I was the poster gal for what not to do
How did I get here? The hard way. Fortunately, you don’t have to.
I'm Robin J. Schwartz. For 20 years, I was a journalist and promotional writer, specializing in behind-the-scenes articles and personality profiles. I wrote pieces on film, music, theatre and books for, among others, Rolling Stone, Sony Music, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and Playbill.
My steady paycheck came from keeping corporate folk’s offices running smoothly. Meanwhile I was also contending with hours of researching and story-pitching, as well as navigating the massive egos of magazine and newspaper editors and the staff of my interview subjects — who were often worse than their bosses. The interviews were my favorite part (keep this in mind; you’ll see why shortly). And because I did deep research and chose my questions thoughtfully, my interviews were conversations instead of exercises in repeat-the-same-questions-as-everyone-else. (I have the Thank You notes to prove it!) You can read two of my favorite pieces HERE.
I worked 20-hour days. For years. Until I pounded myself into the ground. Would you expect a car to run without gas or oil? Of course not. But that’s what I did to my body.
It didn’t help that I was an overachiever, manipulated by a malignant narcissist mother into believing my worth depended solely upon what I did. As for boundaries? Hah! Not only weren’t they encouraged or respected, they were routinely steamrolled over, often accompanied with crocodile-tear-filled accusations of “How could you do that to me?!?”.
Unsurprisingly, I crashed. Badly.
It took time and some very hard lessons before I found my balance — which meant completely changing how I moved through life, including ensuring I was doing work that aligned with my values, not those someone else had pushed into me. Fortunately a wise man, who for many years was the lead physician at San Francisco’s pioneering Institute for Health & Healing, pointed out that health coaching was the perfect blend of my skills, strengths and experience. I realized he was right. Here’s why:
My favorite part of being a journalist was interviewing someone: getting a sense of their history, finding their patterns. We all have patterns: some good, some not. Partly by training, partly by nature, I became adept at reading and listening between the lines. Combine that with the fact that my body is extra-sensitive, and you have an unexpectedly useful equation.
Because I've been there too, I have enormous respect and compassion for people who are trying to find better balance in their lives. I believe in living well. And living healthily. I’m living proof that you can do both.
If you’re looking for someone to tell you what to do, that’s not me. I don't dictate; that leads to rebellion. What I will do is draw on a broad range of knowledge, working with you to find healthier alternatives to what you may be doing now — alternatives you'll actually use. I have years of experience asking questions, delving gently, uncovering insights and answers. Everyone’s answers are different — this is not a cookie-cutter process, which is why my coaching is personalized. Call it bespoke Health & Lifestyle Coaching. What it means, in practice, is helping you learn, a little at a time, how to live healthier happily.
Sound like the kind of coaching you’re looking for? REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION and let’s talk about how I can help.