My Story

My Professional Background

• Founder & President, Jory Fisher & Associates, Inc. (since 2008)

• Certified Life Coach
• Certified Career Management Coach
• Licensed True Purpose™ Coach
• Certified administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument®
• Trained practitioner of the Collaborative Operating System™

• Founding Faculty Member at Liberty University School of Law; former Associate Dean for Career & Professional Development (5 years)
• Former attorney in Fairfax County and Lynchburg, VA  (17 years)
• Former Executive Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center in Lynchburg, Virginia (3 years)

• Graduate of Southern Methodist University (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude); Middlebury College (M.A., Spanish), and the University of Virginia (J.D.)

Feel free to review my certifications and qualifications as a coach.

My Personal Background

• Married to David Fisher
• Mother of three daughters
• Stepmother of three stepdaughters and one stepson
• Reside in Lynchburg, VA
• Grew up in New London, CT; Key West, FL; Naples, Italy; & McLean, VA
• Studied in Dallas, TX; Madrid, Spain; Middlebury, VT & Charlottesville, VA

My Passions

• Helping women
  • refresh their vision
  • renew their confidence, and
  • realize their God-given purpose and potential

• Helping women discover
  • whom they’re meant to serve
  • how they’re meant to make a difference, and
  • which occupations and endeavors uniquely fit their divine purpose

My Purpose

Who am I?  Who am I called to be?  What am I called to do?  Perhaps like you, I’ve pondered these questions since high school.  Though the answers don’t change, our understanding does as we progress through the various stages of our adult life.  Moreover, our need to know the answers to such questions varies in intensity depending on our age and circumstances.

One way to understand the concept of purpose, as developed by Tim Kelley, the developer of the True Purpose™ process, is to divide it into three categories: essence, blessing, and mission.

Our essence is who we are at the core, a quality or energy that we radiate into the world whether we realize it or not.  To use my essence as an example, I’m a messenger of God’s joy, love, and compassion for His creation.

Our blessing is our essence in action–something we’ve been doing over and over again since we were young.  It is the unique way we do who we are.  My blessing is to shepherd seekers who sincerely strive to find, follow, and fulfill their divine calling.  Whether “shepherding” my family, friends, fellow sojourners or clients, I guide my “flock” with love, compassion, and joy.

Our mission is the highest level instruction we receive from our Trusted Source of a specific task that needs to be done in the world or a specific problem that needs to be solved.  (Christians often consider their Trusted Source to be God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or their Soul.)  We may be called to pursue more than one mission at a time, and we may be called to pursue the same mission as many others.  As an example, one of my missions is to blanket the world with purpose, passion, and joy.  Another mission is to abolish career anxiety.

If you’re eager to know who you are and why you’re here on earth, contact me today.  The True Purpose™ process is truly amazing!

“The circumstances of your life have uniquely qualified you to make a contribution.  And if you don’t make that contribution, nobody else can make it.”  Rabbi Harold Kushner

Gratitude For Hard Times

Hard times are good for the soul.  I’m grateful for the challenges I’ve encountered including these more significant ones:

I failed the Virginia bar exam the first time I took it, which absolutely devastated and humbled me.  With prayers, a supportive family, 12 more weeks of diligent study, and half of a Xanex pill to calm my nerves, I passed the exam on the second try.  Hallelujah.

I discovered a little too late that my first husband, a young Spaniard I’d met while studying in Madrid, held views on marriage and life that were different from mine, and my identity and spirituality were adversely affected.  Married for five years, divorced for almost 30, we now enjoy a strong friendship.

My second husband and I struggled through twelve years of marriage.  Divorced since 1997, we’ve managed to put aside our differences and be friends for the sake of our children.  Our three daughters are loving, intelligent, and well-adjusted, and I’m truly grateful for Phil’s ongoing involvement and support.

My mother battled alcoholism, depression, pessimism, and feelings of inferiority.  She suffered a devastating stroke at the age of 77 from which she never recovered.  I was blessed with the opportunity to tend to her needs for two and a half years before her death, which occurred shortly after the passing of my father.  I miss both of my parents very much and look forward to a sweet reunion (though no time soon).

And more recently…

I discovered “serendipitously” that I had a congenital heart defect–a hole in my heart nearly the size of a quarter.  (Seventy-five percent of people with significant undetected atrial septal defects are deceased by age 50; 90% by age 60.)  As I was wheeled out of the operating room, just a few days after my 55th birthday,  the cardiologist told me, “God obviously has a plan for your life.”  Amen!  An experience like that makes you think seriously about your beliefs, your priorities, and your legacy.  What difference do we really want to make?

I’m well aware of how fortunate I am and thank God for guiding me through the good times as well as the hard.

“I have known Jory since we were in law school together at U.Va.  I am continually astonished by her amazing successes in both her career and her personal life.  She has raised and inspired seven (yes, seven!) children and stepchildren to become literal superstars in myriad arenas, while concurrently achieving success after success and award after award in her own demanding career.  Through it all, she maintains a warm, joyful, positive spirit that is downright contagious and wonderfully encouraging.”

Jeanne Bynum Hipes, Esq.
Trial Lawyer (single mom)
Atlanta, Georgia

Gratitude for Work

After the “heart incident,” I resigned my full-time position with Liberty University School of Law to run my coaching business from home where I can be more available to my family.  I’m passionate about helping highly motivated individuals find, follow, and fulfill their calling so they may serve others with courage, confidence, clarity, enthusiasm, and joy.

“Jory Fisher is a gifted coach! She will help you shape your vision and bring that vision to fruition. She offers warm encouragement and steady inspiration that will keep you energized. I wholeheartedly recommend Jory as a coach. Her insight will help you accomplish your goals!”

Ashli S. Arbo, Esq.
Constitutional Lawyer
Nashville, Tennessee

Gratitude for Family

My husband Dave, to whom I’ve been joyfully married for 11 years,  is a marvelous man of faith, diligence, and integrity.  I’m grateful that he and my four stepchildren get along beautifully with my three daughters and that all of us are highly motivated and focused.  We try to balance hard work with laughter and down time, and we support one another through the highs and lows of our respective life journeys.

“Jory Fisher is my mother, but she’s also my mentor and friend.  I’ve always looked up to her and asked her for guidance. Thinking about the rest of my life is scary and unknown—now I feel like I need her more than ever.  Yet it’s not to hear her say, “Becca, do this.” Instead, she’ll say, “Explain the situation to me and we’ll discuss your options.” A coach is not someone who tells you what to do in life.  Instead, a coach guides you into making the best decision for yourself.  That’s my mother in a nutshell.  She’s the most professional, accomplished, classy lady I know, yet she’s also warm and endearing and really cares about everyone around her.  I’m so proud to call Jory Fisher ‘Mom.’”

Rebecca J. Beeson
Washington & Lee University, Class of 2010
Corps Member, Teach For America

“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy.  I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”  Leo Rosten

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jer. 29:11

Gratitude for Gifts

It’s no wonder I fondly remember my high school years as a cheerleader.  A life skills assessment identified me long ago  as an “instiller-nurturer,” that is, “one who infuses new life into individuals or groups while helping, counseling, coaching, and building up their confidence.” It’s who I am, and I’m grateful for my gift of encouragement as well as the other gifts God has given me.

So there you have it–a bit of insight into who I am.  If you value making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, but aren’t exactly sure how to do so, I hope you’ll connect with me soon.

Blessings and Grace,