Many coaches feature testimonials. When I first started coaching, my coach actually told me to make them up or ask friends to give me testimonials! (That didn't sit too well with me).

You can usually identify the made-up testimonials because:

• they are generic in nature
• you can't even identify -- let alone contact -- the person who supposedly gave the testimonial to learn more and verify their comments.

I am sure you have seen these. They are so commonplace, they are practically useless.

I only have real testimonials from real people.

I have been a manager for a number of years but I recently joined a new management team at Applebee’s. Besides myself there was also a new manager to the team. I was trying to figure out what this day was going to consist of: holding hands around a campfire while singing, playing leapfrog, having a round table discussion, I didn’t know what to expect. Then I found out that we were going to be doing team building activities. Needless to say I was a little skeptical.

How could a few activities show us how to trust each other, help with communication, or even dare I say it work better as a team? During these activities there were many thoughts going through my head. Mainly, is he serious? Scott Graham described each task individually and as he did so he tried to convince us that this task is going to be easy. Then right when we were ready to start he stopped us and threw a twist in to make it more complicated.

After each activity I had a sense of accomplishment.

Just knowing that something you thought to be impossible to do becomes possible. It only seemed impossible because I thought about these activities and doing them alone, but with my fellow managers it was simple. Finishing all those activities that we all thought were impossible, now that’s a feeling that I can not put into words. Through Scott’s carefully constructed program our management team was able to accomplish every activity and learn specific things about each other.

Scott has helped me with a number of different situations. He helps with enthusiasm, and an abundance of knowledge, and a great deal of patients. If you say you want to accomplish ANYTHING, Scott is off and running- right next to you- motivating- inspiring- giving you encouragement- caring- all the way!

He listens, supports, and is like a bumble bee buzzing around you until you continue moving forward with your goals. I would recommend Scott highly. He helps his clients accomplish great results due to his deep knowledge and out of the box thinking.

I have not only worked with him myself but have had him work with other family members and clients.

Someone once told me there are two types of people in life: those that play in the game and those that watch on the sideline. When I initially contacted Scott Graham, it was because I needed a prep plan and test taking strategies for a licensing exam. That's all I wanted. That is all that I expected. I was a "side-liner."

Sure I had a lot -- very successful in some people's eyes. I thought I had everything -- and my use for Scott Graham was merely pragmatic -- to help me pass an exam.

Years later, I left my old dead-end job, I am running my own business with enviable contracts, have a stronger more intimate relationship with my husband, have returned to graduate school for my CAGS, engage in a regular meditation practice (he talked me into going to a Vipassana Retreat like he does -- then my husband went -- then the rest was history), do trainings and public speaking -- the list goes on and on and on and on!

Scott, worked with me to find my own solutions to the challenges I face. His perspective was just what I needed, and I trusted him to look out for my best interest. He has helped me set goals and establish a path toward success. He also provided valuable accountability in areas of my life that I needed most.

I joined the Mastermind Group in February, 2009, with the goal of increasing my sales.

Scott has helped me reach my sales goals by many different ways. He has given me ideas of how I work with people, and how I resolve challenges that come up. The Mastermind group has two components. The book is completely gone through, and we see how ideas in the book can help us reach our goals. We set our own life goals, family goals, career goals, business goals, etc., separate from the book.

Having known Scott as a friend and esteemed business colleague for almost 2 years, I can only wonder why some people are critical of the business and personal coaching profession. They obviously don't know Scott and the exemplary model he is as a person and as a businessman. And very importantly, how he has the ability to teach and encourage others to fulfill their own goals in way that will help them be successful. He runs his own business with flare and intelligence and sensitivity. He has been my business coach for over a year now.

Genuinely interested in my progress, he cheers for me when I pass a milestone or when I have a sudden insight into what makes my inner business woman tick or not tick. He’s positively a fountain of ideas and resources and seems to give them to me at just the right moment. Something I truly appreciate is his patience and the fact that he never has pressured me to progress more quickly when another person might have done so. I've adopted him as a role model!

He values relationship and directness and he’s willing to work hard to help me. He has taken to heart my progress in the goals I've set for myself. I've learned that I can count on him to be honest and direct with me. Long after, when my coaching days with him have run their course I'll look back, still using all he taught me through his words and by his example.

