hamish and their 2 boys, Evan & Brandon. She’s passionate about simplicity & beauty and also enjoys cooking, gardening and making memories with her family.

1. Why did you become a coach?

My pivotal point was in the fall of 2015 when I lost both my father and father in law within a week.  I was put on medical leave so I had lots of time to heal and to think of the kind of work and legacy that I wanted for myself and those around me.

I reflected that when I was doing work as an interior decorator, one thing I would constantly notice was that more often than not, an "outside" change was not fully what my client was after (new paint, new furniture, etc).  The change they were looking for was an "inside" one.  The client wanted more then a newly decorated space.  And really, truthfully, after losing my 2 dads, did their physical spaces really impact me as much as their "insides"?

“I learned to be “me” while operating in the role of the professional coach!"

This caused me to look into the "helping" professions.  That is when I remembered that my friend Jo Smith, an ICA grad, had taken her studies to be a life coach.  Her and I have lots in common so I was intrigued.  As I started looking into it (asking questions to Jo and Iris from ICA), I discovered that what I had been looking for all my life in a profession was wrapped up in the the role of the Life Coach.  I jumped on board in the fall of 2016 and graduated this February!  Each day I get up grinning from ear to ear because I have found my calling and purpose in the life giving work/partnership of life coaching.  I feel so so blessed and grateful!

2. How did you discover your niche and how do you use it to find clients?

I had the false belief/expectation that I would graduate from ICA, and poof!  I would start coaching (for real, as a profession!!!)

My family and I took a holiday after my graduation and when I returned I began to work on my business.  I felt to first focus on my foundation, a big part of this being my niche.  Before graduating, I had identified my niche to be "simplicity life coaching for visionary women".  I felt the need to clarify that even more, to dig deeper within myself to really be clear on who I was going to work with/what they are facing/what that looks like/why this is important  etc.

Thank goodness for my ICA coaches who have walked with me and helped me in this process!

Now that I have laid this foundation for both myself and my business, I am able to network in my community in order to get the right clients (that is why being super clear about the niche is so very important!! ). I have also been able to get a proper logo/business card/marketing tools to reflect my niche and the feel I am trying to convey (my brand).  I have found a tagline to identify what together my client and I can do in the coaching process ("unlocking the greatness in you!")

Finally, I have been working on sending info letters to all my connections and share about my Life Coaching work.  Being challenged to explain my practice in a concise way moved me from broad and confusing to clear and effective.

Having a clear niche gives me the confidence and focus to keep me moving forward in my business towards my goals!

3. Who are/will be your clients?

I continue to work with visionary women that I have met through ICA and have started coaching non-students (I am just starting out!)
I work with visionary women who want to unlock their greatness.

I use Simplicity Life Coaching because this means that my client finds her keys to unlock her greatness. Be who she is created to be; doing what she loves to do; and expressing her purpose in her life and in her home.

4. Do you offer blended coaching?

I offer pure coaching.  I try to stay as true as I can to coaching practices. I am building my practice on the skills and knowledge that I have learned and continue to learn through ICA.  As I have taken my skills in teaching and interior decorating with me, I use this in the context of coaching.  Something  ICA trainer Kathy Munoz said was that if, at the end of a session, I feel heavy/weighed down/burdened, etc, this is an indicator that I stepped outside the coaches' role with my client, that in a way I am "carrying them", instead of letting go of the outcome and believing that my client has all she needs in herself to move forward.   Keeping this practical nugget in mind helps me use my skills and abilities, be myself IN the role of the coach. More information about my coaching practice can be found via my website https://www.puresimplechange.com/

5. Describe your experience at ICA?

ICA was and continues to be such a blessing to me!  The people (fellow students and instructors), the resources and the flexible quality learning experience make me so very grateful that I chose to study and be involved there!  So so many good things to share on this subject, and so much gratefulness for all those who make it what it is.

6. What is a typical day as a coach?

• I am able to have the flexibility to be home in the mornings and after school for my boys, Evan & Brandon
  get them off to school
• Each day has a balance of time for coaching clients, being coached weekly, working on my business, networking with those in my community,
• I am growing/learning/changing, doing something for me (walking, gardening, connecting with a friend, etc) and looking after my family's needs