how it all started.
I got to my first career coaching session soaked, out of breath, and with a sprained ankle.
I grew up in a country where being late isn’t a thing, it basically means you don’t care about the person waiting.
So when, after my burnout, the tram didn’t show up for my first coaching session… I ran.
It was June, I was wearing flip-flops, and there was a storm. I arrived soaked and hurting, but on time.
My coach met me at the door, went looking for a towel, and said something like: “Next time, you can just send a message that you’ll be a minute late.”
Once we sat down, he immediately started unpacking my people-pleasing tendencies and constant fear of letting others down.
Not what I expected from career coaching, but honestly, pretty life-changing.
I started reconsidering all my life choices, asking myself if I was doing things just to make others happy.
Which, surprise surprise, was exactly why I burned out in the first place.
It was messy and confronting. And no, I didn’t figure out my next career steps that day.
But that session helped me understand how I make decisions, accept that, and move forward with more confidence.
Years later, with a lot more experience and after some intense coaching training, I try to be the one who meets people exactly where they are.
With a bit more structure than I experienced as a client back then, but aiming for the same kind of impact.
Supporting you to make sense of things, be kinder to yourself, and get to places you once thought were out of reach.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
