Marian Baker in the News

The Chicago Tribune: Pursuits of Happiness

Marian Baker urges clients to make happiness a habit. “It’s not so much about outer trappings as it is about how we deal with circumstances,” she says.

“Be aware of you inner desires; take responsibility for creating your own well-being and success; make choices in sync with your true spirit.” Baker encourages clients to find their passions and gifts, then match those with what the world needs, the result being a “joyful mission.”

“Life is indeed precious. Don’t kid yourself that it’s all going to be manana, manana.”

Health magazine: The Path to Success

Women are born to lead just like men—they just go about it differently.

“Women may have an easier time creating personal relationships, and that helps them tune into others’ goals and values,” says Baker. For example, knowing what keeps your boss awake at night is a step to solving problems- and getting promoted. And by getting to know her subordinates, a female exec can keep her employees happy by assigning them task that match their talents and interests.

The Chicago Tribune: Smart Talk--Women Reach for Their Own Higher Power

It should be a bumper sticker. Have you seen your authentic self today? You know her. The one who promised herself she’d shoot for the moon—but settled for something less than stellar. The one who vowed to find a better relationship, job and life, but hasn’t found the time or energy. If you haven’t seen her lately, you just may find her at the Women’s Empowerment Group led by Marian Baker. Baker works with women searching for empowerment, which, as she defines it, is "knowing who you are, what your values are, your purpose and vision—and then consciously choosing to create it."

"[Clients] develop a sense of their own balance, how to be at choice and to live more effectively with less struggle," Baker says. "Imagine feeling like you’d never have any regrets about how you lived your life. It’s like moving toward that all of the time. There’s a flow—a peace of mind, a renewing positive energy to living more deliberately with the right structure and support—it’s a blast."

Baker’s [clients] find their emerging empowerment a blast too, when they revitalize careers, follow their hearts and renew passion for life.

The Chicago Tribune, Working: A Coach in Your Corner

"[Some of] My clients are business owners who are already highly satisfied with life and their career path …My expertise is bringing out the best insights and action plans in each of my clients. It's not about hiring an expert to tell you what to do. You hire a coach to help you discover how to make effective choices," said Marian Baker, a professional coach in Chicago.

Elizabeth Lewis has found that her coach has helped her set goals and stick with them, manage her time better and even learn how to make more time for herself--all issues she wouldn't feel comfortable unloading on her friends or family. "It's helpful to have someone to talk to, an objective person who doesn't have preconceived notions about who you are," she said. It never hurts to have someone who wants you to succeed just as much as you do."
Only time will tell whether [coaching’s] focus on happiness and balance will make a dent in an otherwise cutthroat, fast-paced society. "Are we changing the world? I don't know. But are we changing the world one person at a time? It's certainly worth the commitment to me," said Baker.

The Chicago Sun Times: Rejuvenating the spirit is equally important

If you sometimes wish there was a spa for the soul, you are not alone. "People are reaching that Peggy Lee stage, asking, ‘Is this all there is?’ "says Marian Baker, the owner of True Spirit, a coaching and consulting company that provides retreats and workshops for people seeking balance and fulfillment. "It’s a quiet revolution. In the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, we had techniques for coping and stress management. Now people want deeper meaning," says Baker.

Today’s Chicago Woman: Ever Wonder What a Life Coach is All About?

It’s like having a custom-designed workshop just for you, to help you create success in tune with your true self and priorities. It’s having a unique partner, who serves as your confidential sounding board, healthy challenger, brainstorm partner and accountability support. Coaches are nurturing advocates and sometimes the fire you need under your butt.

Remarkable Woman magazine

Ever long for a shift from autopilot achievement and consumption to conscious choices; from overload to wholeness; from vague restlessness to enthusiastically living on purpose? If so, take a breath and read on with a promise to yourself to wake up to new possibilities in your life….

Kellogg Graduate School of Management Alumni Club, E-Business News

Work-Life Balance Panel Review

Marian Baker suggested a poignant self-awareness question to help one evaluate if changes are needed in one’s life: Imagine it is your 80th birthday, do you feel gratitude and pride or resentment and regret? Start asking that question now, and decide what needs to be changed today in baby steps.

Perhaps in the introspection of developing a work-life balance you discover a need for a new career that will allow you to achieve that balance. Again, we have to deal with trade offs. There are some careers that are not conducive to balance and we need to decide our priorities at different points in our lives. Marian Baker developed a matrix with four boxes to help us find fulfillment and true success in work. She indicated that we should fill the boxes with the following:

1. What do you love?
2. What are your gifts, talents and tools?
3. What does the world need? (not just a hospital in India, but maybe better distribution system for widgets).
4. What are others willing to pay for?