Why I became a Coach, a Consultant and a Healer

Recently I asked my mother if she knew what I did. She said “yes of course! You help the employee at the bank steal money and get away with it.”

Haha! I have no idea what she was thinking and I certainly don’t support employee fraud! But at least she got the concept of help right.

Throughout my life, friends and strangers alike have always confided in me. I’ve heard about awful bosses, toxic workplaces, racism, all kinds of harassment, mental illness, gender inequality, cheating, relationship issues, divorce, parenting struggles, bankruptcy and finance problems and big career and business frustrations. I’d just listen. Or point them to an expert far more equipped to help. I was honoured that they shared so deeply with me. Some of their experiences were my own.

They just wanted to be heard. Often, they were terrified of speaking their truth. I offered them a safe space to do it. If they asked for advice and I could give it, I did. I’d ask them questions they’d never been asked before. I couldn’t help everyone but it wasn’t my job to. I loved being able to help those I could. This was the Soul Healer in me.

I noticed that work and career challenges became more frequent complaints, for those in their 30s to 40s.

“I’m just exhausted, stressed and overworked.” “I can’t stand my manager or my toxic workplace.” “I want to change careers but it’s too late now.“ “Do I really want to keep doing this for the rest of my life?” “I’ve been doing this for so long, it pays well and I’m good at it. But I’m so bored.” “I thought I’d be doing better professionally by now.” “I want to start a side hustle but I’m scared it’ll fail.” “I thought I’d be happy at this age.”

I was starting to be the go to person to help them get “unstuck”. This was the Coach and Consultant in me.

By 2020, I’d transformed my own life. I quit a successful corporate career in Hong Kong. I’d always been a lawyer. Until I was laid off. I moved to Cambodia on my own. I just wanted to give back. I was a full time volunteer, Board member, President of a non profit society, mentor and advisor, talk show co-founder. I didn’t earn any income for over 18 months. I discovered my lost cultural roots. I learnt Khmer as a beginner. So. Hard.

I was happy. The questions became more about me. “Piny, are you happy you left corporate?” “How did you step out of your comfort zone?” “…what are you doing for income then?”

So in mid 2021, I took my gift as a Soul Healer, my empathy, my honed legal, corporate and volunteer experience (because 14 years of that doesn’t just disappear if you become a Healer), my life journey so far and my desire to help others. And I decided to help others who not only wanted it, but needed it. It just felt right.

And that is why… I became a Transformation Coach. A Consultant. And a Soul Healer.