It's Snider Shoutout time again! I am so excited to introduce you all to my dear friend, Jess Hopkins. Many, many years ago, one of my best friends from high school was telling me how I should meet her boyfriend's friends who were also living in Venice... Jess and Drew. She said that Jess was a life coach and I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. Flash forward a little more than a decade later, now Jess and Drew (and their littles) are some of our dearest friends and coaching is not only a booming industry, but a key part of so many of our lives. I'm lucky enough to have access to Jess's wisdom and energy on a regular basis, and now I get to share her story and insights with you all!
As a bonus, you'll get to hear about her work with Yohana - an incredible new offering designed to make life easier for busy families (amen to that!)
Jess Hopkins, M.A., MAPP, CHPC, is a triple certified coach, facilitator and speaker. With dual masters degrees in Counseling Psychology and Applied Positive Psychology, Jess uses evidence-based techniques to elevate performance and maximize well-being.
For over 10 years, Jess has coached clients of all ages, most recently specializing in Millennials. As a Millennial herself, Jess understands the unique opportunities and challenges of an ambitious generation striving to achieve personal and professional fulfillment.
With a unique approach that blends positive psychology, neuroscience and personal development, Jess shifts her clients into high gear and puts them on the fast-track towards achieving their most meaningful goals. As a result, clients experience personal transformation and next level growth.
Tell us a little bit about your background and journey to becoming a life and performance coach.
My journey to becoming a coach was totally unexpected. I was a theater major in college and had every intention of pursuing the dream and making it big in Hollywood. After I graduated, I spent six months traveling and met a life coach for the first time, which subsequently changed my life. I had always been fascinated by therapy and the helping professions, but wasn’t particularly interested in focusing on disorder and dysfunction. So when I came to learn that coaching was a positive change process, focused on cultivating strengths, taking action, and elevating well-being, I was all in! Multiple certifications and two masters degrees in psychology later, and I am blessed to have had a successful coaching practice for 13 years. In addition to my private coaching practice, I also partner and consult with organizations ranging from Red Bull to Panasonic. I’m really just a professional multi-tasker ;)
Real Estate is one industry where hiring a coach is a very common practice, but it feels as though it’s now more common for all types of industries, individuals and generations. Would you agree? If so, why do you think that is?
I completely agree! I think we are coming to see that just because we aren’t suffering does not mean we are thriving. In other words, even if things in our life are relatively good, the very premise of high performance is that there is always another level to reach. Coaching is the process that can help all of us to maximize our potential in any area of our lives. And, I am grateful that folks are waking up to the idea that you don’t need to be suffering from a clinical disorder to get support. To be successful personally and professionally, we all need someone to help us deepen our self-awareness, create an action plan for leveling up, and provide ongoing accountability. More and more I think people are recognizing the value of partnering with a coach, to not only perform better, but to increase their daily quality of life. Destigmatizing the idea of asking for help, while simultaneously normalizing coaching as an everyday resource, is critical to ensuring that we all have the support we need and deserve.
When and why do you think it makes sense for someone to seek out a coach? And what are some important considerations for choosing the right coach?
The reasons for seeking out a coach are both varied and personal. For some, coaching can elevate aspects in the personal life— health, relationships, finances, etc., while for others, coaching can be highly focused on professional development— organization and time management, communication skills, leadership, etc. Regardless of the motivation, for seeking out a coach, rightness of fit between coach and client is of the utmost importance! Choosing the right coach requires researching and interviewing various candidates. Not all coaches are created equal, and of course, personality and personal preference play a big role. One important consideration is credentialing: unfortunately, anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves a coach. So it’s important to look at a coach’s certifications and training to ensure they are credible. Beyond that, factors like pricing and format will vary from coach to coach. I always recommend setting up an inquiry call to learn more about the coach’s offerings, and to determine if there is energetic and personality alignment.
As an entrepreneur with lots of different balls in the air (and a beautiful family to care for and home to manage), how do you apply the principles, practices and tools you use with your clients in your own life? Is that something that comes naturally to you or do you have to work on it like the rest of us!
