Memories, an anniversary, a look forward and some thanks

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Some day, in the next week or so, will mark the anniversary of my first trip to Bellingham.

In June of 1973 I drove my ’62 Bug north from my home in Oregon. I got off “5” at Lakeway and headed east to be a camp counselor at Firwood on Lake Whatcom.

In “73 Bellingham was much smaller, gas hit the unbelievable price of thirty-nine nine, we hung out at Herfy’s on weekends, listened to 8 tracks in our cars, the Oakland A’s ruled baseball, the Viet Nam War was nearing an end and Nixon’s presidency was in a free-fall.

Connie and I were married in 1974 and we spent the summers of  ’76, ’77, ’78 and ’79 in Bellingham, finally moving to here full-time in October of ’79. Within a few years we had two sons, Michael and Kyle. I did work stints at the Firs, Birchwood Presbyterian and the INN.  All three were unique, but each provided me with opportunities to build deep relationships and while going forward in life and faith. Connie has been at Bethany Christian Services for almost twenty years.

We became active in schools while the boys were growing up and I was involved in a variety of community activities including prevention of child abuse and caring for those need of community support. We now have four grandkids and enjoy the sense sharing life with our extended family.

Situations and relationships have shifted over the years. It is tough to think of the past forty years and the family members and friends who are no longer with us.

It’s now almost two years since I started Jim Schmotzer and Associates. My hope was to build upon my experiences and relationships in helping individuals and organizations.

Starting a business has been a challenge. It has involved hard work, things I am not skilled at and some things I don’t like doing. But it is worth it. I have been able to work closely with a number of individuals helping them with decisions and direction as they go forward in life. I have worked with organizations helping them to make progress in areas I’m passionate about, including internships, program development, leadership support and organizational transitions.

My goal is to go forward being a support to people and organizations in times of critical decisions and dynamic progress. I’ve been fortunate that many have supported me along the way. Old and new friends have helped make this new adventure a great adventure. Thanks to all who have helped me get this far and look forward to what is ahead.

 

Jim

 

 

 

 

The truth, the bold truth

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What do I offer as a Life Coach? I can help you. I can help you in direct, life changing ways. I can help you:

  • get unstuck
  • find yourself
  • make peace with yourself
  • be yourself
  • face your fears
  • make a decision, own it and follow-through
  • face your fears
  • discover a next step
  • take the next step
  • change
  • become
  • live
  • understand where you have come from to guide where you are going
  • find freedom from being controlled by others expectations
  • set realistic, but forward directed goals
  • discover the difference between what your are “supposed” to believe and what you actually believe
  • become more secure in being you,and more open to the risks of being you

The reason I can say this is that it is what others have told me. It is why they sought my help and returned for it again. Check out these comments from people I have worked with: https://jimschmotzer.com/testimonials.

I love helping others become more themselves and live forward with hope and purpose. I’m open for the meetings if you’re open for the change. Let’s connect and make something happen.

Jim

jim@jimschmotzer.com

360.224.4974

 

 

 

Comming your way…Seattle (Shoreline-Edmonds area)

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I’ll be in the Shoreline/Edmonds area on Tuesday June 4th. Send me an email (jim@jimschmotzer.com) or call/text me (360.224.4974) if you’d like to arrange a meeting for Life Coaching or Leadership Mentoring. I currently have openings at 4 and 5 pm, possibly 6. My commitment is to help you better understand yourself and then go forward with greater purpose and confidence. Don’t pass up this opportunity.

Is it decision making time? I’d like to help.

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When I began to consider pursuing professional ministry, seminary and potentially ordination, Jim was naturally the first person I turned to for guidance. After serving with and being taught by him for several years as a college student, I knew his wisdom and experience would be indispensable to me. He has not only helped me to determine the next steps in discerning my path and opened my eyes to new opportunities, but has encouraged me by pointing out strengths I didn’t know I had and reminding me that leadership comes in a variety of forms. He is unrivaled in his ability to guide and support individuals from all walks of life; I have hardly heard of anyone walking away from a chat with Jim over coffee without a renewed sense of their own worth and direction.

 

     Jenni Herold, Bellingham, WA

 

Helping with decision making, goal clarification and transitions are things I greatly enjoy. Please contact me if you are at a point of significant life choices. Making the best decision is always worth the extra time and effort.

 

 

Help for decision making

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Decisions often have long range impact and/or implications. Making the best decision can be difficult. Making the wrong decision can be painful. Here are comments from Sarah Spitzer related to how I helped her with making a critical decision:

“Several months ago, I found myself at a crossroads with two paths that would take my life in very different directions. I only had a couple of days to decide and was feeling stressed and unsure of what I should do. Contacting Jim was one of the best things I could have done. His sincere heart for serving, thought provoking questions, keen ear, and wisdom helped give me clarity to make a confident decision. He assisted me in determining what was preventing me from making a decision. I was and continue to be grateful for Jim’s gift of counsel.”

      Sarah Spitzer, Brussels (Belgium) American School, ESL/French Teacher

Please contact me if you are facing a significant decision or transition. Thorough working together we can help you move forward toward a best hoped for future. 

One of the greatest rewards…

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For me one of the greatest rewards is helping others along the way, the way of life, faith, career and more. Following is Fred Hartsook’s story of how I was able to support him over the long haul. Let  me know if you’d like to connect and explore ways I could support you on your journey.


For the last decade, Jim Schmotzer has been many things to me. He has been a spiritual leader, a mentor, a cheerleader, and a friend. Jim’s loyal guidance and support as I worked through a very difficult and confusing decade of young adulthood have proved invaluable.

 

When I met Jim, I was a freshman in college. I spent the next few years floundering wildly as I took my first steps toward adulthood, and as Jim witnessed my challenges; he entered my life with great care. He would disarm me by approaching me without judgment, and his gifts in perception allowed him to speak deeply in to my life. Jim provided an anchor of support and respect that I desperately needed.

 

In the years following, Jim continued to faithfully encourage me as I explored various career paths, always making himself available to me to provide personal insight and big-picture commentary. As I transitioned in to a career path of full-time ministry, Jim celebrated my calling with me and shared priceless wisdom from his decades of experience. His affirmation of my pursuit of my current ministry position gave me the confidence I needed to pursue it fully.

 

I am deeply blessed and grateful to have Jim in my life. While he has had profound influence in my personal life, being exposed to his gifting in organizational health has also informed my work in ministry leadership on every meaningful level. Jim’s thumbprint can be found, in some form, in all the areas in which I’ve been fortunate enough to serve and lead.

 

I enthusiastically encourage any individual to seek Jim’s guidance through any season of life.

 

Fred Hartsook, Middle School Director, CTK Bellingham, WA