photo by Jeff Harbin, Life of Riley Photography

Coco Duckworth

more resources

Related Stories:

Prenis Williams

Andy Chase

Kimbo Ishii-Eto

Share This:

Coco Duckworth jokes about being a recovering ad agency executive, but the reality is that her 25 years plus experience in advertising paved the way for her career as a success coach, giving her a keen eye into the world of people and how they operate. While the exact definition of success coach may mean something different to each person, Coco quickly defines her role as helping people turn their “What if” into “What is.”

“I help people to realize that they have the strength inside them already to live up to their potential,” says Coco at her desk at home. “I help them chop things up into bite-size pieces.”

Specifically, Coco coaches individuals and groups, privately and within corporations. She facilitates strategic planning meetings and time management modules. For the last six years, she’s been helping the people of Amarillo work towards a better life for themselves.

“No two clients are coached the same way because no two people are alike. I choose the clients who inspire me, so not everyone who calls becomes a client. There has to be synergy between us,” she says. “I’ve learned that you cannot want more for someone than they want for themselves, even though I often see potential in people that they don’t see.”

Coco and her husband, Rod, have lived in Amarillo for the bulk of their lives. Their daughter, Jill, 31, is married, has three sons, and is a third grade teacher. Son Josh, 29, is recently married, and Coco has already placed her order for a granddaughter.

When I get in my car, the first thing I listen to is… News/talk radio, Christian radio, The Eagle. My CD changer includes motivational CD’s, Josh Franklin, and The Eagles.

My friends and family call me… Coco, Colleen (my given name), Mom, Grandma, and not often enough!

My favorite meal to make from scratch is… Chiles Rellenos with fresh roasted chiles from Fiesta Foods on 10th Street.

In an alternate life, I would’ve been… A witty, crafty, mystery solving, undercover operative.

My biggest pet peeve is… Reality TV shows. Manipulative conflicts? Artificial love stories and relationships? Not in my reality, thank you.

If I had an open plane ticket to anywhere, I would go to… Visit the seats of ancient civilizations…Rome, Athens, Egypt, China, for starters.

After a long, hard day, I love to… Chill with my love and best friend Rod.

One of my favorite childhood toys was… I don’t remember being attached to toys that much, but between my bicycle, my ball glove, my record player and the Amarillo Public Library bookmobile, I explored the world and had a great childhood.

One movie I could watch over and over again is… ”Gladiator.” Full of great leadership principles, inspiration, integrity… and buff men.

If I were a character in a book, I would be… Daniel or Esther in the Bible, or Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield.” Great examples of how we are influenced by the people and circumstances that cross our paths, but standing in faith and persevering through adversity ultimately brings triumph.

The greatest piece of advice I’ve ever received is… Regarding my career: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” – Nona Johnson, my boss at Sears in Sunset Center when I was 17 years old.

When my children grow up, the one thing I want them to always remember is… That there is nothing they can ever do that would make me love them less. And that anything they believe, they can achieve.

You may be surprised to know that I… Hate to shop. I enjoy fashion, but dislike the shopping process.

One habit I wish I could break is… Shedding jewelry and shoes immediately upon arriving home. I find stuff in odd places.

My guilty pleasure is… Facebook. I’ve enjoyed getting to know people from a different perspective. ‘Friend’ me!

I know every word to the song… Most of James Taylor’s songs, and unfortunately, the theme song to “Gilligan’s Island.”

If I had the time, I would… Do more research on my Irish-Cherokee family heritage.

My favorite bad-for-me-food is… Strawberry Habanera Gelato at Cowboy Gelato on 6th Street.

When I get online, I always go to… Amarillo.com (yeah, really) and gmail.

The thing I love the most about living in Amarillo is… There is plenty to feed an eclectic Panhandle soul like mine, from spiritual to redneck to historical to the arts to our great business community. I love Amarillo!

by Jennie Treadway-Miller

Jennie was a columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press for eight years prior to moving to Amarillo in 2008. She is an avid reader, runner and writer.

blog comments powered by Disqus