Gary M. Hillman, MBA, EE
Gary is a sales professional with a background in human services, now in coach training with Mentor Coach and working toward coach certification from the International Coach Federation.
The “EE” after my name stands for Entrepreneurial Evangelist and it reflects the enthusiasm I have for building my own business and helping others build theirs. This idea also applies to people who don’t literally own a small business because in a sense, we all are in charge of something we hold dear. Whether it’s a household, our family, or a career, we all seek ways to better manage all the balls we have in the air.
Zest for coaching comes naturally for me as I see clients get excited again about their goals—and begin (again) to believe in possibilities. This is especially true of folks with ADD or ADHD. I have many special interests and coaching specialties, but this one in particular demonstrates my belief in “turning a new leaf”—and comes directly from my own personal experience.
A few years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD. A coworker shared his story of living with ADD and suggested I might have it. Some of the symptoms he listed really struck home, so I started investigating. My wife encouraged me to get formally tested—and so I was diagnosed.
Getting that diagnosis paradoxically upended my life for a while. Yes, I started treatment and finally was on a successful road, but emotionally it threw me for a loop. I recalled all the troubles I’d had in school and work throughout my life—and at long last was able to make sense of it all. “Recovery” took more than taking the right meds; it also meant hiring a professional who specialized in ADD to help me learn strategies for getting organized and in control of my life.
Of course, I’m not “cured,” but what I’ve learned is tremendous—and has reinforced my belief that anyone can make breakthroughs in his or her life. I can now look back at my previous work and value the variety of experiences I had even before the diagnosis: I returned to college as a “mature” student and was able to finish my BA, and go on to graduate school to earn an MBA. I finished one year of Law School before finances interfered (I still occasionally think of going back to finish). I’ve run a business and worked in human services with developmentally disabled adults. Still, most of my work has been in Sales. I love it because it’s a people business. Which leads me to coaching and why I get a charge out of it: I get to support others’ dreams and see them get excited and succeed!
In 2000, Connie and I married (after meeting on-line). We started New Leaf Coaching because we both see ourselves as helping professionals who want to build people up and help them see their own strengths, just as mentors have done for us. We like being in the “hope” business. We know from personal experience that hope isn’t an empty promise; it is the launch-pad for success. I’d love to talk to you about your hopes and how I could help you realize your dreams.
