Black Sheep Coaching

Nicole is everything you’d expect in a coach – supportive, intuitive, patient – but also incredibly relatable and open-​minded. She gave me the tools to rekindle the confidence I’d lost and helped me develop actionable steps forward and impactful tweaks to my routine. I came away from our sessions happier with my current situation and more hopeful and determined to go after my goals.

Do yourself a favor and call Nicole right now. Yes, you’re smart and resourceful and can muddle along for a bit longer… but why do that when a wise, insightful coach is ready to help?!
Like many reviewers here, I felt stuck in my career and hemmed in by my life choices… and of course blaming myself for not being able to «fix» things on my own. I knew that I didn’t need a therapist so much as a guide, someone who could listen to me with no judgment and offer fresh perspectives. From our initial consultation, it was clear that Nicole «got» me and that she was the one to help me figure out my next steps. Within a few sessions, I was reconnected with my creative spark and learning to listen to my gut/​intuition for the first time in years… so refreshing to get out of my head and into real life!
The experience was emotionally intense – no easy answers here – but ultimately worth it. Like any great teacher, Nicole equips you to tackle your own challenges down, so the investment you make now will serve you the rest of your life. Call her!

If you’re like me, a smart, type-​A, driven lady, then when you feel «out of sorts,» it can feel incredibly exhausting. Seemingly simple tasks and decisions feel much harder than you believe those decisions need to be leading to procrastination and this strong feeling that… you’re not living up to your potential. So, being the driven and creative person that you are, you seek help online in forums, blogs, and perhaps online paid-​courses to nourish that nagging feeling that something’s not right in your life.
I’d never fully invested in myself spiritually and emotionally like I did with coaching with Nicole. With her coaching, I had an instant connection and warmth that I’ve never felt with any online course, youtube video, or self-​help book. So not only did our sessions «feel» good, and left me feeling better off, but when I evaluated years 2012, 2013, and 2014 in terms of «happiness» and «accomplishments,» my time with Nicole in 2014 yielded infinitely better results than I had seen in both of the previous years combined. I had no problem getting raises and promotions at work before, but now, the positions and salaries I say «yes» to actually mean something to me. Try her out with one first session, it’s worth trying and seeing for yourself how beautiful «unstuck» can feel.

If you’re reading this, something obviously led you here. I myself was in the throes of what some annoyingly call a «quarter-​life crisis» when I searched for life coaches in my area. I had just gone through a few rough years and decided to quit my shiny corporate job in search of something less soul-​crushing and more creatively gratifying. I gave Nicole a shot because of her glowing reviews. It seemed like everyone who reviewed her was in a similar place– feeling the pull of a big life transition and in need of a bit of guidance. Not guidance for how to continue along a specific path, but rather in developing the personal tools necessary to move forward in life with confidence. After nearly a decade of feeling lost (and having found no help of any real value elsewhere), I was finally ready to admit that a little coaching was worth a try.
During our introductory meeting, Nicole immediately called me out on several behaviors that were holding me back in a major way. She didn’t stare at me blankly like some second-​rate therapist, waiting for me to fill the hour by talking about my week– she made me work! I was assigned homework, given ‘in-​class’ exercises, forced to answer questions about aspects of myself I was too lazy or afraid to examine… It would all have been so uncomfortable and exhausting with anyone else, but with Nicole as a guide, it became quite the exciting journey. Her sweet demeanor and sunshine-​bright smile instantly put me at ease, and her unexpectedly Socratic method assisted me in shedding many destructive thought patterns. She also helped me to adopt many new habits that helped me to view myself in a much more positive and trusting light.
What can I say? Life is a journey of expansion, and it’s not always easy. So for those times when you feel like you could use a Sherpa, go see Nicole. She’s amazing. Trust me. She will set you straight.

