An Interview with Curt Gorlick, The Life Choice Strategist

Just how did you become "The Life Choice Strategist"?

To understand how I became The Life Choice Strategist, we must go back in time. In 1999 I was at my lowest point ever. I was upset and miserable every day because of who I had become. That day I sat down to figure out just how I had reached this point. The more I analyzed, the more I realized it was all my fault. Yet, I felt powerless to fix it.

That day I came to the conclusion that I had over-compromised myself for years, but I’d just ignored it. Instead, I’d become very good at sweeping those “elephants” of compromise under the proverbial rug and out of view instead of dealing with them. The shocking truth suddenly hit me. I was living a lie.

On the outside I pretended to be happy so nobody would know, but on the inside I was a mess. This was a time of personal agony that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I felt so alone. Overwhelmed by the emotions sweeping over me, I wasn’t even aware of all the challenges I was facing. I just knew I was upset, disappointed and angry. I spent many sleepless nights with my head spinning, thinking about my life and desperate to know why this was happening to me.

Of course, what I felt on the inside didn’t affect just me. It took a toll on everyone in my life. I just couldn’t handle what life was throwing at me. My marriage was failing. My parents’ health went drastically downhill. I had to take on the role of being my parents-parent. I also had to take over running the family business because my father couldn’t manage it anymore resulting in a career change in my mid-40s. All of this combined with my personal crisis. It was a desperate time, one where I had very little support from others. I felt so alone.

Things just kept spiraling downward. I didn’t know what tomorrow was going to bring.  My life was controlled by the circumstances that came up each day.

Then, in 2001 something happened that turned my whole life around. At 49 years old I had been married for 23 years, but as I mentioned, my marriage wasn’t going well. My wife and I had seen three or four family therapists and were starting on a new one. We hoped this therapist could help us rekindle our relationship. Compared to the others we had seen before, we both thought this was the one who could help us. I remember saying to my wife, “If we can’t make it with this guy then we should end our marriage.” We kept working with him, but as time passed not much changed. Out of desperation I blurted out, “I want to get a divorce!”

What had I done?  I couldn't believe I’d said it and I had no idea what was in store for me next.  I knew I was miserable, angry and stressed out, and I also knew I did not want to spend the rest of my life feeling like I did right then. I made the decision that I would change.

That decision was the start of my journey which continues on today. Through many mentors, professionals, books and CD’s and taking responsibility for my own happiness, I now live the life I love. I also have many wonderful relationships I treasure.

What made the difference? Back on that crucial day I made a choice. I chose to not continue living life based on circumstances. I committed to myself to live my life based on my own choices and decisions. Before that point, I simply hadn't seen the power of making the right choices. But to learn to make those right choices, I had to accept that if I could have done it on my own I would have done it by now. So, I got help.

Getting help caused me to realize how many people need the help I received. So, I made the commitment to spend the rest of my professional life helping others who are like I once was. My commitment is to help people learn how to make the right choices to improve themselves, their lives and the relationships.

Life is all about the choices, but we need solid strategies behind the choices we make. That’s why I became The Life Choice Strategist.

Tell me about your clients. What type of people are they?

My clients come from many different backgrounds. I work with people just like you who are ready for change. I also work with people who watch others who are happy and wish they could have that happiness.

Most people I work with have no idea where to start, what to do and what mindset they need to achieve their goals. They need new and different perspectives and strategies to make the right choices – starting today and into the future.

My ideal clients know that if they could have done it on their own they would have done it by now. These are people who are ready to ask for help and ready to do what it takes to get the life and relationships they want.

I particularly love working with Baby Boomers. As a boomer myself I have lots of real life stories, tools and resources in addition to my professional coaching skills.

I have dealt successfully with many baby boomer problems and challenges such as:

• Not making the time to care for them self.
• Losing who they are at their core. Losing what makes them happy.
• Over-compromising and dishonoring who they are and what they want from life.
• Not learning and doing the right things to keep marriage and other relationships strong.
• Life after divorce.
• Having unrealistic assumptions and expectations on others.
• Shutting down, not communicating and holding stress, misery and anger inside.
• Stressing out from parenting their parents.
• Buying things to fill voids knowing that would not make things better in the long run.
• Spending years saying you want change and doing very little or nothing about it.
• Doing the same things expecting different results.
• Not wanting to spend the second half of life feeling the way you’re feeling now.

There are more, but I think you get the idea.

I also love coaching women as I bring a male perspective into a woman’s world when it comes to strained and problem relationships. This is so different from the norm. Most women seek help and advice from their best female friends or a female therapist. Without male input, complete success in male/female relationships cannot be fully achieved. By comparison, the results my clients achieve have been transformational. 

Does it make a difference I haven't yet had the same life experience as you?

Absolutely not. No two people have the exact same life experiences. But we do have common mindsets that drive us to the experiences we have. The experience itself doesn't really matter. What matters is the individual and their personal commitment to change.

I coach and teach my clients to become a different and better person so they can handle problems in alignment with their values and goals, not on their particular situation. This way they are equipped to handle not only the current situation, but all others that come their way.

How are you different from other "life coaches?"

I’m an expert in mindset and relationship building. I lived for years where my ideal clients are now, but I’m not there now. Instead, I now live the life I love.

