Clarity Begins With Curiosity
Practical, heart-first coaching for life’s biggest (and smallest) moments.
“The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.” – Alan Watts
Hi, I’m Dom!
When I think about the times I feel most alive, I’m usually connecting with other people, sharing our perspectives and appreciating our differences. We’re moving past formality and getting into the whimsical. We feel safe to express our goofy ideas and we cheer each other on, often with laughter.
I’m interested in exploring where this idea that we need to achieve something beyond ourselves comes from and how it affects each of us individually. I’m practicing to be more aware of my own experience. What are the stories I’m telling myself about things like meaning, purpose and success? And how are those serving me? Do they make me feel alive? Or do they make me feel dead inside?
Experience has taught me that we can challenge those stories with curiosity. And that changes everything else.
The first step is simply to become aware.
Cordova Coaching is the shingle I’m hanging out above my door to invite you to join me on this journey. For now, it’s a virtual door to a virtual office (Zoom). My vision for the future is a space with two exquisitely comfortable chairs, plenty of natural light and an espresso machine in the corner.
If you find yourself with questions about coaching, wanting to know more about me or to see if we’re a good fit, or eager to start the process, please reach out. I look forward to getting to know you!
Sincerely,
Dom
My Expertise
In no particular order…
1
Leadership
As an executive coach with The Leaders Edge, I work with leaders at every level who want to cultivate self-awareness and accelerate their impact. Together we explore how to notice when you’re operating on autopilot and practice shifting from reactivity to intentional action. We’ll get clear on the impact you want to have as a leader and I’ll provide support as you work to live that.
2
Relationships
I’m curious about relationships as mirrors—what might they be reflecting back about the stories we tell ourselves about love, connection, and what we deserve? We’ll explore your patterns with curiosity: why you might shut down in certain moments, why you give everything in others, what safety feels like to you. My goal is to support you in becoming more aware of what’s happening in your own experience.
3
Career Transitions
I work with people who are curious about what actually energizes them, not what they think should energize them. Together we’ll explore the stories you’ve been telling yourself about success and see which ones might be serving you. You’ll have space to discover what makes you feel alive and create a path forward that feels authentic.
4
Mindfulness
I support people in becoming more present to their own experience. We’ll practice noticing what’s happening in your body and mind without judgment, and create space to choose how you want to respond. You’ll have tools to be more awake to what’s actually happening in your life rather than running on autopilot.
5
Basketball
I’ve played my whole life, including varsity at UVic, and I’m interested in applying the same coaching principles I use in life and leadership to the court. We’ll work on fundamentals, study inspiring players, and set energizing goals. You’ll have space to explore how you show up under pressure and discover what it feels like to find joy in the process.
How it Works
First of all, you get to hear yourself think. I know that might sound basic, but you’d be amazed how many clients tell me this is the most valuable part of what we do. When was the last time you had someone’s full attention while you worked through what’s really on your mind?
Here’s what happens: You tell me your target, and I hold it steady while you aim. When I notice you’re drifting off course or getting caught up in excuses (and I will notice), I’ll coach you back. One client described my approach as “gently but firmly” keeping him focused—I’m in your corner, but I won’t let you off the hook.
You get pure, unbiased support focused entirely on what you want to achieve.
That’s it. Simple, but it works.
A note on commitment:
You don’t need to know exactly what you want.
You just need to be willing to get honest.
To show up.
To explore the truth of your experience and see where it leads.
If you’re in, I’m in.
Testimonials
“This was a highly valuable experience for me to identify what I want my life to be like and how to make that happen. Dom’s curiosity helped me think about things I would not have considered otherwise, and by the end of the journey I felt confident in the steps I am going to take to meet my goals. I recommend this to anyone who is feeling indecisive, lost, or overwhelmed by their life trajectory – for me it was a career shift. Having Dom guide me through this process made it a lot less intimidating and resulted in a feeling of decisiveness and clarity about where I’m going.”
“Dominic helped me gain the confidence to take action to combat my anxiety over socialization and held me accountable to ensure that I took those steps. He is a great listener and will help unpack and dive into all of your thoughts. He is fantastic at scheduling meeting times that work for you and is flexible if you need to change it. Overall, working with Dominic was an extremely positive experience and it improved my mental health incredibly!
Each meeting, we set an outcome and Dominic directed the conversation so that by the end of the meeting, we both felt we had achieved our target. I enjoyed that the coaching sessions were a safe place where I could share my thoughts privately without worrying about what people think of them. Throughout my sessions, my life became more enjoyable as I was able to build my confidence…”
“Your coaching was really beneficial for me while I was figuring out my first management position. You helped me find my own leadership style and stay true to it as I faced different challenges. I really appreciated that you offered advice when I asked for it and that you offered new perspectives and questions to help me find my own answers. I really see you trying to be thoughtful about how you articulate your questions and the directions you take our sessions. It was great to have a place to share and be challenged and also hyped up. And somehow you still helped us stay on track to meet my objective for the call and send me off feeling good about my next steps.”
“Working with Dom was truly a game changer for my leadership skills. After just a few sessions Dom began to understand me and that’s when the “aha!” moments started to pile up. Learning so much about myself in just a few short months was absolutely monumental to me and my team’s productivity.”
Start with the journal
Reflections: 140 Journal Prompts for an Examined Life
was born from the questions that helped me slow down, get honest with myself, and reconnect with what really matters to me.
If you’re feeling curious about coaching, or just want to dip your toes into the work of self-reflection, this is a perfect place to start.
Just you, a journal, and space to hear yourself think.
Inside you’ll find 140 prompts designed to help you explore your values, challenge your assumptions, and clarify your path forward. It’s structured, but flexible. Deep, but gentle.
Send me a note
This form sends me an email at [email protected]
