

David Rickabaugh
David Rickabaugh Coaching
Seattle, WA USA
"Have the patience and the courage to grow."
Career Roadmap
David's work combines: Entrepreneurship, Business, and Helping People
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Take Roadmap QuizSkills &
Education
Advice for getting started
When you're transitioning from school to a career, think of it as a learning experience. Get out there and talk to people to find out what's possible. Literally ask them for examples of roles in their own organization that could fit your strengths. That's a good way to learn what roles even exist. Statistics show that a majority of people find their job through connections. When you're in a career transition, I think the best thing to do is explore, talk to people, make connections, and learn.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Communication Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara
Graduate Degree
Information Systems & Ecommerce
DePaul University
Graduate Degree
Coaching Psychology
University of Sydney
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I started my career in sales and worked my way up to managerial and executive positions.
2.
When the world started transitioning to digital, the company I was with ventured into e-commerce.
3.
I spent the next 20 years in retail and e-commerce.
4.
I eventually realized that I wasn’t passionate about what I was doing anymore—so I decided I wanted to try coaching.
5.
I consulted my own executive coach and decided to make a career change and attend the University of Sydney for a master’s in coaching psychology.
6.
After graduating, I moved to Seattle, Washington, and started my practice for executive coaching.
7.
After feeling “off” for a while, I was finally diagnosed with ADHD—however, it was very hard to get the help I needed.
8.
I wanted to help others who might be struggling to find help, so I started Leading with ADHD, where I coach other leaders and professionals with ADHD.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You need more discipline. You just need to do it.
How I responded:
I felt very "off" for a while with my work. I couldn't understand why I wasn't able to complete something. I was very critical of myself. When I was diagnosed with ADHD and got the appropriate help, that self-critical voice was silenced. I think we all need to be more compassionate to ourselves. I have all of my clients take a self-compassion assessment because I've realized that the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves often get in the way of our own empowerment.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Making a career change out of the corporate world into coaching was scary. However, I knew I wasn't passionate anymore and knew that I needed to make a change. I had the conviction that I could do it, so I took the leap.
I discovered I had ADHD and found that it was very hard to get the help I needed. Once I got the right medication, it was a complete turnaround. It was like the lights were finally turned on! I now devote time to helping other adults with ADHD.