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The Lifelong Activist helps activists, volunteers, and others with a political or social mission be as productive as possible while avoiding burnout and leading a happy, healthy, and balanced life. The book offers easy and effective strategies for managing your mission, time, fears, and relationships.
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About Hillary
Recent posts
A Writer Without A Publisher Is Like A Fish Without a Bicycle: Writer’s Liberation and You
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Welcome!
I help people from all walks of life overcome procrastination, perfectionism and blocks so they can finish their projects and achieve their goals.
I also help people build meaningful careers and find gratifying work, with an excellent record of success even in the current recession.
I do these via coaching, workshops, and my book, The Lifelong Activist. See below for details, or click on the menu links.
See the workshops page for upcoming workshops and other events.
Check out my free downloads
Thanks for visiting! — Hillary (lifelongactivist at yahoo dot com)
Powerfully Effective Productivity & Career Coaching
Are you not where you would like to be professionally? Do you struggle with procrastination, perfectionism, or a writing or other block?
If so, coaching can help. My coaching technique combines strategic planning with time management and anti-procrastination techniques. This helps you, (1) clarify your goals and situation; (2) develop a plan for achieving the goals; and (3) overcome any blocks, fears and procrastination that may interfere with progress. I coach via telephone, so you can be located anywhere, and most clients see substantial improvement in their lives and prospects after just a few hours of work together.
Recent Coaching Successes:
*35 yo lawyer hired by financial services firm
*45 yo activist hired for rare paid job in her movement
*22 yo college grad hired by prestigious Washington think tank
*43 yo lawyer has 2 months of highest-ever billings
I can’t believe that in this job market I just landed an amazing job in my field. Not only did you help me devise a brilliant strategy (and gave many effective pointers along the way); you taught me to believe in myself. — Aryenish B. (activist), Lawrence, KS
On Monday I received a very strong offer and I’ve decided to take it. I feel that there were definitely points where your help positively impacted things for me, so many thanks.— Jamie H. (lawyer), Boston, MA
Our conversation last week has given me renewed purpose, focus and direction. — Yvonne S. (nurse), San Francisco, CA
Thanks to my work with Hillary, I now feel like my possibilities are attainable and unrestricted!— Lydia C. (activist), West Chester, PA
Hillary goes beyond mere cheerleading and the usual job hunting advice because she addresses debilitating emotional issues like fear, panic and procrastination. She…has lots of straight and creative answers where other coaches I’ve found have few. — Ivana E. (writer), New York, NY
I’m so grateful to you for your insight and encouragement. I didn’t know where I wanted to go when I first contacted you, and I never imagined I’d find such treasures of insight in such a short time. I feel like this is just the right direction. It’s awesome. — Eliza M. (herbalist), Boulder, CO
We have sought out coaches of many kinds over the last 24 years, but never before has anyone been able to communicate a concrete hands-on approach that allowed us to truly understand what changes we needed to improve our business plan and operations. Both our voice-over business and Sol y Canto have benefited enormously from Hilary’s coaching. — Rosi A. (musician), Cambridge, MA
Hillary’s insight and understanding make her an instant ally in strategizing a successful balance between advocacy and sustenance…she picked up critical clues from our discussions and pointed me back to my positive and motivated path. —Scott B. (programmer / activist), Maui, HI
Through our talks, I came to recognize that I’d been believing things about my professional self that were just not true, and soon I was able to stick to a daily writing schedule and make a big move to another state that I’d been afraid of for months.—Caroline A. (writer), Boston, MA
Thought you’d be interested to know how things changed for me (quantitatively) between Oct & Nov (our 1st telephone conversation was 11/5): October billables: 33.42 hours, $1,715.31; November billables, 63.88 hours, $3,270.09. Wow! That is incredible! And my mood is soooo much better than it was in October. I truly feel like it’s hard to imagine a better investment than coaching time with you! — coaching client (lawyer), Boston, MA
Click here for more information on my coaching.
