Eleven Years of Just Starting - September 29, 2026

October 1^st, 2026 marks the 11th anniversary of Expansive Leadership Coaching (ELC). As I kick off year 12, I’m finding myself reflective about what has supported me most over these years and what will keep my business sustainable going forward. It turns out that one of the key things that has helped me and my business grow is also what helps my clients grow.

It all boils down to this: get clear, then take the next small, achievable step.

The Gift of Clarity

Over the past several months, I’ve completed multiple interview-based 360 assessments for clients and turned that feedback into meaningful development plans. One of the fascinating things that happens nearly every single time is that I hear from my client, or one of their feedback providers, that something has already changed in how my client is showing up. Often this happens before we’ve even created their development plan.

Usually it’s after the client has taken a few days to reflect on what they heard (sometimes it’s within 24 hours!), and boom! Change is noticed. For instance, one leader started giving her team members feedback right away rather than waiting for the “right” time and place. Her team appreciated being redirected quickly, and she felt lighter because it took far less energy than carrying that feedback around for days or even weeks.

What’s happening here? It’s clarity!

I sometimes hear from clients that nothing was surprising in their 360 report. And yet when it’s all consolidated neatly into one place, the actions they’ve been putting off, forgetting about, or not quite understanding suddenly become crystal clear. From this place of clarity, they’re able to try a new, more effective behavior, often very quickly.

The same has been true for me.

Cut Through the Noise

When I started my business 11 years ago, I received lots of input, advice, and feedback. One of the best pieces was “just start doing what you know.” Looking back, that one sentence did for me what a 360 does for my clients. It cut through the noise and made the next step obvious.

So I did. I started by providing HR consulting services, since that had been my life’s work for 25 years inside organizations. Within 18 months, I let go of that work and shifted my focus to career and executive coaching. Then I let go of the career coaching and dove deep into executive coaching, leadership development, and helping teams become healthy and high-performing. None of these were giant leaps. Each shift came from getting a little clearer about what I wanted, then taking the next small step.

What’s Next

Now I’m looking at the next iteration of my business as my life continues to evolve (empty nest, eldercare, etc.) and asks different things of me. I’m not ready to let go of the work I’ve been doing most recently, but I am turning some of my time and attention toward teaching, becoming a certified professional retirement coach and rebranding what retirement means (it’s different for everyone!), and working with Gen X women who are done settling for work environments that no longer work for them, or never did.

The next version of ELC is emerging.

The key is that I had to START. Somewhere, anywhere. Way back in 2015, I let go of corporate life to create space for something else to emerge. Now I’m making space once again for the next evolution.

Your Turn

So I’ll ask you:

• What are you putting off starting?

• What’s standing in your way?

• What do you really want now?

• And if you’re not sure, what would give you more clarity?

If the answers to any of these questions are fuzzy, I’d love to guide you toward finding clarity! Connect with me directly at carol@expansiveleadershipcoaching.com.

To every client, colleague, and reader who has been part of these 11 years, thank you. You’ve shaped this work more than you know.

I look forward to sharing more of what’s emerging over the coming months, and I always want to hear from you. What’s landing for you? What new thoughts and ideas are coming up?

Here’s to year 12!