Fairfield County Magazine       December 1999

QUICK CHANGE ARTIST

Stamford’s David Silberkleit made a decision in 1993 that some might consider a Jughead move: He left the prospect of running his family’s Archie Comic book empire to start his own company, Empower Executive Coaching. But Silberkleit, 38, considers it the best move he’s ever made. “I am fascinated with people’s inability to become who they would really like to be,” he says. “Many feel stuck and without any choices in their lives because of financial situations or self doubt.”

For $400 a month, Silberkleit coaches his clients to maximize efficiency, identify goals and demolish mental roadblocks that might be preventing them from living full, adventurous lives. And Silberkleit practices what he preaches. His own taste for adventure has led him to tour 10 different countries by bike and to pilot a sailplane at 27,000 feet. This summer, he threw out the first pitch at a Colorado Rockies game while touring the United States as “America’s Idea Expert” and a spokesman for The Yellow Pages.

Still, Silberkleit warns that hiring a personal coach is not for the faint of heart. “People have to be willing to change in order for a coach to introduce new options into their lives,” he says. And Silberkleit should know.

Copyright © 1998 -2005 Empower Executive Coaching  -  edited 06/20/08