It's the little changes here and there that make a difference; it's keeping you inspired and motivated; it's really owning it; when you set goals with a supportive persistent coach like Scott. Plus, as a coach myself, I received so many tools that helped me with my athletes, including what is important and how to set a better tone with my team. 

Coaching has been some of the best money I have spent in the past year. Working intensely in a one-on-one relationship with a coach has helped me define my goals, set priorities, change old habits, and accomplish things that seemed like distant desires.

My coach is Scott Graham. I’m sure there are many good coaches out there, but I like Scott’s sense of humor, and background as an addictions counselor, Outward Bound instructor and computer geek. The fact that he is openly gay, I think, takes away some of the paternalistic patterns that might otherwise get triggered by having a male coach.

I think of him as a tough-love big brother (even though we are exactly the same age) who is helping me craft, by hand, some of the tools that fell out of my tool box. Or sometimes he just hands me one and says “Here, take this, I’ve got an extra.” Or “Hey, did you know those are on sale right down the street?” or “Oh my God, no wonder you are having trouble, that’s the wrong tool!” or “Here, let me show you how to hold that tool, it would work a lot better if you do it like this…”

So I call on Scott, after all he holds a Masters degree in businesses in addition to years of practical experience

I worked with Scott Graham based on a recommendation from my employer, in the hope of gaining greater insight into navigating the intimidating (for a new counselor) waters of transference, counter transference and my own struggles with perfectionism.

Scott proved to be an authentic godsend for me. The first thing I learned about working with Scott - and learned quickly - was to NEVER ask a question unless I could demonstrate that I had first sought the answer elsewhere, on my own. Scott truly practices the adage that "giving someone the answer denies them the chance to learn for themselves." As a counselor this truism is critically important; as a human being it is essential. I learned to appreciate Scott’s questions more than I would his observations.

Scott was able to bring to bear a wonderful combination of an obviously talented past life as a counselor with sharp insight into the challenges of surviving in the workplace. His questions were always insightful, without a hint of judgment. What I also came to appreciate is that Scott genuinely enjoys celebrating with me those occasional "Ah ha!" moments when the insight to which he has guided me pops up and smacks me in the forehead. There is never any sense of "It's about time," or "I knew you'd get there eventually."

Just a shared sense of satisfaction that the process was working. I was also impressed that Scott never brought his own agenda or timetable to our work. Yes, we developed a plan for our work at the outset (and even that process proved informative for me), but that plan was a very loose tether in Scott's hands.

I have been an active participant in the Mastermind Group at Borders that Scott facilitates each Tuesday morning for an hour. I have read seven or eight books with the group since joining the group a few years ago.

But, as I have said many times to new people who have joined the Mastermind Group: it is not about the book. It is not even about the coaching (though we get a fair amount of that from Scott). It is about the people in the group.

I had never participated in a group coaching but decided to give it a try based on a referral from a successful colleague. I was unsure about sharing my struggles "out loud" and the whole Mastermind term scared me but...

Posting our work via private FB group and answering questions weekly and seeing what others were doing was very beneficial and I loved the people on the group. Scott was able to draw out our challenges and our strengths. He is focused and really listens to us as individuals. I had continuous breakthroughs about my financial chaos and have been able to let go of the stress. I feel more accountable to my future.

I was skeptical when a friend recommended hiring Scott to help me with my freelance writing business (I wasn't even sure what a career coach was).

I am the Manager of the Lebanon Airport, a service that is funded with taxpayer dollars in the Town of Lebanon, NH. Because of this, my position is politically charged, with a high potential for people's personal opinion of the Town or taxes spilling over to how they perceive me as the Airport Manager.

So when Scott approached me about the DiSC 363® for Leaders survey from Inscape Publishing, I was concerned that people's opinions on things other than me and my leadership as Airport Manager would come through in the feedback. I had heard that often in 360 degree feedback efforts, people can come loaded for bear.

My worries were for nothing. DiSC 363 uses this comment system that prevents loaded snarky comments from finding their way into the survey. I got balanced, constructive feedback that was very helpful to my work. After I completed my self-evaluation and other people I interact with did their evaluation, Scott debriefed the results.

