Lisa Gates, cpcc
Life Balance Specialist and Coach
When I was in my late 20s and 30s, I had no idea my life was on autopilot and never imagined the term “work-life balance.” I had worked hard through college in a string of waitressing and secretarial jobs. Equally creative and career-driven, I studied journalism and theatre, eventually getting a degree in both. I knew I could do it all, so I juggled a marriage and two careers: one in “Hollywood” and one in public relations. I would barely finish pulling up my tights and cramming my feet into heels, when I’d jam out the door to grab my coffee for the drive to work (a parking lot masquerading as a commute), stop at the corporate concierge in the lobby to get my dry cleaning, peel the plastic off and throw on my suit jacket in the elevator, and try to arrive on time for a meeting without traffic attitude and a coffee stain. At the end of the day I’d jam to the theatre for rehearsal, and exhale into my pillow at 11:30 p.m. or so.
I tended to forget I was married.
The work itself, I loved. Loved brainstorming, collaborating and interacting with clients. But I was miserably unfit for life as an employee, and I didn’t know it. Theatre was my juice, writing was my passion, but I thought there was something wrong with me. So I kept forcing my feet into those heels (hence my obsession with shoes) and showed up, despite the fact that my real life was somewhere else.
Like most women, I was overworked and underpaid—but also like most women, I was unconscious about gender issues, and didn’t sniff out the rejection, the bias, the “passing over.” I did call fowl when my male bosses and coworkers became derogatory, or let’s say, physical, but I wasn’t much more awake than that.
Fast forward, skipping the deconstructions, evolutions and transformations. One day, nearly fully awake, I landed in the 21st Century with a child, the same husband, a geekish plugged-in mindset and an unplugged passion for breathing.
I now manage to make room for all of me—and most often all that’s important to me. The coaching and training work I do with executive women and entrepreneurs begins by helping them unravel the knot of busyness and knee-jerk to-do list living. I then rigorously guide women to show up powerfully and take a stand for themselves, to design purposeful livelihoods that close the wage and income gap, and to create a legacy of leadership and lasting change for themselves, their families and communities, and the world.
Lisa received a BA in Dramatic Arts from UC Santa Barbara, and studied journalism at Humboldt State University and earned her professional certification in co-active coaching from The Coaches Training Institute. She lives in beautiful Santa Barbara with her equally beautiful family, including Cooper the Dog.
"If not for Lisa Gates' spirited advice and understanding, I’d be thrashing around in the abyss right now. I was desperate. I was losing touch with my novels and berating myself everyday. Lisa got me to the point where I’ve stopped tripping myself. Today I’m not desperate; I’m consistent, determined, and confident in what I’m doing. Lisa, thank you very much."
D. Young, writer
"Lisa Gates reached into the very core of my being in order to bring me back into the reality of my dreams. Her talk is real and her methods concise. I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for her innate ability to fast forward me to that next step. I no longer doubt what I'm doing...instead I speak, write, and live, knowing exactly why I do what I do and I realize that the goals I have set for myself are entirely up to me and attainable."
Cicily R. Janus, Writing Away Retreats
"Lisa Gates is a knock-out coach. Her hilarious sense of humor combined with razor-like insistence on accountability makes her one of the most powerful coaches I've ever met. She goes deep, makes me take responsibility, stop blaming others, calls me on my BS, stands for my leadership at work, and loves me with great humanity. Coaching is an amazing process. Just do it."
B. Anderson, HR Director