Meet Kellyn Bechtold of The Self Coach in LoHi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellyn Bechtold.

Kellyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have worked with people in career transitions for over ten years. My career began at Shields Meneley Partners, an executive coaching firm in Chicago, where we helped C-Suite executives find new jobs, prep for interviews, and navigate career changes. I obtained a dual Master’s in Business Administration and Public Health in 2008. Shortly after, I combined my background in senior executive career support, administration and operations to become a Chief of Staff at tech startups. During nights and weekends, I created The Self Coach. I am now in my first year of coaching full time and exploring the world as a digital nomad.

Personally, I grew up on a chicken farm in Indiana, worked as a landscaper on Sanibel Island, Florida and moved to Chicago for seven years to start my professional career and attend graduate school. I spent three years in Denver, Colorado and am now currently traveling the world as a digital nomad.

Sidenote: I once spent a summer on an island in Fiji with 19 strangers to compete for $1M on Survivor (CBS) and learned a whole new perspective on finding purpose and passion in life!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building The Self Coach has been a long and winding process, and I am still in the thick of it. Having a “side-hustle” versus working for oneself full time is a transition in so many ways. Each day, there is something new to figure out, and there isn’t a teammate to bounce ideas off of. You get to live and die by your own sword. I am lucky to have a strong network of friends and professional contacts to use as resources.

The hardest lesson I’ve had to learn (and am still learning) is that sometimes it is best to turn down business. Understand who your client is and stay in your own sweet spot. Make sure your mission is clear and stick to that. When you’re just getting started, you want to say “yes” all the time. I have learned the hard way, that there are certain clients that are not a fit for The Self Coach. Identifying those people early and passing on some business allows you to focus on clients that are going to get the most out of what you are offering.

Also, currently, my “digital nomad” lifestyle is proving challenging with COVID-19. I am unexpectedly in Málaga, Spain for the foreseeable future. My plans for connecting in person with other nomads in co-working spaces across the world is on hold at this time. Fortunately, I am healthy and safe and have a lot of time to focus on the future of The Self Coach.

Please tell us about The Self Coach.
The Self Coach is a career consulting business. The majority of my clients are looking for a new job, preparing for interviews, pitching themselves for promotions, negotiating new salaries, or doing general career exploration. I help individuals create change, thrive in transition and tap into their own gifts and skills. Additionally, The Self Coach clients learn to own and tell their story in a way that spotlights their value for employers. I speak with clients in 1:1 video sessions to identify areas for improvement, work through roadblocks and make organized plans for job changes. I give simple exercises that identify patterns and clarify what a “dream job” may look like for each individual. We work together to prioritize decisions that need to be made and steps that need to be taken to get to that dream job.

I take an extremely customized and unique approach with each individual. I don’t have a prescribed “step-by-step” guide to getting to the next job. I specialize in working with people who know they are ready to expand or change their careers in a way that improves their entire life. Yes, I can help clients fix a few things on their resume or prep for specific interview questions, but Self Coach clients want to be their best at work, and be recognized (and paid!) for it. We work together to create a fulfilling career transition experience, not just work through a checklist.

In short, The Self Coach clients are ambitious professionals who are ready to turn big ideas into actionable, achievable goals, and I help them get there faster and with more joy.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was lucky enough to grow up within 45 minutes of all of my grandparents, 14 aunts and uncles and 14 cousins. Every summer was an absolute delight. I grew up as close to my cousins as many people do with siblings. We would play games and share meals but mostly spend time outside on grand adventures on the farm.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theselfcoach.co
• Email: theselfcoach.co@gmail.com
• Instagram: @TheSelfCoach
• Twitter: @TheSelfCoach

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