Wow! Awesome freebee! When Coach Scott Graham offered to give me a free coaching session I was skeptical. Based on previous experience with freebees, I expected it to be 2% coaching session and 98% sales job. Was I ever surprised. 

What I got was 100% coaching session. He helped me sort out my needs and wants regarding my business and nail down those things that were important. Then he helped me to determine what the one most important thing was that I needed to do.

When I first considered joining the Mastermind Group I found myself wondering about the cost. Eighty dollars, while not a lot of money, seemed out-of-place for what one would expect for a typical book group at Borders. T

hen I discovered that what Scott Graham offers business professionals is not your “typical” book group. While we do have a book as a reference point, each of us, through Scott’s guidance and coaching work hard to challenge each other to identify and achieve goals, while supporting each other with total honesty, respect and compassion. Scott has transformed us from strangers to supportive colleagues, from indifferent readers looking for a “book club” to catalysts looking for personal and professional growth.. Y

I worked with Scott in a Mastermind group around the book "Overcoming Underearning". I can't say enough about the experience and what I gained from only 8 weeks. We did have "homework" and a discussion board to post to in between calls, which added a tremendous amount of value and time savings on our calls. I went into the group feeling stuck in my business, but resisted thinking that I was an "underearner". Boy was I wrong.

Scott is a master at listening and picking up on the key ideas expressed to then give clear and focused feedback to the group or the individual.

I hired Scott Graham because I was struggling with a career choice that was quite simply not the right choice for me. Against all of my better judgment after college, I decided to take a career in a field I knew I was not passionate about and maintained that career for nearly 7 years. I was making incredible money and I was comfortable in that mode.

However, not even one year after being married, my husband and I were at odds with each other, I was depressed and unmotivated, I had gained weight, I had no hobbies; plainly put, I was miserable. I was in such a bad way that I had to swallow my pride and reach out.

I can confidently say that hiring Scott Graham was one of the single best decisions I have made for myself in my entire life. Scott Graham is not a therapist or a psychiatrist - he is a coach. He will not insist that you have a disorder of some kind, he will not prescribe you medication, he will not make you feel like a patient with a number instead of a name. He will only guide you. He caters his coaching sessions to any format you desire. Scott has this uncanny ability to read between the lines and really get to the nitty gritty of what you are trying to articulate. He gives valuable insight that you will not get from family and friends who are often biased and say what they think you want to hear. He will push you to find your own answers and do it in such a subtle manner that you will not feel rushed or as if you are coming to conclusions that are not your own. Furthermore, when you talk to Scott, it is clear that you are talking to a true professional who has years of experience in his practice.

What is as equally impressive as his resume and long list of testimonials is that he fiercely and unquestionably believes in what he does and believes in you and your ability to be a happy, successful, complete person. You will see, hear, and feel this from the moment you speak with him. He is completely dedicated to you and the coaching process. The proof of my success working with Scott is that I have had numerous people in my life, important people in my life, comment that I am a changed and more positive person with incredible, newfound energy.

My husband has even said that our marriage has improved because of the tremendous work I did with Scott to find myself again. It is for all of these reasons that Scott has been able to help me in ways that I would not have thought possible. So, if you have made it to the end of this testimonial, I encourage you to look no further, pick up the phone, call Scott, and start to tackle the things in your life that are holding you back from being the best you can be.

When I hired Scott I was working a full time job while trying to grow my own business. Scott helped me to transition from an employee to a business owner. During my 4 months working with Scott, I quit my old “job” in a manner which not only maintained but actually cultivated the relationship with my old employer and I started running my business like a business.

When I thought of doing legacy planning for my business, the last profession I thought of was a professional coach. The very last. I mean, what do these people do anyway? Talk to you and make you feel better? Not what I needed. Pragmatic results. I needed to make a decision on what to do and there was no way some touchy-feely-would-be-counselor-turned-coach would help me.

Then a friend introduced me to Scott Graham. Professional. Knowledgeable. Skillful. I decided to give it a try. I AM SO GLAD I DID!