In addition to my coaching skills, I draw from my own personal life-changing story. Once you realize that life is simply the result of the choices we make, then you know you need to make right choices. Based on this knowledge, I have developed the strategies for making those choices and that’s what I share with my clients. Here’s the core of it: We have to quit blaming others and take responsibility for our lives. I teach you how.

My programs provide the success tools and resources learned from many different mentors and professionals. I invested a lot of time and a great deal of money in search of my new life. In my search I found that I was not able to find everything I needed in one place or one person. So, I created custom-designed programs to help others without them having to go to many different sources like I did. My programs share with you everything I learned.

Lastly, I bring my own personality, humor and dedication.

What type of personality do you work best with and what is expected of me?

Personality isn’t really an issue. Readiness to change is the critical ingredient. I work best with people who are ready and willing to do whatever it takes to live the life and have the relationships they want.  These are people who are done blaming others for what happens in their life. Instead they take full responsibility for their actions, are ready for change and willing to do what it takes to make those changes.

My ideal client is the type of person I used to be. This man or woman has finally realized life is too short and enough is enough! This person really wants things to be better in their life. They just don’t know where to start or what to do. They also accept that if they could have done it on their own, they would have done it by now. That’s where I come in.

My clients commit to themselves and actually take care of themselves first and stop putting everyone else ahead of them.

I expect my clients to show up on time to our sessions and do the work they committed to do.  I also expect them to get out of their comfort zone and try on something they’ve probably not tried before. Simply put, they need to be willing to be vulnerable.

My expectation is that my clients will get much faster results than I did because they are getting the help they need all in one place. I learned the hard way! My programs provide shortcuts to the success I struggled so long to achieve.

What results can I expect when working with you?

You can expect to learn more about yourself than ever before.  You will learn what is keeping you stuck and what is keeping you from living the life you want.  You will learn how to break through those barriers and have lasting change.

Check this list of results. If you are interested in achieving them, contact me.

• Live your life with intention.
• Feel less stressed.
• Regain your power so you control the outcome you desire.
• Take care of yourself and create a plan for the life you choose.
• Have a better balanced life focused on your values.
• Create time for the important things you’ve always wanted.
• Feel more loved, listened to and understood.
• Increase your confidence, self-worth and self-esteem.
• Create deeper and more meaningful relationships in your personal life and at work.
• Learn how to handle situations you’re now losing sleep over.
• Learn to communicate much more effectively and create win-win situations
• Learn so much more about people who you think you already know. They will learn so much more about you, too.
• Learn new ways to see things, creating options and opportunities you’ve not had before.
• Learn about those little voices in your head and how to control them so they no longer control you.
• Start making changes in yourself first and give up trying to change others.
• Start being honest with others who want you to do things that you don’t want to do.
• Learn tips, tools and resources that will serve you well for the rest of your life.
• And much more…

How quickly can I expect results?

There is no set answer to this question because it’s all individual. Some clients have transformations in as little as a week. Typically 6-months is a realistic timeline for significant change.

The depth of conviction and the drive a client has is paramount. You need to be willing to do what it takes to get what you want. It’s all up to you and your being responsible for your outcomes. My programs will work for you. They worked for me.  The rest is up to you.

How can I know for myself that this will work for me?

When I first started my journey to live differently I had no guarantees.  I knew the answers were out there, but I didn’t know at the time who could help me. I went to many different resources in my search for happiness, but I never requested a guarantee from anybody. My guarantee was deeply ingrained in myself, not in someone else. I knew that I was not going to continue to live my life the way I was feeling at the time.

When you want something badly enough you will get it. That is how you can know it will work for you!

Will I recover the investment I put into this coaching program?

Absolutely!  Just remember, though, that there is no way to put a price on your happiness.

Ask yourself this question: What price are you paying now for being unhappy?  I’ve paid that price before and it cost me a whole lot more than money.  I wasn’t sleeping; I was upset most of the time.  I was so stressed out. Relationships in different areas of my life drove me crazy. I can go on but I think you get my point.

With my programs you will experience a sense of well being.  You will feel like a different person, one who is happy and fulfilled.  You will sleep better, have better relationships in many areas of your life and you will have time to do the important things that have meaning for you. Money cannot measure the value of these things.

Curt, based on everything I've read and heard about you, I know you're the one I want to learn from. What are my options for getting started with you?

First, let me congratulate you on making the commitment to yourself for wanting change and taking control of your life and happiness. Good for you! I’m happy and honored that I’ll be working with you to achieve the life you want.

To get started on your journey to living your life differently than the way you are now and shifting your mindset to one that will take you where you want to go, you have options.  I’ve created different programs for you.

Here are three simple steps.

1.    Start by signing up for my complimentary gift to you. You’ll find a form on the right side of every page on my website, http://frustration2fulfillment.com.

2.    Go to the “Programs” page of my website, review my different coaching packages. Pick the one that is right for you.

3.    Email me at Info@Frustration2Fulfillment.com if you have any questions.

OK. I checked it out and I know which program I want. How do we get started?

Good for you!  You should be proud of yourself for making the commitment to yourself to go for what you want in life. Just by making this decision you must feel relieved and anxious to start making the changes you desire.

Simply send an email to Info@Frustration2Fulfillment.com to let me know which program feels right for you. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I'll call or email you to set up a get acquainted call so that we can move forward.