Our work together is a consulting collaboration.

We work in coaching-style dialogs in a paired set consisting of an opening conversation plus a wrap-up conversation of roughly an hour each, with a period of time between conversations to process, think, or work out an idea or exercise.

At times, there may be an exercise or a specific focus of concentration either before an opening conversation or between conversations. We may practice or role-play a scenario together.

Our conversations may go in unexpected directions or circle around in winding paths, yet the core comes back to:

—Construction of your personal identity, internally and externally: Who are you? (Are you really still shy/absent-minded/competitive or have you outgrown that?)

—Personal values and purpose: What is your basis for knowing who you are? (Are you really a jock/brain/artist or was that assigned to you?)

—Understanding your knowledge and experience; challenging assumptions; reframing how pieces of knowledge fit together. (Your eight-year old brain built an explanation — maybe it wasn’t accurate.)

—Stakeholders in your life and their influence on you. (What level of allegiance do you still owe your coach/mentor/family/ex?)

—Resources in time, funding, effort, collaboration, etc., in play in your scenario. (Are you being “energy efficient” with your attention? Are you bleeding out giving away time?)

—Choices available to you; the payouts, costs and consequences of your options. (Are you eating up extra attention or exerting more control by being early/late?)

—Negotiating and renegotiating your agreements with yourself and stakeholders. (You are not willing to take on a project for the ninth time, but you would teach someone else how to manage it.)

This is the stuff you need to have cleared up before developing a personal brand can make sense.

In our conversations, I will listen. I will ask questions. I will make observations and ask for clarification. I will sometimes take on the role of Devil’s Advocate to challenge what I perceive as possible assumptions or to provide secure conditions for you to practice asserting a variety of stances. We will ‘street-test’ your beliefs and stances privately so that you can make up your own mind then determine your own actions.

I apply a non-traditional standard regarding accountability.

Through the course of this work, it is important to enhance skills in self-determination and negotiation of shared agreements.

True accountability is to your own alignment with your values, alignment with your well-being.

True accountability is learning to trust the resistance and hesitancy you feel, to honor your gut instincts. Listen for that which your mind is not yet aware.

True accountability is not about dependency upon external sources of validation. It is about internal drivers that work for both your mind and your instincts.

I will inquire about your choices, decisions, and action steps: I do not hold you accountable via any direct measures.

This consulting is not a ‘pure coaching’ model. I do not expect you to figure out your own agenda and also figure out your own solutions. I will interrupt, redirect, present alternatives, call time-out to go back over something. My sleeves are rolled up and I am in the mix.

This consulting is not counseling. While this works well integrated with therapy, counseling, rehab, or other healing work, our efforts are functional and tactical in nature. You are figuring out strategy and tactics on how to go about being who you really are. Our conversations are private, but not protected by privilege of confidentiality (as with a licensed attorney or board certified psychotherapist).

This consulting is grounded in public relations tenets. Our aim is to enhance understanding and clarity around your inherent personal identity then articulate your identity well in your relationships and with stakeholders.

I DO NOT EXPECT . . .

I do not expect you to be in happy-mode. Things can get silly, cranky, quiet: that’s just the process.

Conflicts are inherent: escalation is not. We attack the conundrum on the table, not the people around the table.

I do not expect duration commitments from you. There is no long-term contract.

I do not hold you accountable. You learn to trust your own instincts and act accordingly.

I do not expect disclosure of sensitive data. Privacy remains your own right. We can work around most specifics.

I DO EXPECT . . .

I DO EXPECT your commitment to engage. You must look right at it, feel it, contemplate it. You cannot stay blind to it.

I DO EXPECT you to speak up to resolve concerns. It is important to the quality of our dialog as well as to honing your skills in negotiation to practice bringing up conditions that don’t work well for you and altering what you can adjust.

Self-care is going to matter. Energy, stamina, attention span, and cognitive function will get a workout. You will burn more fuel than you think. Anticipate that you may experience physical symptoms as ideas and emotions process. Provide care for your body just as you would for physical exercise or exertion. Hydrate, manage your blood sugar, plan for rest as needed.

A ‘Session’ consists of two conversations, roughly an hour each, separated by an interval of time of your choosing (contingent upon our respective availability) —generally a week or two between conversations— to work on the topic or exercise under discussion.

Packages of Service, such as ‘First Impressions Collage Work,’ consist of a prescribed scope of work priced as one item.

To begin our collaboration, payment must be made in full for the Session or Package of Service chosen, the checkboxes must be marked, and a starting time must be selected through the online scheduling tool.

You’ll receive a confirmation email with a link for our Zoom meeting as scheduled, the instructions on how to reschedule the meeting if necessary, and any tips or instructions on how to prepare.

We will work diligently to accommodate reschedules: no refunds will be extended. As FxI does not work on long-term contracts, clients choose one engagement commitment at a time. We complete the session/package, then you are free to choose again. You choose when and how long to be engaged. You set your own pace. You choose when to step back and take a break.

Responsibility for scheduling is in your hands. Feel free to use the scheduling tool or contact me as soon as you are aware of a conflict. Stuff happens, I can respect that. Please don’t be hesitant to reach out to me to share that things came up or went sideways for you. It’s pretty flexible. (If you ghost me, I won’t chase you far.)

‘Office Hours’ appointments are free 20 minute conversations via Zoom. Office Hours appointments are open to current active clients as well as others. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Communication is primarily via Zoom video chats. Our Zoom chats are generally recorded for your review. We launch the conversation first to make sure our respective tech is functioning, then I will confirm permission to record as it begins. A link to the recording is provided shortly after we conclude.

Communication outside of sessions is via email or text message.

FxI currently uses Zoom video conferencing platform, Pinterest, and Dropbox. If any of these tools are not available, let’s talk through our alternatives.