Working with Coach Scott has been – well – in a word – amazing. I got so much more than legacy planning. In addition to reaching a clear decision on how to pass on my business, Scott helped me forge stronger relationships with my family, he engaged with me to create a system for my business so I am managing the system and not the product, he helped my employees become more focused on their strengths, communicate better, work more effectively with each other and produce more.

When it was first suggested that we work through some problematic issues over a 4 month period via bi-monthly conference calls with some couch I never even heard of, I thought “this will be a TOTAL waste of time, money and effort.” Our family has struggled with each other for YEARS – many of those IN-PERSON with each other. 

How 8, 45-minute conference calls were going to make any difference was beyond me?! 

I am glad to report that I was completely mistaken. How Scott Graham did it, I don't know. 

Maybe it was the DiSC profiles, maybe it was the reframing on the phone, maybe it was the individual encouragement and coaching. We didn't even use all the calls -- we only talked 6 times as a group! The issues I thought were irresolvable are now resolved. 

I have only had one session with Coach Scott, but I have already been able to make some big changes in my life. 

I had never been one to take Life Coaches or therapy in general seriously, and it certainly wasn't something that I would do. But Coach Scott changed my idea of what coaching can do for a person. In just the first session, he was able to open my mind up to some fairly simple solutions to my particular stumbling blocks. We talked about two main areas- work and social life. 

He was able to give me some uncomplicated steps to take to help me take better control of my chaotic work scene. After moving to Vermont from Boston, I was having trouble adjusting to my new "social" life. I was feeling alone and was not sure of how to handle it and what to do about it. Coach Scott was able to help me make a short list of things that I like to do, and ways that I can incorporate family and friends into those activities so that I can begin to build a new social network in my new location. 

Scott and I just finished a 3 month coaching commitment. Having developed and coached several work place teams, as well as Hanover youth hockey teams for the last 20 years, I know a little bit about the subject.

I contracted with Scott as I was about to launch a new business and knew that he could help with the process – little did I realize how much.

Good coaches come with a few special traits – they re good listeners, they are good teachers, they are patient, they give you a little bit at a time rather than the whole magilla at once, they build your input into the finished product, they praise as well as constructively correct, they encourage you to do your homework AND they make it fun.

While I did not decide on doing coaching with Scott ( or anybody for that matter), The awareness I gained in that 30 minutes was much appreciated. I would recommend Scott to anyone needing awareness and solutions to anything from life issues, relationships, jobs and more. Scott has training in many areas and is able to use all that knowledge to help on an individual level.

I was a substance abuse counselor working with young adults at an inpatient treatment facility in Vermont. Scott was one of our out-of-house clinical supervisors and we developed a professional relationship.

I was encouraged by Scott to pursue in a direct and thoughtful manner an idea that I had to create an adventure-based therapy to accompany our already dynamic treatment model. It worked!

I left Serenity for the coast of Maine and continued to work with Scott as a coach. I thought out a plan to return to school and find a way to couple my life skills with my interests. I am now a BSN, RN, and glad to have worked with a coach like Scott.

I have been a member of the Mastermind [business coaching] Group for many years and have found it to be extremely helpful not only professionally but both personally.

Scott keeps the group focused on supporting each other AND holding each other accountable.

I think this group is an especially good resource for solo entrepreneurs -- we do so much alone -- it is great to have a group of people with whom you can consult, grow and develop.

Scott has what it takes to help someone get, as he calls it, "unstuck." In fact, I would say, although Scott brings a diverse array of knowledge to his coaching clients (MS in Business, QuickBooks ProAdvisor and NFPT Personal Trainer to name a few), it his ability to help people who are "stuck" that is his greatest strength. This is no doubt a reflection of his counseling skills.

I got so much from coaching with Scott.

I had gone to a therapist when I was younger and I hated it. Hated it. So I was really skeptical that coaching with Scott would be just like a therapy session. I was very, very skeptical at first that really anything would come out of it.

I am a talker, so it helps me to talk to a neutral party and just get completely neutral feedback and fresh ideas. That's what coaching with Scott is like.

And I think it is easier working with Scott because it is not just me spilling out my feelings. We talk about ideas of things I can do about things and set a plan for me to do something.

