Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Tietz.
Hi Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Coaching has always been a part of my life for a long time but has looked different in different seasons of my life.
In my 20s I was a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer from ISSA. I lead aerobic classes at Fitness and Motion and water aerobics at the Faribault Community Center. I designed exercise and fitness programs to help people get into shape and achieve their fitness goals. Looking and feeling good at this stage of the game was important to me and wanted to help others do the same. Health is better than wealth, so I helped others live a rich life with good fitness and healthy eating.
In my 30s, I had kids and I enjoyed coaching their soccer teams and leading their Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. When I coached soccer, I focused on teamwork, sportsmanship and positive communication amongst team members. Sportsmanship and character development was more important to me than winning. In scouting, I designed programs to help the kids enjoy the outdoors, learn outdoor and survival skills, develop confidence in themselves and to build character. I was the first female Scoutmaster in my son’s Boy Scout Troop 309 and had the highest number of Eagle Scouts in our troops history during my time as Scoutmaster. In Girl Scouts I helped my girl scouts earn their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. I also did trips to Colorado with my troops that included white water rafting, biking down Pikes Peak and lots and lots of hiking. We hiked and did camp outs all over Minnesota and Wisconsin. Even did a winter Quinzee camp out (built snow forts) when it was -20 outside and slept in them all night.
Then I got divorced in my 40s and decided to lead a singles group at my church. I loved planning fun events to help singles come out of their shell and out of their homes to have fun together. We would go hiking, kayaking, tubing down rivers, going to festivals and event together. Being single can be isolating especially after divorce, I created a community of people who could come together, laugh, have fun and not feel like the third wheel, everyone was in the same boat, single. I led a DivorceCare ministry as a Group Leader through Church Initiative at the Evangelical Free Church of Faribault for years. I took my divorce tragedy and used it to help other people whose marriages had ended with divorce too, who wanted to heal and move forward in a positive way. Sometimes in divorce it’s hard to see a good future ahead and so my ministry was to inspire hope for better days to come. The ministry focuses on ending a marriage well and thriving going forward in rebuilding a life as a successful single. The program is faith based and it emphasizes that God has a great plan and can do great things no matter what your past may be or what’s happened to you. That He can restore and redeem your life and give you a great comeback after a great set back. These values are foundational in my coaching practice.
I remarried in my 50s only to be disappointed again with another divorce. The marriage was very short lived but was necessary for it to end. I had always thought about becoming a professional coach and after divorcing for a second time, I decided to become a certified Life Coach. I obtained 5 coaching certifications from the Coaching Institute in California. One certification is in Activation Method and the other 4 are in Group Coaching. I went from divorce coaching to life coaching. I used all my skills and training to help myself and other people recognize unhealthy patterns in relationships and how to avoid getting caught up in them. I coach people on discernment in relationships, having stronger boundaries, assertive communication, conflict resolution skills and a “we” focused relationship with God at the center. I took a Gottman Institute training to be a Group Leader for the class “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work” where I can help others learn the skills to have great relationships and marriages. The Gottman’s are the leaders in relationship research and I find their methods to be highly effective in helping others achieve great marriages! My practice includes one on one sessions, as well as leading workshops and teaching classes. I enjoy public speaking, teaching others skills that will help them succeed and teaching what I know based on biblical principles and on scientific research. I like to bring the two points of view to show how much they alignment with each other and how it can help people succeed in life and in relationships. I am really about helping people grow, learn, win and succeed in life. The way to great health is by being in healthy, loving and supportive relationships. Marriage is the most powerful avenue to this and it must be built on a great foundation of faith, respect, love and friendship. It also requires sacrifice, commitment, serving and putting the other person first while still maintaining a trueness to oneself.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is full of challenges and struggles, but its the struggle that makes life more interesting and engaging! Life has a way of turning everything upside down so that it can be built right side up. My life has been turned upside down more than once. Even though I didn’t like the betrayals, the heart breaks that I have endured. Along with all the challenges of being a single parent and a divorcee, but it has definitely shaped my life for the better. It’s made me stronger, wiser and more relatable to others. There is always a gift in a struggle; a lesson to be learn, a new skill to develop or a new way of looking at something. I firmly believe that whatever is given as the gift from God, has more meaning if its shared with others and I love helping people find the road map to a better life based on wisdom learned from my and their life experiences.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Comeback Coaching under the division of Southern Minnesota Interpreter Referral LLC?
I have two businesses under one umbrella. I am a Certified American Sign Language Interpreter (provide sign language interpreting services) and I do Divorce and Life Coaching (work with singles, divorced people and couples). I also coach newer ASL Interpreters, helping them gain the skills to interpret and to pass their certification tests.
Comeback Coaching focuses on two avenues for providing services. One is through one on one sessions, working directly with a client, helping them reach their relational goals or helping them rebuild their lives after a set back. Each client receives one clarity coaching session and from there we decide if they want to buy a package or pay each time before a session. The second avenue is through attending workshops or classes that I teach. If they enjoyed the workshop or class, clients will contact me for additional help one on one. I really enjoy teaching classes and public speaking the most. I like to give people thinking points and impart what I know that could be helpful in their own lives. I am very involved with singles groups and do alot of coaching on the spot with singles. I spend alot of time planning and organizing fun events and activities. I love to create communities of friends both in Minnesota and in Arizona in the winter time.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Resilience and to never give up. Life can be hard but we can overcome with Gods help and move onto better things!! My persistence and willingness to keep going and to help others has contributed to my happiness and fulfillment in life! Life is short, its meant to be lived to the fullest, even during difficult seasons. I enjoy having fun, laughing and creating and being a part of a community!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.comeback-coaching-jt.com
Image Credits
The professional photo of me was taken by Amanda Stamm at Amanda LaRae Photography.
