After downsizing wiped out her $80K salary, Jane was having trouble finding work. Just released from jail, 22-year old Marie didn't know how she was going to provide for her four kids. Frustrated and frightened, both women needed "a hand up" to help them take charge of their lives and move forward.

Luckily, for Jane, Marie, and countless others from all walks of life, Taylor Hunt's dream had come true. She had dreamed of creating a nonprofit organization to bring power of coaching to low-income women. And when she mentioned she had started A Hand UPCoaching during a teleclass. It sparked interest of Michelle Payne. "I called Taylor and asked to be part of that dream," says Payne. "It all started from there." Started in February of 2001, Michelle jumped on board in April of that same year. A Hand UPCoaching is a non-profit program designed to help women establish and reach their own professional goals.

Gail Nape volunteered to coach for A Hand UPCoaching after hearing about it through her own coach. "I liked idea of championing women," she says. "There were times in my life when I couldn't have afforded a coach, so I know how valuable a gift like this is. It would have eliminated my having to do it hard way."

Nape says challenges of working with participants in program depend on where they are and what their experiences have been. "The most important point is initially, clients don't know what to expect," she says. "They think I'm just going to give them a set of goals. I try to give us a chance to get to know and trust each other. I get them to trust me so they can learn what coaching is all about."

It didn't take long for Claudia McNeil to find that out herself. She was hoping to gain some insight into how to successfully switch jobs, when she signed up for A Hand UPCoaching. It became much more than that. "I was at a crossroad, and Gail asked me for my story," says McNeil. "I had dated a superior at work, and relationship didn't work out. Soon afterwards, I was fired. I had to sell my house, and only job I could find paid about a third of what I had made before. I began to ask myself a lot of questions about what I would do for rest of my life.

"Gail showed me how to take responsibility for my own behavior and set boundaries with people. She taught me about envisioning what you want. Instead of just getting career coaching, I ended up learning life skills."

Nape says reason they were successful was because McNeil put ideas they talked about into practice. "It was a joyful experience to support her," says Nape. "She was willing to do everything we talked about. That made all difference. We could have come up with all kinds of ideas, but without her follow through, nothing would have happened."

Commitment like McNeil's is key, says Payne. A Hand UPCoaching is serious about that personal investment. After potential clients fill out applications, a team of coaches reviews their materials to determine which candidates seem most likely to make that kind of commitment. Any participant who misses two sessions is dropped from program. A Hand UPCoaching only accepts women who not only sincerely want to change their lives but who are also ready to do work necessary to make that happen.

According to Payne, more than 80% of those clients who sign up with A Hand UPCoaching complete program.

If you have ever been in a situation like I did and survived to tell tale you would be more than grateful for everything. And worst part is that my family home was invaded by gunmen which left us with a feeling of being so vulnerable.

I used to place few emphasis on things that matter most to me in like my family, my friends and joy I get from accomplishing goals and helping people.

It was after that I began to really feel joy in seeing simple things like tree leaves dancing in gentle summer breeze. It was then that I began to really appreciate twinkle of love in my daughter’s eyes every time she sees me.

Listen, I happen to live in crime capital of Caribbean which is Jamaica. There is not a single day that you don’t read or hear negative news or stories coming your way. The caustic gossip and idle chatter that surround you can make you feel miserable absorbing all this stuff.