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Life coaching for high-fliers lifts off

By CNN's Mallika Kapur

Life coach Fiona Harrold says people want work that works for them
Life coach Fiona Harrold says people want work that works for them

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- For a growing number of British adults, the need to achieve their life-long goals is resulting in the adoption of a life coach.

Jamie Felix, 26, is an aspiring writer. With an Ivy League degree from Yale University, she worked for investment bank Lehman Brothers before quitting her job two months ago.

Felix says she was not happy in banking because it limited her creativity: "With writing you get to explore things a little more, about what you are interested in, than working in a giant corporation," she told CNN.

To make that step from finance to journalism, Felix employed the services of a life coach, Fiona Harrold, who is the author of "The Ten Minute Life Coach."

According to Harrold: "Life coaching is helping people get clear about what they want out of life, and making sure they get there as fast as possible."

In the case of Jamie Felix, it means helping her establish a career in journalism. Felix and Harrold discuss strategies over an hour-long session each week, at a cost of about £190 ($300). Sitting in one of their sessions is like listening to a therapist at work.

Harrold says: "What I want to do Jamie, is go through exactly where you are right now, with your pitches and ideas."

Felix tells her the progress she has made since last week, when she came up with a story idea. She put that forward to a few newspapers but has not heard back.

Jamie Felix quit her banking job as it limited her creativity
Jamie Felix quit her banking job as it limited her creativity

"Why have you not called them?" Harrold urges. "With such a brilliant idea I think you can afford to leave it no longer than overnight."

According to a recent American Express survey of adults in the UK, more than half said they want to make changes to their lives. Thirty-four percent said they wanted a different profession and a fifth said their dream was to set up their own business.

The reason behind this is a matter of socio-economics, explains Harrold. The current economic slowdown has led to a growing number of job cuts, which means a heightened feeling of insecurity for most people.

Harrold says: "Previous generations were quite happy to go out and do a job that they had no interest in, that they didn't enjoy ... it just paid the rent.

"This generation is no longer content to put up with that. We want work that works for us," she added.

Having a life coach seems no more different from having a personal trainer at the gym. A coach can point you in the right direction -- but will probably never take the place of old fashioned hard work.



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