About Marcia Taylor, Your Coach

Life Coaching is personal to me. As a child, I had to take on a lot of responsibility and I choose to credit this with the formation of my better adult attributes: Compassion, strength of character, agility, and decision-making and communication skills. 

I was born to be the ‘helper.’ I’m the one people come to in a store for assistance, (I’m sorry, I don’t work here, but…) as well as the person in any crowd most likely to be told a life story by a perfect stranger. I truly believe I have been blessed with the ability to have answers, comfort, and the ‘right’ words to share with others. Friends and loved ones have encouraged me on my life coaching journey; they tell me I am ‘perfect’ for coaching, or ‘so easy to talk to,’ 'so calm,' or, 'you always know what to say and really listen.’  Funny story: my chiropractor and I were talking during my adjustment about family relationships. He stopped and said: “Marcia, you should really be a therapist or life coach!”  He didn’t even know I was working on my certification!

Life coaching saved me. When I turned 50, I was suddenly stricken with anxiety, angst, and a general feeling of being a balloon on a string that a 4-year-old had just let go. I was just bouncing here and there, unsure of my direction and purpose. In retrospect, I was discontented with every part of my life, really. Luckily, I happened upon a wonderful life coach who helped me turn my life around for the better. Many of the tools and techniques I can share with you now, I learned and practiced over 10 years ago to effect the change I needed so badly. You know, life happens, and we all continue to be faced with those ups and downs. Fortunately, I continue to use the tools and techniques I learned in coaching to help me move through these events and glitches with relative ease. 

I am a Certified Life Coach through the Transformation Academy, and am certified in Guided Mindfulness Meditation through the Radical Compassion Institute. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. Through my certification process, continuing education courses, and research, I have been able to build on my own personal experience with life coaching. It is a growing field that adds new ideas and techniques often, which means I always have new approaches – new ways I can assist my clients attain their goals. Life coaching was the best thing I ever did for myself, and I am overjoyed to be able to share it with you. It is my PASSION!

Thank you for allowing me to share my story; I am honored to share it with you! Originally from Marietta, GA, I met John Taylor, a wonderful man from Michigan in 1987. We are so blessed to have had 36 years together so far. I believe we have been successful because we have ‘enough’ common interests, we have continued to hone our communication skills, we both developed a knack for looking at the bright side, and of course, we love each other. Equally as important is the fact that we have separate interests that we enjoy alone and with our friends, and we don’t begrudge each other the time we spend on those pursuits. Is any marriage or relationship perfect? No, and I don’t think you really want it to be. In my experience, imperfections spur us on to grow and strive to be more authentic people. Growth feeds self-esteem and increased self-esteem yields more happiness and satisfaction.                                                                                                                              

Favorite Pastimes:

• Kayaking, Swimming, and Boating

• Gardening

• Travel

• Wildlife and Bird Watching

• Music and Art

• Reading

• Cooking

• Camping

• Biking

• Rock Hunting

• Spending time with the people I love. And my pets – I adore my pets.

Education, Certifications, and Licensing: 

• Bachelor of Science in Business Management at Shorter University, Rome, Georgia. 

• Transformation Academy Certified Life Coach

• Certified in Mindfulness Meditation through the Radical Compassion Institute. 

• Previously licensed in multiple insurance lines and Series 6 & 63 Securities and Exchange Commission (FINRA) licenses 

• NSFRE, the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives, Certified Fund-Raising Executive

• Certified Master Gardener - MSU Extension Program

• Master Naturalist Graduate– Emmet County Extension Service

• Licensed Realtor for over 20 years in both Georgia and Michigan. Currently licensed in Michigan through LARA

Organizations:

• Rotary – Past President and Board Member

• Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce - Past Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, and Board Member

• Marietta Kiwanis Club – Past Member

• Otsego Lake Township Parks and Recreation – Past Vice Chairman and Board Member

• Alpine Master Gardeners Association - Past Board Member 

• Heart Lake Association - Past President and Board Member

• Waters Business Group – Past Secretary and Board Member

Career Overview:

At 60 years old, my work life has spanned many decades in corporate settings for for-profit and non-profit businesses and concerns, and my work experience has been rich and varied. Looking back, it’s not a stretch to say I’ve pretty much done it all. I have stocked convenience store shelves, worked fast food, sold cosmetics, crystal, and Tupperware. I have sung on stage and acted in plays. Throughout my career I have been self-employed as a concierge who planned and implemented physical moves for individuals and corporations. One of my clients was The Weather Channel in Atlanta, GA. Another time, I coordinated a move and then became the bookkeeper and butler of sorts for an elderly, wealthy Atlanta couple. I have been a tutor and a cook. I helped a friend start a cleaning business and I assisted another friend who catered events.  I have designed and built gardens for private individuals as well as bank branches. In the 1990’s, among other things, I was the Administrator of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Atlanta managing a large staff and an even larger budget. I facilitated the purchase of property for 5 new schools and ensured they were staffed and equipped, and developed and oversaw the tuition assistance program. As a development professional, I was a key-player in a capital campaign fund-raiser that raised over 100 million dollars. 

In the 2010s, I had a wonderful 5-year stint as a band manager and booking agent, owning my own small entertainment company supplying artists to venues, festivals, and private events. The popular dance band I managed, The Cookies, won many ‘best of’ awards and with their unbelievable talent and my management, marketing, and sales support, went from a ‘bar band’ to sharing an event stage with rock legend Steve Miller. In 2014 and 2015 a popular Michigan musician and I performed with others in a musical and comedy variety show called the Alpine Village Variety Hour that we wrote together. We collaborated with other musicians and actors in northern Michigan to entertain, elevate the arts in our community, and promote local businesses. We were also able to gift ticket sales profits to several local charities. In 2017 I was honored to receive the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce Duanne Weiss Businessperson of the Year Award for business owners who give back to their community. 

In my on-going real estate practice, I have worked both commercial and residential deals. Partnering with the small business incubator program at Kennesaw State University, I helped many small business owners with their business plans so that when the time came, I could assist them in their search for their first building or storefront. I was an educational speaker on the ins and outs of buying or leasing office and retail space for State Farm’s new agent training program in Atlanta for the Southeastern Regional Market. 

Certainly lastly, and most importantly, for over 30 years I have handled all the administration for my husband’s business, John Taylor Painting. I have loved almost every minute of  these careers, and when there were bumps in the road, sure there were tears, but in the end, I turned the skills I obtained in one position into a new career and passion. Each role I’ve undertaken has taught me valuable lessons and honed my ability to communicate with, and relate to, so many different people in so many different walks of life. My experiences have built knowledge, empathy, and compassion which have enhanced the quality of my life and made me an effective mentor, better friend and confidant, and a more loving person. 

Why do I share all this detail with you? Not only to give you an overview of my experience over many disciplines - which you may find helpful during our life coaching journey - but mostly to tell you one big truth: Reinventing yourself is fun and fulfilling. You can be and do anything if you set your mind to it and make it your intention. And - you can do it with joy in your heart. Clarity Life Coaching, will teach you how.