I hired Scott after a bit of research on the internet for business coaching. I chose him initially after reading Scot's thorough description of his capabilities and accomplishments.

In the initial session Scott made me confident in my choice and in the first hour I was able to clearly focus on the things I wanted to accomplish next.

Some might consider it foolhardy to start a business, let alone open a restaurant, in the middle of an economic recession. But I had confidence -- not only in myself and my business partner -- but with a business coach like Scott by my side I knew I would not go awry in business decisions.

I can't tell you how many times I heard Scott challenge us to not only develop a business and market plan but to integrate it as part of our daily business practice and not just file it away and leave it on the shelf to collect dust as so many businesses do. Today everything we do or buy has to have a written plan with a specific, measurable projected ROI or we don't do it. And if we decide, based on the plan, to take action or to buy advertisement or a product we evaluate the ROI and if it doesn't meet our expectations we won't do it again.

Through work Scott has done with key staff, we now have systems in place for everything from inventory management to financial data to employee supervision. Through Scott's leadership we have a core reading list for all new managers including "How to Win Friends and Influence People", "The Situational Leader", "The Emyth Revisited", and "Essentials of Finance & Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers." I could go on and on and on …

A year ago I would have described myself as a restaurant owner. Today I describe myself as a business owner whose current focus happens to be a restaurant. Thanks, Scott! If you are even thinking of starting a business, get a business coach -- and not just someone who claims to be a business coach because of some weekend course they took for $500.00 -- ask to see a copy of their University / College GRADUATE SCHOOL diploma -- if you don't see the word BUSINESS or MANAGEMENT in their degree, run away!

I said to Scott at one point during the call, "Boy, you sure are pushy." And he is just that -- he just doesn't want to talk to you about what you learned he wants to know what you are going to do about what you learned. And won't let you off the hook until you identify what exactly you are going to do based on what you learned.

During my 30 days with Scott I expected a taskmaster and instead received real support along with simple, straightforward advice that I put to use starting day 1. With Scott's guidance we created a step by step plan for 1 and 2 week intervals with realistic goals. The metrics came after implementing the plan and achieving the base goals. For a person like me that looks at time and goals in a linear way this approach proved that I could get started back to the way I used to feel years ago.

Scott proved to be exceptional at understanding both my issues and goals. As he has known me for over 2 years in a somewhat personal capacity I could sense his caring for my well being and to see me get back on the right track to better health. His use of various checklists allowed me to focus on more specific health and life goals which I am using even after the 30 days of coaching ended.

I was so pleased with the results I got, I decided to continue to work with Scott past the initial 30 days.

Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative

Scott has helped me over the years by helping me to achieve my short term goals and my long term goals.

Even when I thought I could not do it, Scott came up with ideas and techniques that would help me move towards that goal. He helped me pass my CADC oral exam with a 95%. He has helped me elaborate and improve on I my record keeping, such as ASI, s-9 grid, treatment plan, and discharge summary.

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Creative

Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, High Integrity

Scott is a highly skilled and thorough Coach, who is able to apply his many talents to a range of life areas.

Top qualities: Personable, Good Value, On Time

I have chosen Scott because he actually took me through a session with him to see what coaching was all about. He was the only one I met who said the first "session" was free and it was really a session.

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert

I recommend Coach Scott. He came along when I was feeling overwhelmed, but our first conversation made me realize that there ways to feel less overwhelmed and that he could help me find them and do them. It was immediately freeing.

He and I set goals and a timeline to get them done.

I realize that facing issues is easier in the long run than avoiding them -- they become bigger with avoidance and affect so much of your behavior. Life is ever-changing and requires many new directions and insights. Scott helped me acknowledge that life is not a flat line -- it has ups and downs, and that's OK. But use the ups to learn from the downs. Also, my communication style is different from each member of my family's style. We all need to honor the communication needs of each other. It is a process that takes work all around. I've learned a lot, with Scott's help. I'm grateful to have found him!

Top qualities: Great Results, Good Value, High Integrity

I was looking into career coaching when I ran into Scott. I was hesitant to accept his free session as you know the old saying about things that are free.

I was assuming I would get a live sales pitch.