New York- Kelly Hevel attended a creativity workshop that changed her life and her way of thinking. After trying to design her life using self-prescribed methods, she decided it was time to seek a professional.

Below is an interview conducted by VIP's administrative partner, Angee Robertson, with Kelly, who has found what's important and discovering the process to finding what fits into her life.

Listen to the RealAudio version of Kelly's interview, click here. (NOTE: In order to listen to the recordings, you will need Real Player installed on your computer. To download a free version of Real Player, click here)

A: How did you discover VIP Coaching's services or what let you to searching for someone like a career coach?

K: I actually had gone to a workshop on creativity that made me reassess what I was doing with my life. I returned from the workshop and decided I wanted to make some changes. I didn't really know what to do. So, on a whim, I went to the Internet and did a search. I found VIP Coaching and decided to sign up for the free session she offers and that's how I got started.

A: What were some of the emotions and feelings you were going through which led you to go to the creativity workshop and to discovering you needed to do something more with your career and life?

K: I attended the workshop because I had always been interested in art and I just thought it would be a fun vacation. But it meant more than that. It made me start thinking about what I had wanted to do in the past, what kinds of things I was good at and what kinds of things I might like to do. I was always bored with my job and I had become more and more frustrated because I had been in it for a while. It just wasn't what I was good at so it wasn't very fulfilling. While attending the workshop, I met people who were do things that are interesting to them, more fulfilling and more in line with who they are.

A: What was your profession prior to working with a career coach?

K: I worked in pharmaceuticals and in a planning capacity. I did a lot of work with forecasting with numbers and I also did a lot of work with managing and facilitating change of product. It's just a complicated job – product changes, changes to labeling, moving product from site to site. There was a very technical side to it, which is not really what I'm best at or like doing.

A: As you began to work with VIP Coaching, how did she help you to discover those different aspects of your personality and things that you are good at? How did she bring that out of you?

K: There are two sides to this answer. One is just talking about it and some of the exercises she gave me - making lists, thinking about my perfect day and what would I really like to do. None of what I discovered was a surprise, but it reminded me of the things I used to think about. But the part of it that was really helpful to me – and this was a big struggle for me – was to realize that I could do those things, make money and have a life. It wasn't a choice of having money and being successful and being happy, I could do all of that.

It never really was about money for me but it was more about thinking that if I did the things I wanted I couldn't support myself. It was more about taking care of myself financially. I don't need to be wealthy but I felt like to be a responsible person I couldn't do the things that I liked to do. I had to do the things I was supposed to do. I don't know if I'm explaining it very well.

A: When you made the decision to work with a career coach, did you feel that it would be easier to have someone to help you along in the process or did you try to do this on your own and failed?

K: I was pretty dubious. I just didn't really expect to hire her. I just thought oh, there's a free consultation. I'll try it. I realized right away that I did want to hire her. I had tried to do things on my own before. I had gone through career counseling, Myers-Briggs, and What Color is Your Parachute? and none of that stuff really helped me at all. It left me with a feeling of, "So now what do I do?"

I wasn't really planning to hire a coach and I didn't really know what that was all about, but once I talked to VIP Coaching I knew this was going to work. Once I saw what coaching was about, I immediately was attracted to it.

A: Given that you have started out in the process on your own, done a lot of research and tried reading a lot of books, what was the difference between doing it yourself versus working with a career coach?

K: I think tests are really helpful and I actually like them. But the process is very important and having the personal feedback. Just having someone there to pick out what's floating around in your head.

When I did career counseling, I ended up with this list of 50 careers that might be good. I remember looking at them and thinking, "OK, well what are they about? Where do I go from here? Should I just pick one?" It wasn't really helpful, whereas what VIP Coaching does is very specific in helping you focus on what's important to you and then finding the process to find what's going to fit into your life.

A: Did you feel that the cost was worth it?

K: Oh yes, definitely. This has completely changed how I approach life.

A: Now that you have gone through the process and you've been working with VIP Coaching, what are you doing now?

K: I feel like I'm always going through change but I find that I like that, so that's a good thing. I just quit my job about a month ago. I find I'm able to fit in a lot of my different interests. I'm working part-time at the church, which is a job for money that I need. And it's at a place that I like to be. Working at the church allows me the time to go back and take art classes because that was one of my first loves.

I've also started my own coaching practice. I'm taking coaching classes and I have some clients, so I have a lot of variety now, which is something I really like a lot.

A: What do your family and friends think of all the changes that you've made?

K: Some of them think I'm crazy. There's a wide spectrum. But I would say what I find is more of them than I originally would have thought think it's good and are supportive. I actually see a lot of people that I know going through similar changes. I've referred other people to VIP Coaching who have also quit their jobs. And I have a lot of friends who don't really quite understand the coaching profession but they're really interested in learning more. Many more people than I would have expected were supportive of making the change and doing something that I really like to do, following my heart.

A: What do you see for yourself in the next five years?

K: I allow a lot of room for the unknown. I would say I embrace that now and I think it's a good thing, so I can just see the unimaginable happening. If I really had to put my finger on it, I see myself growing in my job at the church and really finding a connection there. I see myself doing a lot more with my artwork and I'm not really quite sure where that's going to take me, but I feel like that's going to be a big part of my life in the future that was missing before.

I also see myself continuing coaching because I really enjoy it. So I see all of those things continuing and I don't know in what balance or if other things will come. I just can imagine that my schedule will continue to change every so often.

A: Thank you very much Kelly for your time and your story. I wish you the best of luck in all your new endevours!

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To contact Kelly Hevel or for more information on Kelly's career coach, VIP Coaching, send an e-mail to info@vip-coaching.com or call 207-439-4280.