Could A Coach Change Your Life?

Stuck in a rut? For emotional well-being or to achieve a goal, many of us now look to a personal coach for guidance. These three women did just that...

- Leigh Hermon

'I felt completely lost before I saw a life coach'

Anele Mda, 39, is the MD of a tyre-repair business. She lives in Faerie Glen and has two sons and two daughters.

I’ve always thought of myself as an ambitious, energetic person. Whether it was in my role as a mother, wife or employee, I always gave it my all. But a few years ago I found I wasn’t that person anymore. It was as if my drive had evaporated and what was left behind was a tired, overwhelmed and complacent version of my former self.

I was a senior manager at Prasa at the time, and, while I wasn’t unhappy in my job, I certainly didn’t feel fulfilled or excited to go into work in the morning – and that’s what bothered me the most. My life seemed to be in limbo: not terrible, but not so great either. I was desperately trying to save my failing marriage; with kids in the picture, I wanted to maintain a happy home that included a mom and a dad, even if it meant I had to put up with – and give up – a lot in the process. I just couldn’t believe that I’d let myself get into this situation. I’d always been ambitious – I was the kind of person who had solid five-year plans – but now my mind felt cluttered and I didn’t know how to change things on my own.

Time for a change