About Aiming Higher

Hi, my name is Wendy Glassock, the founder and director of Aiming Higher.

History
In 2003 I undertook Life Coaching having reached a point in my life where I didn’t know what my purpose was or who I was anymore. This had been building for a number of years and it seemed that I was simply ‘existing’ rather than ‘living’. All I could see was a very empty and unfulfilled road ahead of me. With a lack of any motivation, energy or enthusiasm, it was sometimes all I could do to undertake the weekly shopping! My confidence and self-esteem were at rock bottom.

One day, by accident (or fate) I came across two books, ‘Life Lessons’ by Elisabeth Kubler Ross/David Kessler, and ‘Be Your Own Life Coach’ by Fiona Harold. Both these books served to deliver a huge impact on me – for different reasons - and encouraged me to seek Personal Coaching as my way forward.

Through the Coaching process, came the realisation that I wasn’t living by any of my values hence the frustrations and emptiness I felt. Through exploration I became aware of so much potential that remained untapped and as a consequence my confidence and self esteem started to grow. I gained the tools to further build on my potential and by the end of my coaching I knew with absolute conviction what my purpose in life and my way forward was - LIFE COACHING !

I embarked on a rigorous professional coach training course with the European Coaching Foundation (now Rivas Palmer), and became qualified and accredited in December 2004 with a distinction for my practice client work – hence Aiming Higher was formed.

Formal stuff:
My commitment to my profession and the service I provide has led me to continuously look for new ways to develop and enhance my skills and I have recently achieved a Post Graduate Certificate in Personal and Business Coaching with the University of Chester. All this alongside...

• Practitioner level in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP).
• Membership of the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP).
• Membership of the highly respected Association for Coaching – an organization for coaches who agree to adhere to a strict code of ethics and conduct.
• Regular supervision to monitor my coaching and ensure it is maintained to the highest standard together with regular continuous personal development (CPD).
• Public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

Within this structure, I bring to the coaching relationship empathy and compassion, energy and humour, a non-judgemental attitude, belief in you and what you are capable of, and a complete commitment to your success together with a safe and confidential environment for you to work in.

Today Aiming Higher is a thriving Coaching practice based in Blackpool, Lancashire. Over the past five years, my client range and experience has been diverse – HR directors, business professionals, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, ex-offenders, and business start-ups to name a few. I have held ‘voluntary roles’ within the Princes Trust and the National Probation Service, and have experience of volunteering with smaller charities supporting homelessness.

Although based in Blackpool, Aiming Higher has coached and continues to coach individuals throughout the UK and Europe.

Personal
I am married with two daughters and live in Lytham St Annes. I have lots of interests, but top of the list is probably music and concerts. I can often be found ‘head-banging’ to the sound of Bruce Springsteen or Bon Jovi (much to the dismay of my daughters – it’s not cool). Or at the other end of the scale, I love fell-walking in the Yorkshire Dales with just the sound of nature and stillness (again to the dismay of my children – that’s not cool either). For my sins, I admit to (very occasionally) enjoying the childish pastime of playing ‘knock and run’ and love nothing more than playing practical jokes on unsuspecting friends and family.

I Love health and fitness, in particular, spinning, walking and gym - although admit to finding these a constant challenge. I am however, always up for a challenge and a couple of more recent examples of this would be ‘Trekking the Inca Trail’ in Peru, completing the ‘Playtex Moonwalk’ in London and taking up running to compete in my first 10k.

Other bits
I write a regular Coaching Column for the on-line version of the Lytham St Annes Express (lythamstannesexpress.co.uk)

Most inspiring find on the internet:
the-dash-movie.com by Linda Ellis (speakers on and tissues at the ready)

Favourite Films to Date:
Forest Gump; Shrek; The Green Mile; Mrs Doubtfire

Most Inspiring Read to Date:
Life Lessons by David Kessler and Elisabeth Kubler Ross

And finally...
My mission in life; to continue to be an ‘un-cool’ mother and...