Prepared for March issue of Our Times by Marlene Andrews-Gilboy

Sydney Rice - Advises You "Get A Life Now'

Creator of The PaperRoom™-- Her Method Reveals Your Hidden Potentials & Passions

Founder and president of The Coaching Company, Sydney Rice has worked for over twenty years as a professional business coach, consultant and trainer with over 1000 individuals. She has created the Partnership Pact; a collaborative coaching model that has been effectively employed by groups and individuals in Fortune 500 companies. Businesses contract with The Coaching Company for customized in-house coaching programs, which gives them access to her stable of proven seasoned senior coaches with results based on leadership development and methodologies. In addition, she has developed an original and innovative program called The PaperRoom

Using these "discovery" techniques, enable her to work with you to uncover a way to make career choices that are personally and professionally fulfilling. We all think we are capable of realizing truths about ourselves through our own efforts and self-analysis. However, by sharing this process with an experienced coach and interpreter such as Sydney Rice, one can learn to change habits, perceptions and assumptions. Rice can help you make a move toward achieving goals and long term results that are fruitful and satisfying. With her guidance and encouragement, the experience can be provocatively eye opening! According to her, "When you can appreciate the depth and breadth of your knowledge, your talent, and the power of your commitment - options that once seemed out of reach become possible." She adds, "Everything you have ever done has prepared you for what is next. There is no such word as can't."

Aside from coaching and consulting, Sydney is working on a book and a series of articles dealing with the rich opportunities available to us in our life's third quarter. She has participated in numerous seminar and speaking engagements on the topic and is currently developing an on-the-air format for public radio.

The PaperRoomexperience often reveals stunning truths and awakens participants to reassess old habits, thoughts and ideas that may be limiting or hindering them in their career paths or other personal choices. Rice probes, ever so gently, ever so caringly in the process, which enjoins you on this trail of discovery. Rice adds a dollop of humor and more than a pinch of "been there, done-that-myself' freeing your inhibitions right from the getgo. She queries you about your short term and long range goals and objectives, about family influence and characteristics, and she invites you to create an intriguing Top Ten list of your most memorable experiences or events. "Where is this all going?" you ask yourself. In good time, the ofttime surprising answers are right there in front of you. In colorful orange, red, teal blue or whatever Magic Marcherhue you've chosen as she writes your responses on super-sized white paper sheets that are taped around the room - et voila, The PaperRoom, which is aptly and appropriately named. However, it is through her interpretation and insightful analysis where Sydney Rice ties seemingly disparate lists of your conscious and unconscious beliefs, perceptions and habits into a cohesive analysis that will guide you to new and better choices. You will marvel at the realization of those "Aha!' moments triggered by how right on target and oh-mi-gosh, how come you didn't see this yourself? Rice is a sage and savvy woman who provides an intelligent and practical overview of all these things that will amaze you. The PaperRoom experience is about opening yourself to latent interests, uncovering your hidden potential and then setting out on a journey, the path to making the most of opportunities still to come. Such as dreams placed on the back burner because they didn't seem practical or fit into the scheme of things before. Another area that is a passion and concern of Rice is "what are we doing with the rest of our lives?" As it is well documented, the baby boomers are crossing that great divide to age 50. An age that once seemed to imply that life went only on a downward path. Not so! Becoming 50 is probably reaching one of the most exciting times in your life. As adults in a prime time of life, we can now open the door to a richness of life experiences that was not available to previous generations.

"It's About Time..."

According to Rice, life for most of us up until age 50 is mainly about survival--survival in our lives, career, love, family--an intense focus on success in all these areas. However, once we achieve basic satisfactions and have a certain comfort level of security, as time marches on we begin to wonder "...that's not all there is? Is it?' For a time, most of us brush aside these unsettling thoughts. Yes, "Why is it, I have all this, I have all that, I've achieved or done whatever...but something just isn't there!' For individuals who have reached a certain comfort level with most everything else in their life, there remains this need, this itch that begs to be scratched.

Where Am I Going???

After 50, many wonder about this. In her book, now underway, Rice likens this stage of life as parallels comparable to the Lewis and Clark expedition. You are on a journey, which will take you over a Great Divide of mountainous terrain, riff with prime time life decisions and indecisions still ahead, with plenty of what-if's, where's and how do I want to live this third quarter of my life in a way that is more exciting and challenging. Age 50 for many seems to be that pivotal turning point. Younger ages are mindful of the big five-o decade in their not-too-distant future. They may be in the career and family building stages of their 20s, 30s, and 40s, but many know that 50 and 50-plus is not all that far away. At twenty you start up the career path, and by 30 have probably started your family. At 40 you have taken protective measures to assure you and the family of the comforts and security needed for the rest of your lives through pensions, savings, and insurance. While reaching 30 is no longer a time to dread as in the "never trust anyone over 30" era (we haven't heard that since the swinging sixties!) and hitting 40 is merely an annoying speed bump. However, 50 is the number getting everyone's attentionäretirement no longer seems that far away (in fact, many of you will be able to not merely consider, but afford early retirement). What will happen to your life as you and most of us look ahead to many more years on this planet? What is it that you would like to do that you never had time for before? What have you wanted to do? To write? It's About Time! To paint? It's About Time! To putter in your workshop, to travel, or to take on a totally new career? It's About Time! To head back to college? To learn to tango? You really need do more than just think about it.

Well, "It's About Time!" isn't it? And that is also the title of her forthcoming book that offers more of her insights, ideas and philosophy. According to Rice, "After 50, it's not about survival ...but a discovery stage for how much better life can get! It's about the essence and quality of your life. It's about who you are, not what you are!." The PaperRoom™ experience can be ideal for you, especially if you feel stuck in your career or with your life and are wondering what you are overlooking. Contact her to discuss doing the PaperRoom™ experience at (978).465.5124 or email her at sydney@bostoncoachingco.com

Photos by Marlene Andrews-Gilboy

Marlene Andrews-Gilboy is a graphic designer and writer living in York Harbor, Maine writes about entrepreneurial women for the Our Business page of Our Times.

Her business is AGGA Graphics: www.dansmachair.com