She has overcome three burnouts. And yet Nicole Haut-Cavegn has managed to energise not only herself, but also other people. For over 12 years, she has used her self-empowerment coaching to support her clients in shaping their lives with self-determination and contributing to a better world. The 42-year-old on uniqueness, change and good intentions.
How did you become a self-empowerment coach?
I became a self-empowerment coach because I have always been fascinated and interested by people. At the same time, my own experiences have also brought me here: I’ve been through three burnouts and, in doing so, have gradually found out how I and other people tick. I've tried everything that can help in such situations from A to Z and I’ve learned so much. I made a best-of list and put together a toolbox that I tested on myself and then also on my clients. These tools turned out to be really effective.
Is coaching your dream job?
Working with people is my dream job. I am passionate about "empowering" my clients – supporting them in living self-determined lives. I find it so joyful and uplifting when I can help people discover and get to know themselves, when they have learned to value themselves and then use their energy to chart their own course.
Who is your coaching for?
My coaching is for people who want to lead a self-determined life. People who have understood that a better world starts with them and that they can create change. They may not yet know how, or doubt that they can really change – that's where I come in. You have to be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get on with it. So, my coaching is for life junkies, i.e. people who are hungry for life and enjoy discovering themselves and the world. People who don't always find it easy to break out of their comfort zone, who haven't lost their childish curiosity. They want to learn something about themselves and the world every day, they want to create things and have ideas.
How do you manage to change your clients’ lives?
I don't change my clients' lives – they do that themselves. I use my tools to help them attain totally new levels, to stimulate their subconscious, to remove old injuries and inner limitations while strengthening their inner resources at the same time. Basically, the aim is always to achieve clarity: what is holding me back? What am I letting go of? What more do I need? And what do I want to accomplish? My clients also learn what drains their energy and how they can distance themselves from it. They learn the right tools, rituals and behavioural strategies to integrate into everyday life. As a result, they can shape their lives instead of letting themselves be shaped by life.
What can one expect from your coaching sessions?
The goal of my coaching is not defined by me, but by the person who comes to me for coaching. My clients can be sure that I will remain honest with them, do my best and am always 100 percent present. They will grow and gain entirely new perspectives. They shed the old baggage surprisingly fast. They get back behind the wheel and are able to shape their lives in self-determination.
What does self-determination mean to you?
To me, self-determination means acting on my own responsibility, taking a proactive approach to life and actively shaping it instead of letting life shape me. At the same time, I have to be aware that I can't control everything that happens outside – although I can influence how it translates to me personally.
Do you have a role model or someone you look up to in terms of leading a self-determined life?
The Swiss performance artist Nick Beyeler. He has continually reinvented himself and always charts his own path in self-determination. Everything he has done has been great: first he was a sportsman, now he is an artist in Las Vegas and works as an artist on the side – he paints fascinating pictures. He is a role model for me because he goes with the flow of life and makes his own mind up.
What do you think of good intentions at the start of the year?
I think it's good when people set themselves goals. New year resolutions often fail because people set goals in the wrong way. Usually people want too much at once, overstretch themselves and give up in frustration. You need a goal that you’re really set on. Everyone wants to be good-looking, slim and rich – but that's too abstract. We should be more specific and approach the goal in small steps. That’s when a good resolution can really help. Of course, it doesn't have to be at the start of the year. Personally, I always have my goals. It’s not just a new year thing.
About Nicole Haut-Cavegn
Nicole is 42 years old and lives with her husband and 5-year-old daughter in Rapperswil. After three burnouts, she became a self-empowerment coach, mentor, trainer and speaker, studied psychology and completed various training courses in coaching, sports and the therapeutic field. She is passionate about supporting her clients in living with self-determination.