“Dynamic, Heartfelt” Workshops
I lead workshops related to time management, overcoming procrastination, activism, entrepreneurship, and arts entrepreneurship, at schools, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, arts organizations, private salons and other venues.
You left raving fans in Pittsburgh! The feedback from your sessions has been wonderful and I look forward to working with you again next year.—Jennifer Morris, organizer, Pennsylvania Spring Arts Conference, Pittsburgh, PA
Our audience of successful entrepreneurs demands a high standard for our guest speakers, but Hillary Rettig’s talks on time management and overcoming procrastination more than met their expectations.—Brandon Mastrangelo, InnerCity Entrepreneurs, Boston, MA
When Hillary Rettig came to our church and led a workshop about leading a joyful and productive progressive life, her message resonated with everyone…Afterwards, I was swamped with people asking, “where did you FIND her? We really needed this!” I’d strongly recommend Hillary’s book and her presentation to all activists working in Unitarian Universalist and other liberal faith communities.—Marisa Miller Wolfson, Faith in Action committee member, Fourth Universalist Society, New York City
Hillary’s dynamic, heartfelt workshops not only empowered and inspired our staff members, but provided them with insights and tools that they could use to empower and inspire others, including our clients. As such, Hillary’s workshops provide “double value” and I urge all nonprofits in particular to invite her to speak. —George Zeller, Jewish Vocational Service, Boston, MA
Hillary is a charismatic speaker who has the ability to reach people from various backgrounds and perspectives. Her talks are interactive in a way that benefit all who attend. She gets the balance between giving practical tips and supporting our need to use those tips. Her wisdom should not be overlooked. If you can only make it to one talk this season make it this one. —Aryenish Birdie, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
The Grub Street community has benefited greatly from Hillary Rettig’s smart, organized, inspiring and valuable seminars. The common refrain in her evaluations is: ‘we want more!’ Hillary is fun to work with, passionate about her mission, and fully engaged with her craft. —Chris Castellani, Grub Street Writers, Boston, MA
On a rainy night in Boston, you lifted our spirits, gave us hope, and inspired us to get out of our own way. Everyone got something out of your presentation, and many of our Chicks told me they went home and put your words to work the very next morning as they sat down to write. Thanks, Hillary! —Tracey Palmer, Chicks Who Write, Norwell, MA
So many thanks for such a terrific talk. The group was really energized and inspired. Some talks are merely informative, but yours was many cuts above.—Alix Ginsburg, Ph.D., Temple Emanuel Networking, Newton, MA
Click here for more information on my workshops.
The Lifelong Activist
The Lifelong Activist is a guide to living a joyful and productive life that includes a strong progressive mission. It offers insights and simple, concrete instructions that help you follow your authentic path with a maximum of joy and productivity, and a minimum of fear, guilt and shame. The book’s sections are:
Managing Your Mission (figuring out your authentic path)
Managing Your Time (creating – and sticking to – a schedule that lets you achieve your goals)
Managing Your Fears (overcoming fear, guilt, shame, procrastination, perfectionism, blocks, etc.)
Managing Your Relationships (working effectively with others)
Activists, artists, campaign workers, labor organizers, volunteers, students, teachers, human services workers, and entrepreneurs will all benefit from The Lifelong Activist, and those contemplating a career or life change, or who are at risk for burnout, will find it particularly useful.
People often ask how I manage to continue devoting myself to progressive activism (such as the free software movement) for years without burning out. The best way I can answer is by recommending…The Lifelong Activist.—Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software movement and MacArthur Fellow
Global warming, poverty, homelessness, or other pressing problems; take your pick—and then use the organizing and time-management tools in The Lifelong Activist to change the world.—Adam Hochschild, author of Bury The Chains and King Leopold’s Ghost
If I had but one book to spend hard-earned cash on this year, this one would be it, hands down.—Daily Kos
“[The Lifelong Activist] is about becoming more useful and effective as an activist or artist. I recommend that you take a look at it.“—Salon.com
Your book is a strange blend of realism and idealism. I like the way you cut through the romance and deal with the nitty-gritty in a way that is powerful and uplifting.—Reader, Chicago, IL