Taught by her hard working parents about the importance
of helping others, this fabulous 40-something is a true social action warrior. She’s also an inspiring coach, who helps
her clients develop and grow — finding meaning in their lives and turning their creative dreams into smart businesses.
elizabeth cassidy lives in Glen Head, New York, with her husband, Walter, and their seven rescued animals.
Supporting many causes with great passion, cassidy motivates others to join her in grassroots efforts and on
the crusade to make the world a better place.
She’s also a great role model for her peers
— being a living example of not accepting one’s status quo, reinventing oneself, and daring to listen to one’s
intuition and letting it guide one into greatness.
When I was in high school, my favorite poet was e.e. cummings. He’s the only other person
I know who wrote his name with all lowercase letters — before it was “fashionable.” Why do you write yours
that way?
I read poetry by e.e.
cummings in high school also, and I loved how everything was lowercased. I thought 'why not?' Why are we too afraid to strike
out and be our own person — have our own style and signature? I was not afraid that the punctuation police would come
to my parents’ home to see why I went against the norm. Going against the norm was the norm for me back then, and I
think it still applies to this day.
Why
did you become a creative coach for artists and writers?
After 20 plus years in the New York advertising field, I felt it was time to reinvent myself. I
made a list of what I loved to do — and hated to do. Helping people, becoming more creative, and looking for innovative
solutions to life’s problems were high on the list. The opportunity to be my own boss and work at home really appealed
to me, so I went back to school and got certified as a life and career coach.
I work primarily with artists and writers. I want to continue to guide my clients as they make
businesses out of their passions, and I also want to help them explore their creativity even more. I’m in the process
of establishing my new business: Coaching for the Creative Soul.
What’s Coaches on the Edge?
The idea came to me about a year ago. I was looking to start a blog on coaching, but with a twist
— using humor and sarcasm to bring home points about life in general. My blogging partner, Laurie Lawson, and I created
Coaches on the Edge, and we just scribed our 100th blog. Every Wednesday, we blog about getting on the cover of Oprah Winfrey’s O
Magazine. When it happens, we’ll use ourselves as an example
for the importance of believing in one’s dreams — big or small. Notice I said when it happens. As a former comedy writer, I love that I gave myself the chance to write,
be funny, and maybe change some minds — including my own.
You’re an active advocate for several causes. Where does your passion come from?
From being the child of two very hard working parents,
who taught us early on about equality for all. It was as simple as that. I knew the world could only change if I became active,
and I try to leave a mark on it from AIDS education to animal rescue. I think of myself as a warrior with really cool shoes.
I love this quote from Buddha: Never by hatred is hatred appeased, but it is appeased by kindness. This
is an eternal truth.
What three causes
are most important to you?
The
elimination of AIDS. Having lost so many funny and darling friends to it, it still saddens me that they’re no longer
here. The lost of potential has been staggering in our lifetime.
Animal rights. I think we can judge
ourselves as a people by how we treat the innocent and animals. I have quite a few rescued animals living in my house, and
they love you unconditionally and are quite entertaining. So, I cannot even fathom what it could be like to hurt any animal.
I even take spiders out of the house, and I’m allergic to their bite.
Women’s
rights. I see a swing going backwards instead of steady growth and that bothers me greatly. Whatever you do as a woman, do
it with passion and gusto — and demand equal pay.
With such a busy lifestyle, what do you do to unwind or relax?
I’m currently exploring Buddhism. I find my life is at its fullest when I consider new subjects
and challenges. Relax? What’s that? I think I will unwind in the next life.
What else do you like to do for fun?
I like to take day trips, so I feel I have stepped out of my everyday
life. I also like to rent movies and write. I like exploring new places and people. I think one day I’d like to take
a ride cross country and visit diners along the way. That or live in Italy.
What’s the most satisfying aspect of your life today?
Being a writer. I love how that re-appeared in my life — feels like
an old friend that had been waiting for me to call. And, working with artists and writers, and seeing the spark ignite when
they give themselves permission to be the best they can possibly be inspires me.
What did turning 40 mean to you?
That life was just beginning to unfold in front of me. One thing that really made me extremely
happy was being able to be the real me. I think all those people who wanted me to fade away realized that it wasn’t
going to happen. Being 40 is being fabulous and fulfilled, and waiting to see what’s going to happen next.
What advice do you have for people in their 40s?
Relax. You can make life as much fun as you want to.
Get in touch with what your passion is, and run with it. You might have to stay at your present job for a while, so volunteer
in the areas that make you feel most alive. Get quiet, and ask your intuition questions. That is that little voice, the gut
feeling or the visual, that just pops up into your mind. It’s sending you answers, if you would just listen. And, don’t
go to bed without doing something kind for someone else. I believe in the theory that the more you give, the more you get.
If you could do one thing with the “Click”
remote, what would it be?
I would
click for world peace, so every child, woman, or man would have the opportunity to live their lives without fear and have
the freedom to be the most creative person they can possibly be.
What’s next?
A New York Times bestselling book would
be wonderful — with Angelia Jolie playing my part in the movie version. Seriously, I’m currently writing a book.
Look for it soon.
Contact elizabeth
cassidy
Phone: 516-629-6838
Coaches on the Edge
About elizabeth cassidy
elizabeth
cassidy, certified coach for artists and writers, is the owner of Coaching for the Creative Soul, formerly Branching Out Life
Coaching. She showers her clients with support, motivation, and dark chocolate when needed. elizabeth is the co-creator/founder
of Coaches on the Edge. She is lifestyle columnist for Boomer Authority, and she also blogs for VibrantNation.com and GalTime.com.
In 2008, one of her blogs was featured in “The Huffington Post.”
elizabeth served as
development director and member of the Executive Board for the International Coaching Federation on Long Island in 2008 to
2009.
She’s a talented writer, and one of her blogs achieved second place in 2008 for Skirt!’s
Best Blogs of the Year. She is a published poet and Reiki practitioner. She is a former comedy writer/comic for “WNBC
Radio” in Manhattan.
