You have everything you need inside of you.
Erica Cooper
Meet Erica
Entrepreneur, Author, Veteran, Master Certified Life Coach, Mum, Volunteer and Motivational Speaker.
Hello! Thanks for stopping by! If you're here, you may be in a space of confusion. Maybe you feel like you want to make a change in your life, but you're not sure where to start? I've been in this space a time or two. I grew up in a single parent home and I never met my father. My Mum and I had a rather complicated relationship and I found myself yearning for a connection with my dad. While I'm confident my Mum loved me deeply, I now recognize her way of showing love was not in line with how I receive it. Because of this, we had a complicated relationship. Growing up, I felt unworthy, that I deserved to be judged, that I was incapable of being successful, and that I didn't deserve to be happy or feel love. These feelings followed me into my adult life. What I didn't realize was the way I saw myself, significantly impacted how I walked through life. It also affected how I allowed others to treat me and how other's ultimately saw me (in terms of what I brought to the table). It also played a huge role in my happiness and success (or lack thereof). I remember watching people treat my Mum unkindly as if being a single parent was a virus, or she was an irresponsible person for having so many kids and relying on the government to care of them. In reality, her husband left her to raise six kids and she was merely doing everything she could to care of us. I'm in awe at how she managed to keep her head up while she was judged so harshly for being a single parent, a women, of color, and on welfare/government assisted housing on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
When I was eighteen years old, I joined the U.S Air Force and retired after 24 years of service. Best decision of my life. The opportunities, growth and maturing experienced I don't think I would've experienced had I stayed home. While it was such an honor and the best decision of my life to serve, it didn't come without experiencing conflict and trauma and I am now a disabled veteran. Still, I'd do it all again if given the chance! A highlight of my military career was serving at the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) in direct support of the President of the United States from 2008-2013 and the reason for the collaboration with Anthony Knopps in the recent publication of "The No-Fail Mission" The Men and Women Behind the Presidential Service Badge (more about that below). I hold a Master's degree in Business Management and Organizational Development with a minor in Security Management. I received my Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University and my Master Professional Life Coach Certification from the Certified Life Coach Institute. I am also an active member of the International Coaching Federation and the International Coaching Federation Pittsburgh Charter Chapter.
Being a disabled veteran, a woman and of color, I know firsthand how challenging life can be. I've been judged, mistreated, misunderstood, disrespected and more because of the way I look and who I am not because of what I've contributed to table of life. My successes have been ignored while my failures amplified and there were days when I wondered if anyone would see the real me. Experiencing this type of judgement/behavior made me feel so overwhelmed that I lost sight of the goals I set for myself both personally and professionally. And there was a time when I hit my version of "rock bottom". Through a lot of hard work, therapy and with a new commitment to myself, I'm proud to say I've rebuilt myself from the inside out. And I like this revised version of me!
As I experienced my most difficult moments, I wish I had someone to assist me in maneuvering through it. At the time, my therapist could simply assist me understanding and managing my feelings/emotions. But I didn't have someone guiding me through a process to get from where I was to where I wanted to be. So, I struggled and learned by trial and error. It would've been so much easier to have someone who could guide me from start to finish while helping me to realize my true potential. It wasn't until I successfully got to a place of success for myself that I realized, I can be that for others! Let me help you so you don't have to feel confused, alone, lost, overwhelmed, and not chase your dreams because you're not sure where to start. That's why I'm here.
I absolutely believe in you. And, I would be honored to walk beside you as you embark on your incredible journey.
Take a deep breath. Let's walk this journey together!