Case Study: Miriam
From Frantic Productivity to Calm, Intentional Momentum
Context
Miriam is a researcher and academic in the midst of a major transition, moving from the intensity of a PhD into shaping the next chapter of her work and life. She’s deeply capable, driven by purpose, and values meaningful contribution.
On the outside, things looked full and productive. Internally, something wasn’t landing.
The Starting State
Where things felt stuck
When Miriam came into coaching, the word she used most often was “frantic.”
Her days were full, fast, and exhausting, but not satisfying.
She described having:
Plenty of energy and passion
A strong work ethic
No shortage of meaningful opportunities
And yet, despite all of that, she felt like she was running on a hamster wheel.
“I felt like I had all the right ingredients, but I wasn’t making progress toward completion or satisfaction.”
Her schedule was reactive.
Her goals were scattered.
Her attention was constantly pulled by “good” and “interesting” options.
She wasn’t lazy.
She wasn’t unmotivated.
She was busy without traction, and slowly depleted by it.
The Real Issue
What she began to see differently
The turning point wasn’t a new productivity hack, it was a realization:
She wasn’t creating her life, she was responding to it.
Miriam saw that she was living on the defensive, shaped by external demands, expectations, and opportunities, rather than from a clear internal orientation.
“If I wasn’t shaping my life, it was going to be shaped by all the pulls and pushes around me.”
What looked like productivity was actually reactivity.
Underneath that was something deeper: she wanted not just accomplishment, but satiation, a life that felt lived, not just managed.
The Coaching Experience
What it felt like to be coached
What stood out to Miriam early wasn’t a framework or system, it was the felt quality of the coaching.
She described experiencing:
Calm instead of urgency
Confidence without force
Discernment instead of pressure
“It was almost like I had permission to look at my life in a way I hadn’t seen modeled before.”
Rather than being given a rigid protocol, Miriam felt deeply listened to. The work adapted to her reality, her transition, her rhythms, her values.
“It didn’t feel cookie-cutter. You found the bottleneck issues specific to my life and we worked with those.”
This created trust, not just in the process, but in herself.
The Structural Shifts
What changed in real life
As the work unfolded, the changes became practical and tangible.
Time became intentional
Miriam began planning her schedule consciously, rather than reacting to it.
“My schedule is mine to plan now.”Focus replaced fragmentation
She clarified what truly mattered and stopped chasing multiple “good” options at once.Rest became non-negotiable
Deep focus was paired with deep rest—not as a reward, but as a requirement.
“On the other side of deep work is deep rest. That changed how I structure my day.”
The Deeper Outcome
What this ultimately gave her
Beyond habits and scheduling, the most meaningful change was internal.
Miriam described:
A significant reduction in cognitive load
A sense of calm around her work
Greater confidence in why she was doing what she was doing
“There’s much more grace now. More excitement. What I’m doing isn’t in response to the world—it’s in relationship with what I want to create.”
Work stopped feeling like a race. Life stopped feeling like something to keep up with.
Instead, she developed a steadier, more trusting relationship with herself.
In Her Own Words
“I was frantic, exhausted, and unproductive—despite working all the time.”
“This work helped me listen to my own rhythms instead of micromanaging myself.”
“There’s a calmness now. I know what I’m focusing on and why.”
“I have more confidence in how I’m showing up for my life, my goals, and my purpose.”
Coaching Might Be For You If..
You’re capable but scattered
Your life is full but not deeply satisfying
You’re busy responding instead of intentionally creating
You want alignment and momentum without self-pressure