Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Baranauskas.
Hi Tracy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Yes, thanks so much for asking! I am a former social worker, and I previously worked in the community mental health field for much of my career. But really, no matter the position, I have always found pleasure in helping my clients discover their unique gifts and talents and then develop the courage and self-belief to fully use them. This is totally my jam.
However, in 2014, after changing jobs and moving to a new agency, I received a tough blow that sent me tumbling backward. I was fired (like walked out), the day after I went to the agency’s board to report several problems with the director and advocate for clients who were being neglected in the system.
It was just a few months shy of my 50th birthday and losing my job at that point in my career felt devastating. My confidence had taken a hard hit. I knew I was integrity with my values, yet I was dealt what felt like an unjust hand.
But I also knew in my heart of hearts that I had so much left to offer the world, and life coaching just seemed like a natural fit.
And so, I had to implement all the tools and personal development practices that I’d helped others to do over the years. And I gradually worked on my self-belief and eventually built up my confidence to the point that I was ready to take brave steps back into the world as a life coach and business owner.
All of this felt like a huge setback at the time, but really it was the thing that propelled me forward into a profession that now feels more like a calling. And it strengthened my resolve to help other women who are being held back, silenced, or marginalized, either by others or themselves, to step into their power and share their light with the world!
Since then, I have coached hundreds of women in my 1:1 private coaching program, Shine On Group + Coaching Program, and other groups and workshops over the years.
I now have so many cool stories (that give me goosebumps) of my clients finally allowing themselves to go “all in” in their lives and reach higher than they ever dreamed possible.
My clients have opened successful businesses, up-leveled their careers, or completely changed professions – all to bring more fulfillment into their lives. And they’ve tackled goals that had traditionally kept them feeling stuck, like financial fitness, weight loss, and other health goals. They’ve also made lifestyle changes, including being newly single or finding new love, and they’ve initiated grand adventures into their life, like taking a year to explore the country in an RV or running a marathon overseas.
I love seeing my clients challenge their own limits and expand what they think is possible. Seeing them courageously leap forward and surprise themselves by accomplishing goals mightier than they’d ever imagined is a joy and honor for me to be a part of. Each transformation is inspiring. I sincerely say that I have the best job in the world!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. When I first lost my job, I felt stuck and unsure of how to move forward. I wondered, “How can I start over and build my business when my self-confidence is so low?”
And this is when I decided to hire a life coach for myself. But that even felt scary. My hand shook as I wrote the check. Money was tight, as I wasn’t even approved for unemployment yet.
I wasn’t used to investing time and money in myself at all. Like many women, I had spent a lifetime investing in other people’s growth, but rarely my own.
However, I knew I needed support. I needed someone to hold my hand and help me believe in myself again. And that’s exactly what happened. My first coach helped me renew my belief in myself, my capabilities, and all the amazing possibilities ahead.
By our second appointment, she helped me muster the courage to choose and enroll in a life coaching school. And this initial move has not only impacted my life in powerful ways but has also impacted the hundreds of clients I’ve served over the years… and the people they’ve touched along the way too.
The true impact for me though was at a soul level. My first coach helped me remember what I was made of – my gifts, talents, integrity, tenacity, and grit!
Today, there are few things I value or prioritize more than investing in coaching. I have worked with 1:1 coaches and/or been in coaching mastermind groups ever since. Mindset management is an ongoing process, and my coaches have helped me see through my own BS and stay in belief when life feels hard, frightening, or uncomfortable.
Coaches challenge you to think differently than you ever have before. And one single shift can change your entire life. This is the transformation that happened for me, and this is what I want for my clients too!
As you know, we’re big fans of Moving Forward Life Coaching. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
After many years of coaching, I created my signature program, Shine On, because I discovered that clients who receive both individual and group coaching concurrently move forward faster and with greater success. Shine On is a unique one-year coaching program that offers the benefits of both individual and group coaching, and there’s no other program out there like it!
Shine On is for courageous women who are kicking ass themselves and are excited to cheer other women on too. The shared energy within this group is powerful, and there’s a sentiment of: “If she can do it, then I can do it too!”
I’ve found that when women are connected, supported, and cared for through professional coaching AND a sisterhood of other amazing women who believe in their dreams as much as they do, they are unstoppable!
And, in addition to Shine On, I also offer individual, 1:1 coaching. This is a private six-month coaching program, and it’s a great first step before joining Shine On.
My private coaching program is for women who find themselves stuck between other people’s expectations and their own desires. So often, the patriarchy has taught us to put our own dreams on hold and keep ourselves small, while holding up everyone else.
I help women get crystal clear on what will bring more meaning in their life, and then develop the self-belief and confidence to create it. My program equips my clients with an action plan, mindset tools, and professional coaching to hold them accountable and keep them on track, so they will feel supported, motivated, and encouraged every step of the way!
I should also mention that at the start of the pandemic, I transitioned to online coaching, and it has worked out so well that I never returned to meet with my clients in the office. Coaching via Zoom offers more scheduling flexibility for my clients, and location is never an issue. No matter where prospective clients live or what their schedule is like, we can almost always find a way to work together!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
The first step to working together is to schedule a complimentary consultation. There is no cost or obligation, and it’s the best way to know if my program will be a good fit for you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://movingforwardcoaching.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movingforwardfamilycoaching
- Other: https://www.buzzsprout.com/352964?fbclid=IwAR2srM-oNRF-w6NIzdElgd71OcEK6iGXGDhB1huwho0lrpJ8UTpguj9Bq80