When I first went to see Nicole, I was stuck. I needed assistance trying to figure out what direction I wanted to take my career. After the first session, I immediately signed up for 6 additional sessions. During my time with Nicole, not only did we work through my career goals, I also worked on being honest and in my truth. My sessions with Nicole taught me to look at situations differently and to work past my fears. I came away with a clear understanding in what I want, not only for my career but also in all my relationships.

Nicole is a powerful and naturally intuitive coach who helps her clients to really tap into what it is that they need and want in life so that they can be on their life purpose and thrive. She is also wonderful at helping guide you though powerful action steps so you can achieve what you need in your life. I highly recommend her!

I scheduled my initial session with Nicole at the urging of a friend who had also worked with her achieving amazing results. I had personally struggled with self-​doubt and self-​criticism my whole life and I needed help because my life was passing me by. I had tried everything. Working with Nicole literally changed my life. It brought me into the present moment and gave me the tools to finally see with and to trust my own eyes. I am no longer at odds with myself or if I am, I recognize it. I decided during my initial session to purchase the full 10 session package deal. It was the best bargain of my life. Nicole is the embodiment of passion for helping others. She listens and mirrors back what is being said extremely well. She helped me face and overcome my fears. She is energetic and empathetic. I looked forward to every session as well as the action steps I took between sessions to change my lifeI I have hit every big and small goal I’ve set for myself since working with her. I am on my path. Furthermore, I am now in a wonderful relationship and back in school pursuing my dreams! I love myself enthusiastically and am now an active engaged creator of my own success. Schedule your initial session, don’t hesitate. Your life awaits and the world needs you.

I met Nicole through a networking group and was intrigued to try a session with her after she spoke to the group about why she became a life coach. After the first session I signed up for 7 more and in those 8 «meetings» she helped me with all aspects of my life. Better time management was my initial focus, but during our meetings Nicole guided me to discuss other things that were weighing on me, my work, my relationships and how I felt about myself. I came away with more confidence about my leadership abilities, my communication and relationship skills and especially my time management. I find I’m getting more things done now, and not letting the little things bother me as much.
Nicole was very easy to work with. She is so energetic and upbeat. Her smile and enthusiasm are infectious. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking some inspiration or guidance in any aspect of their lives.

I sought out a life coach as traditional therapy was helping, but felt slow. Coaching is much more about action! In ten sessions, over about 3 months, I have been able to notice significant shifts in my thinking, mindfulness, and do feel more confident in my own skin. Aside from the results, Nicole is one of the most upbeat, honest, intuitive and encouraging people I know. If anyone is on the fence about trying a life coach, I would highly recommend Black Sheep Coaching.

Nicole is THE BEST! I was really lost as in which road to follow with my career. I had spoken to anyone, and everyone, about what I should be doing, yet, I still couldn’t find my way. Then I met Nicole! She really helped open my eyes, and made me realize what I was passionate about.
She’s friendly, open, and honest. Very upbeat and positive. I always enjoyed our meetings and took away something new each time. What I really liked about working with Nicole was that she gave me «homework» which helped me stay on track. She’ll help guide you. Just make sure that you walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
If you need guidance I highly suggest Nicole. She’ll help guide you onto the path you wish to be. Thank you Nicole!

I contacted Nicole after struggling with the same questions over and over. I wanted to take charge of my career – and have more ownership at my job – and because I kept returning to the same issues, I knew I was stuck in my own head and needed an outside perspective.
Nicole helped walk me through my doubts and, more importantly, she taught me to recognize my natural strengths and encouraged me to pursue a path that suited me, rather than reshaping myself to fit a mold I thought I should fit.
The process was really fantastic, and no-​pressure. We had an initial meeting to make sure we were a mutually good fit and could work well together. I immediately felt like Nicole genuinely wanted me to succeed and having her on my side would be an asset.
I signed up for a package of 6 sessions, (I viewed it as an investment in myself) and now that I’ve completed my last session, I can definitely say it was worthwhile! I have a clarity and confidence that I wouldn’t have had before, as well as skills and tools that I can use to keep myself motivated and on track – and while I initially went to Nicole with questions about my career – I’ve been able to apply these tactics to many different aspects of my life.
Thanks, Nicole!

