We had the good fortune of connecting with Joan Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

I started my business when I was 44 years old, and I’m now 71 years old. A lot has changed: from working/taking clients at 8:30am to only having clients in the afternoon. I use my mornings for prayer, exercise, having coffee with friends, etc. I still am enormously effective, but I take my time. I also “walk my talk” and encourage my clients to have “practices” (some people say “habits”) that are PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL, and SPIRITUAL. that fulfill their (and my!) vision. It’s quite simple, but sometimes hard to do. This is a big part of how I live my life, and how I find balance. I also can say I am happy, and have peace, even when times get stressful.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have coached over 250,000 people. Yes, it’s challenging sometimes, but I really have the “go for it” and “swing out/step out” mode to operate from, and I understand people’s fears, so I have a way of sharing myself so they have the courage to “go for it” too. The LEADERSHIP that I speak about to clients has them triple their income. It’s about “having a specialized skill and style of leadership” that gives them direct access to producing breakthrough results. When I started my business, I didn’t know how much to charge clients, I went to their homes/businesses, and worked on several principles–“integrity” (“doing what you say you’re going to do, by when you say you’re going to do it,” not morality and ethics), and “story” (their reasons, explanations, justifications for not doing something). I discovered people didn’t have a very strong muscle in these areas, I have a checklist now that I share with clients, that “kick starts” the integrity principle, and a diagram that ends procrastination, and gives them a whole new level of self-confidence. (Now, I do my coaching via FaceTime, and rarely do I go into the corporate board room.) I am very proud of the work I did about 10+ years ago when I coached 93 Roman Catholic priests. No woman has ever done that before or after. I led a 2-day workshop for them in their “Priest Study Days.” I also am proud of the work I did with UST Global; they sent me to India to coach their employees there for a week. I want the world to know that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, and you can do it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

First, we’d go to the beach. California has the best beaches in the world–Laguna or Dana Point. We’d go for a walk and have a long chat. Then we’d go to Mission San Juan Capistrano, which is gorgeous, and peaceful. We’d pray, and thank God for our lives. Then we’d go to Mangia Bene restaurant and have great Italian food, or Avila’s for Mexican food. (Since you’re suggesting a week long trip, we’d hit both restaurants!) Then we’d take a drive up the coast to Santa Barbara, and stop on Hwy. 1 along the way, for the view and a picnic. We’d stay at a hotel where we would get massages, and fine dining. We might even go all the way up to Big Sur. And just absorb the stunning view! And take a hike in the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We’d have great, empowering conversations that make a difference on this drive. Then on the way back we might stop at one of the Presidential Libraries (Nixon or Reagan) since they are here in SoCal. Not every state has these, and they truly say a lot about our freedom as Americans, that sometimes we take for granted.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am thankful for my 16 years on staff with an organization, now called “Landmark Worldwide.” I learned how to speak in front of groups, manage a business, coach others to be effective, and I learned so much about people, which has carried the day for all these years! Many people on that staff mentored me. I am also thankful for a book by Rosamund Zander, “The Art of Possibility” which I recommend to my clients.
I am enormously thankful for all my clients, the past 27 years, who took a risk and hired me, not always knowing what it would take to produce breakthrough results, and always “rising to the occasion” to “go outside the dots.” The ones that brought me into their corporations were especially inspiring–USPS, Fidelity National Title, UST Global, and the Catholic Church, for starters.

Website: www.LCIcoaching.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-smith-m-a-2aa8971/

Twitter: @JoanLci

Image Credits
India: clients I coached in 2009. (don’t know names) Lebanon: just me. Austria: I visited this country in 2012 with a friend, Marilyn Allen. And a local picture of a lunch/retreat I led for a group of women.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.