Oh, believe me, I have to do the hard work just like all of my clients! Practicing what I preach is very important to me personally, so I can stay in integrity and maintain credibility. That said, entrepreneurship is certainly not for the faint of heart. I am a one woman show, which can certainly be overwhelming at times, but the variety allows me to stay super engaged with my work. Fortunately, my natural strengths do align nicely with the various skills that are required to be a successful entrepreneur, so that certainly helps. Organization and effective time management are absolutely essential to achieving a high level of productivity. I am also hyper clear about my core values - something I help all of my clients to clarify- which helps me to make decisions that are self-honoring and focused on my priorities. I also take self-care very seriously and strive to protect my physical and mental energy. Regular exercise, healthy eating, consistent sleep— these are all things I encourage my clients to prioritize and do my best to practice myself. All of these factors taken together have enabled me to create a business I love ,and gives me an opportunity to help others achieve their best. A gift that I am so grateful for!
It’s been so cool to hear about what you are doing over at Yohana. Can you explain what the company is doing and what your role is there?
Yohana, a subsidiary of Panasonic, is a personalized concierge service with the mission of helping modern families find greater well-being in their wildly complex lives. Blending technology, AI and human support, Yohana aims to help busy parents reclaim time and energy in order to focus more on what matters to them most. As the resident well-being coach for 3 years, I have been able to bring my expertise in the science of well-being to life in many ways across the business. Over the years, my focus with internal Yohana team members has ranged from custom well-being workshops, to 1:1 coaching, to creating culture building initiatives, to designing and facilitating learning and development trainings. Externally, I have delivered well-being webinars to members, and share well-being tips and tools on Yohana‘s social platforms. It’s an exciting engagement that keeps me on my toes, but regardless of what I’m working on, my goal is always the same: to ensure that well-being remains the north star, both internally and externally.
How has that new adventure at Yohana impacted your life and your broader practice? What have been the biggest learnings for you?
I have learned so much working at Yohana; it has been my first experience partnering with an early age start up. As one of the earliest hires, I have been part of the company’s journey as it grew from stealth mode all the way through launching internationally. There have been so many learnings and positive outcomes along the way that it’s hard to capture them all! I think the most exciting takeaway for me is that organizational well-being is becoming a real priority for everyone from leaders to individual contributors. And by taking care of employees first, organizations can make a greater positive impact on the customers they serve. It has been an honor and a privilege to support the internal team in meaningful ways that boost professional performance AND elevate well-being. One does not have to come at the expense of the other!
What is one goal or aspiration you have yourself and your career that you’d like to achieve and are comfortable sharing with us?
I see writing a book in my future. I’m not sure when the time will be right, I’m pretty maxed out running a business, raising two small children and running a household. But I know there will be an opening at some point and I look forward to making a bigger positive impact when the time is right.
For someone who wants to better themselves and their quality of life, but might feel a bit overwhelmed by all the wellness / self-care / self-improvement content that seems to surround us these days and just doesn’t know where to get started…. What would you recommend as a first step?
Yes, there is certainly a smorgasbord of self-improvement content out there these days and it’s hard to know where to begin. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach or set of tools that will resonate with everyone. And, everyone starts from a different place and comes with different goals. So, my suggestions is to sample the offerings. Expose yourself to different experts, different theories, different practices, and see what feels like a fit. The amount of free content out there is truly amazing so give yourself the gift of exploring a variety of books, podcasts, articles, TEDtalks, etc. You don’t have to commit to an entire course or weekend workshop to jumpstart the process. Instead, it can be helpful to give yourself permission to just explore the various voices, teachings and methodologies that are available without the pressure of having to “do” anything.
Have you read any books, listened to any podcasts, or watched any shows / movies / documentaries that you’ve enjoyed lately? Tell us about them!
For all my fellow parents out there, I’m pretty obsessed with Dr. Becky Kennedy and the Good Inside platform. She is a child psychologist with a bestselling book and a great sense of humor. I am blown away by her insightful approach to parenting littles, and I am so grateful for the highly tangible tools and strategies she offers. Highly recommend!
What are 3 of your favorite places/ things to do in Los Angeles?
Well… now that I’m officially a Ventura County resident (thanks to my amazing realtor, Amy!) many of my favorite things are slightly outside of LA. Including:
Hiking. After the wild rains this winter, I am so excited for the super bloom that is beginning to explode in our local mountains!
Eating. I recently went to an amazing Italian spot called Nonna’s in Westlake Village and it was deeeelish.
Sipping. The Stonehaus winery is one of my favorite places to hang out, regardless of the occasion. Whether it’s a date with my hubby or a fun outing with my kiddos, this place is a home run. Great food, live music, yummy wine and beautiful outdoor seating.
Share with our audience where we can find, connect with and / or follow you. (Instagram, Website, FB, etc.)
I’d love to connect! You can find me on LinkedIn or visit my website Empowerhouse.com
