Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Walls.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew in Chicago. My dad was an attorney and my mom stayed home and raised us.
As a child watching my dad go to work every day and put in long hours, I picked up the work ethic “work hard, keep your head down, struggle.” My mom would often tell us that when it came to work, “If you love what you do and you are passionate about it, you’ll never work a day in your life. And, the added bonus is you’ll get a paycheck at the end of the week.” These were bittersweet words for Mom because she had worked for a few years until I was born and loved her job.
I didn’t think much about Mom’s advice then because working hard and struggling was what I saw around me and the message I picked up from society.
I graduated from DePauw University with an Economics degree and was glad to be done with all my schooling! I was now ready to get a job in the business world and be successful. In 1985, I was hired as a sales assistant at Hutchinson, Shockey, Erley & Company (HSE), a municipal bond firm in Chicago. I had learned about the bond business and this position through my cousin, Jim, who had been working in the field for a number of years. I remember him telling me that the bond business was a great field to get into and very lucrative. That sounded great to me.
The first few years at HSE were a struggle. I was the only woman on the trading desk and worked with 10 men who were all established in the business. There was no training program for me to learn the ropes; I had to jump right in. I felt like I was in a foreign land and alone. Fortunately, the top salesman and president of the firm took me under his wing and mentored me through those tough years and beyond. And even though those first few years were hard, I never thought of quitting…I’m not a quitter! I survived and went into institutional sales. Nine years later, at the age of 34, I became the first woman partner at HSE, a thrilling moment in my career— I didn’t think I’d have a chance considering that I was now a working mom with two small kids.
Becoming a partner made me realize that I was doing well and to keep doing what I was doing. I was enjoying the business, my peers, and clients, was achieving my career goals, and making great money. Each day I took the 6AM train from the suburbs North of Chicago into the city, got into the office by 7AM and home by 5PM. It worked out fine.
My biggest career goal was to sell and gross the most number of bonds in one day. It happened in June of 2003. That day, I sold and grossed what I would normally sell in two months. Yes, this was my best day ever. I remember walking to the train that night thinking to myself “Wow, this is it. This is the day I’ve been waiting for all these years. Why do I feel so empty, so unfulfilled, so unhappy?”
And that’s when it dawned on me, I had been operating with the belief that the key to success in life is to make as much money as I could. I stopped and had this realization, “Wow, this is not right. Money is not the ultimate key to success or to my happiness. Money is a just a tool…a tool to buy goods and services. It’s definitely a necessity yet, not the key to my success and my happiness. For me, success and happiness comes from relationships—the relationship I have with me, God, my family, and friends.” You see, I had taken my eye off my relationships as I focused on advancing my career. And by doing this, I disconnected from myself, family, and friends; I felt a personal imbalance and wanted to get right with myself and my relationships.
A second “aha” moment came that same year when I lost a friend to breast cancer. She left two kids the same ages as my kids and that easily could have been me. It was at that point I decided to scale back my hours to get home earlier. I had always worked and never been home for the kids after school. They were now in 8th and 6th. I approached the president of the firm and asked him if I could take the 2:35PM train home everyday instead of the 4:20PM to be home for the kids. The firm had never done this before but he was willing to try it.
Everything was working out well at work and home however, something within me was not right. I couldn’t put my finger on it; this new arrangement wasn’t quite right for me.
So, the summer of 2005—my daughter had just graduated from 8th grade and my son had just finished 6th grade—I decided to take a leave of absence. I took the summer off. I needed to see if after 20 years in the bond business, it was time for me to retire. My boss was understanding and supported my leave; I made sure my clients knew what I was doing and had the other salespeople cover these accounts. By Labor Day, I decided it was time to retire. I went into the office, cleaned out my desk, and said my goodbyes. It felt right.
However, I was not prepared—mentally, physically, emotionally, or spiritually—for the difficult transition I was going to go through. I retired without a plan or support and struggled. I lost my working identity. I didn’t know who I was now, I didn’t what I was good at, I didn’t know what I liked to do for fun or what I was passionate about. My kids wondered why I retired since they didn’t need me. My husband was immersed in his work. I didn’t have even many girlfriends. I experienced a roller coaster of emotions as I tried to sort out the transition.
After deep cleaning my house and organizing my pictures, I knew I wanted to do something but I didn’t’ know what. So, I did some soul searching. I read every self-help book, went to personal development workshops, saw a therapist, and went to healers, looking for my life’s purpose. And boy, did I getting tired of searching for answers outside of myself!
One afternoon talking to a friend I discovered coaching. I remember telling her “I’m lost and don’t know what do with my life. I don’t know what my life purpose is. ” After some discussion she said, “Have you ever heard of coaching? I think you’d make a great coach.”
I am now an executive and career coach with my own business, Walls Career Coaching and started coaching in January 2007. I have become an executive and career coach because I wish I had had an executive coach while working in corporate American and a career coach to transition out. From this experience, I found my passion…passion for helping others manage their careers whether it be entry, advancement or change.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Walls Career Coaching – what should we know?
As an executive and career coach I help individuals manage all phases of their careers: entry, advancement or change.
I have developed a unique, proven “inside-out” approach, which sets the foundation for career success. The “inside” refers to helping clients get clear on who they are, what they want in their careers, and the value they bring to an organization. I use customized tools and special assessments to give clients this insight and deepen their understanding of what they have to offer.
The “out” refers to helping clients set realistic goals, create an action plan, and build momentum. I serve as their accountability partner to accelerate their career success.
My goal is to help client reach their potential and achieve happiness in their work and at their work.
I differentiate myself from other coaches in the following ways:
- After spending 20 years in corporate America and going through a difficult career transition without support or a plan, I know first-hand how hard career change can be. I now know what’s involved in navigating transitions and want to help others successfully manage theirs.
- I am a certified professional coach by the ICF ( International Coaching Federation) and have been coaching since 2007. I coach executives and individuals in career and career transition.
– I’ve created a unique “inside -out” approach that works
– I am able to understand each client’s situation and easily pinpoint obstacles getting in their way and help them identify solutions to move forward and operate at their best.
– I use several assessments and have customized career materials
– I am trained in the StrengthsFinder 2.0 Assessment
-I help people shift into a positive mindset
-I provide professional guidance and accountability to achieve their goals.
- My main office is in Northfield, Illinois
- I coach in person, by phone or via Skype.
- I offer both individual and group coaching.
- I provide workshops and presentations for personal and professional development.
- I also am a trainer and facilitator for my coaching school, Ipec (Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching).
I am so thankful, humbled and inspired by my clients as they allow me to do what I love and am passionate about doing – helping them overcome obstacles, achieve goals, navigate their careers and career transitions in a positive, solutions-focused approach.
I have fun everyday and it never feels like work….
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The quality I feel most important to my success is my genuine curiosity and interest in my client and helping them identify to their innate strengths, talents, values, skills, and passions so they achieve their career goals.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1780 Ash Street #101 Northfield, IL
- Website: www.wallscareercoach.com
- Phone: 847-490-5776
- Email: megan@wallscareercoach.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WallsCareerCoach/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganwalls/
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