What’s there not to love about Nicole! She’s amazing! I was feeling stuck in my current position and she helped me to navigate ways to get unstuck and led me back to considering a three-​fold career path for my future that will satisfy all of my many life passions. She’s easygoing and really cares about helping you to find your north star. You rock Nicole!

After working with Nicole, I feel like I live life more fully. I am more present, and make more conscientious decisions. I feel that I spend my time more wisely, and dedicate more time to doing the things that are important to me.
Nicole has helped me to learn what my needs are, such as needs for serenity, beauty, and the arts. I feel more grounded and self-​aware, and my husband has also remarked about how I seem happier in general, making me easier to get along with. I have been a much happier person since we’ve started working together. Nicole’s work is outstanding. She excels at listening to her clients and gets results.

I faced a variety of possible future directions in my career and family/​social life. They were very different, seemingly incompatible and incomparable, and I found it hard to get it figured out, choose a direction and stick with it.
Nicole helped me stop «spinning my wheels» and choose a direction and get on with it. She listens incredibly well, beyond just the words, and plays back what she hears in a structured manner. In my case, she dramatically clarified my situation by creating a structure on paper for me to think about it. Choices that seemed impossibly hard to compare were suddenly very clear, and the most important and difficult elements of the decision became relatively straightforward to address. Especially important is that the choices I had to make, what to let go, al least for the moment, became something that I could deal with consciously.
Sometimes something looks obvious in retrospect but not even remotely clear in the beginning, and that is how my life direction decision-​process turned out. Even today, when my mind wanders into the alternatives, I refer back to the structure on the now heavily worn paper as a reminder of exactly why I’m focused on this direction now.
Nicole is also incredibly inspiring. She points out, correctly, the very real progress that I have made, as a reminder during times when I am down about facing difficulties.
Nicole seems like a natural as a life coach. If the field did not exist, I suspect that she would invent it.

I just wasn’t sure what to do next with my life. Nicole helped me identify what it was I wanted to work on, and how I could bring all the areas (work, relationships, finance, self) of my life into balance. She is really good at drawing me out, if I’m «stuck» and gently pushes me to stretch myself, whether it’s in the way I think about something, or just doing something that might be out of my comfort zone.
The one thing that surprised me about our sessions is that Nicole really wants me to become independent and help myself to be my own «life coach», rather than relying on her to feed me the answers. She helped me to see that I have all the tools I need, I just need to listen to myself, become more confident, and then act. I would recommend Nicole as a life coach, whether you are going through a big crisis, or like me, just not sure where to go next in your life.

Nicole is patient, kind, direct, and intuitive. She has a gift for making you feel welcome and comfortable, even if you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders. More importantly, she teaches you to nurture yourself. It’s obvious she loves what she does.
The best part? She has a smile that lights up the room! That in itself is potent therapy.

I didn’t know what a Life Coach was at first, but I have since discovered and it has really helped change my life. A Life Coach is someone who can help you find your passion and your direction in life, who can help you expand yourself and discover yourself, and to create your life how you want to. Nicole is an ideal Life Coach because she is inspirational, warm, creative, and intelligent. She is extremely creative and sometimes uses dance, music, art, and other forms of expression in her coaching. But most important is her ability to connect with a variety of people through different coaching styles and to really listen to them and to provide positive energy for them.

When looking for a Life Coach, one hopes to find someone who they feel completely comfortable and unguarded with. Someone who is supportive, encouraging and will offer that extra little ‘push’ to get out into the world and do what it is you’re truly meant to do. A person who will create new ways to brainstorm and discover your strengths so that you can outweigh your weaknesses. Most importantly, someone who makes this daunting, yet very rewarding process enjoyable.
Nicole Winkler-​Schaefer is this Life Coach.
She also offers a complimentary initial session so you can find out if you’re a good match– No strings attached. Just call her!