How I became a life coach after moving to France 

I moved to France from the United States in 2018, when I was 51.

It was a chance to learn to speak French fluently, something I had wanted to do since visiting Quebec City in 2014.

Previously, I had been working for a health insurance company as a project manager. I liked the aspect of creating something out of nothing, but working 9-5 in corporate America, I did not feel appreciated or that my work was particularly important.

After 20 years, I was ready for a break. So I applied for a visitor visa, and in January 2018 I moved to France.

I had a hefty nest egg (my emergency fund), in addition to the proceeds from the sale of my house in the US. This gave me a means to finance my sabbatical life in France without having to work for a couple of years.

I practised my French, started the Discovering Courage Podcast, for fun, and made connections and friends in my local area.

In the US, I had completed training to become a professional life coach, something I did alongside my existing job. I had taken on a handful of clients but had not pursued it after that because I seemed to attract people who really needed therapy rather than coaching.

In 2019, I considered setting up as a coach again. I realised there were many people out there who wanted to make a move to France or elsewhere but lacked the confidence to put their plans into action.

However, having only just moved to France myself I was not sure I had the experience to be truly useful to them. I shelved the idea for a while.

Read more: My story: I moved to France and became a botanical artist

Ready to begin

By 2021, having lived in France for three years, I felt I had more to offer so started my coaching business, called ‘The Courage Catalyst’.

Rather than acting as a general life coach, I provide support for people who are looking to emigrate to France or other parts of Europe. It can take people time to build up the courage and really explore what they want from such a move, and I am here to help them.

I started with a few clients, mainly in the US, and have grown from there. Three years on, I am loving my new role. As a solo entrepreneur, I work a lot, but I have control over when that takes place. Having this flexibility and doing work I truly love is much more rewarding than when I worked in corporate.

I offer a group coaching programme, called The Carefree Expat Incubator. I hold online sessions twice a week with my clients, primarily from the US. As part of my evolution, I also started a YouTube channel where I share recommendations on how to move abroad and succeed there.

Besides my group programme on Tuesdays and Saturdays, I offer 1:1 services but limit them to certain days and times to ensure I am not overwhelmed. I also do the rest of the work required to run my business – including filming and editing for YouTube, and marketing and selling.

Read more: How I became a hat designer after retiring to France

Face-to-face summit

Last year, I had my very first in-person summit with members of my Carefree Expat Incubator programme. We gathered in Marseille where we met face to face for the first time. There I facilitated coaching sessions and we explored the city together. It was a great experience and is turning into an annual affair.

In October 2024 we will meet again, this time in Valencia, Spain. On the final day of the summit, I will be putting on a workshop alongside fellow expat Dr Christopher Wells where aspiring expats can learn about emigrating, create a plan, and connect with like-minded individuals.

I love my work. It provides me with flexibility, variety, and the appreciation I lacked in my other jobs! I am so grateful to have found this career where not only do I get to help people move past their blocks so that they can fulfil long-held dreams, I get to develop and grow alongside them.