Meet Sharon Vidano | Retired Attorney, Speaker, Teacher, & Transformational Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharon Vidano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharon, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
That old saying, “You’ll find love when you’re not looking,” has never quite sat right with me. It sounds sweet, but let’s be honest, how many people have taken that as permission to sit around and wait on their own love story hoping for someone to magically show up?  
The truth is, love doesn’t just plop onto your lap while you’re binge-watching Netflix in your pajamas. If you’re looking for a meaningful relationship, you’ve got to be in your life, living it, not just sitting around hoping someone else will bring it to you.
 
Here’s what I believe works better:
 
First, fall in love with your life. When you’re genuinely enjoying your own company, your passions, your routines, that energy is magnetic. People are drawn to those who radiate joy and confidence.
 
Second, take action. Go where people are. Join the hiking group, try that new wine bar, get on the dating app if you’re open to it. Love tends to find us when we’re in motion, not hiding out on the sidelines.
 
And third, stay open. Sometimes the person who’s right for you doesn’t match the image you’ve been carrying around in your head. Let go of the checklist and get curious. The right connection might come in a totally unexpected (but perfect) package.
 
So no, I don’t buy the whole “stop looking and love will find you” idea. Instead, I say: Live fully, move boldly, stay open, and love will have no trouble finding you.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a retired criminal defense attorney turned transformational life coach. I never saw that career shift coming.

While working as an attorney, I went through a divorce, did the healing work, and eventually reached a point where I thought, “Okay, I’m good being on my own.” But then one day it hit me, my boys would grow up, leave the house, and I’d be left completely alone. That realization was a turning point.

I decided I wanted to find real, lasting love. So I hired a coach and began the process of learning not only what I truly wanted in a partner, but also what I needed to understand about myself. I braved the world of online dating (survived it), and eventually met and married my amazing husband.

But something kept tugging at me. Even though I was successful in law, I started to feel like I wanted to make a deeper impact, not just fight for people in the courtroom, but help them before they ever got there. I saw the same clients reoffend, stuck in cycles they didn’t know how to break. That broke my heart. I realized the real change needed to happen long before their court date.

So I made a bold (and emotional) decision. I left my 15-year legal career and got certified as a transformational life coach. It wasn’t easy. There were a lot of tears. It was uncomfortable and scary to walk away from something stable and familiar. But I knew in my gut it was the right move.

Now, I work with women, especially professionals, who feel stuck, overwhelmed in their careers, and lonely in their relationships. I help them reconnect with who they are and what they truly want. What sets me apart is that I’ve been there. I’ve lived the high-achiever burnout. I’ve sat on that couch wondering if love would ever come. I know how painful it is to look successful on the outside but feel lost on the inside.

And I also know what it takes to turn that around. Coaching has become my calling. Seeing my clients move from stress and self-doubt to clarity and confidence. That’s what makes every hard decision along the way worth it.

In addition to coaching, I’m also a speaker and teacher. I speak at organizations, women’s groups, and wellness events, sharing both inspiration and practical tools to help people live more fulfilling, balanced lives. Whether it’s managing stress, rebuilding after heartbreak, or reigniting passion and purpose, I love helping others tap into what’s possible for them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1. Disneyland Day First stop, Disneyland, of course. It’s iconic. Always fun at any age. From Space Mountain to corn dogs on Main Street, it’s a full-day of fun.

2. Wine Tasting in Temecula
Next up, we head to Temecula Wine Country for a more relaxed vibe. One of our favorite spots is Ponte Winery—we love sitting in the garden for a long, lazy lunch paired with a crisp glass of wine and some sunshine.

3. Dueling Pianos in San Diego
One night, we’ll head down to the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego to catch the dueling piano show at Shout!. It’s hilarious, high-energy, and so much fun, especially if you love live music and a great crowd.

4. Porto’s Bakery Run
No trip is complete without a stop at Porto’s Bakery. I call it the Disneyland of desserts, and it lives up to the name. We load up on cheese rolls, potato balls, and basically anything behind the glass.

5. A Musical at the Theater
We try to catch a show at Segerstrom Center for the Arts or The Pantages in LA for a Broadway show. We love getting dressed up and seeing a live performance together.

6. Brunch with an Ocean View
Sunday brunch is a must. We’ll head to San Diego’s coast—maybe The Cottage in La Jolla or Brockton Villa—somewhere with ocean views, eggs benedict, and a mimosa, or a yummy Bloody Mary.

7. Segway Tour for Something Different
And to wrap things up, A Segway tour through San Diego. It’s such a fun way to see the city and laugh at ourselves a little while trying not to crash into the sidewalk.

It’s a mix of favorites and new memories. A time we will always remember.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are definitely a few people and organizations who’ve played a huge role in where I am today.

First, I have to shout out Mat Boggs and the entire team at the Brave Thinking Institute. Mat leads the Love & Relationships division, and their coaching, mentorship, and sense of community truly changed my life. Their support helped me not only meet and marry the love of my life, but also get certified in a curriculum that now allows me to support my own clients in a meaningful way.

I also want to give a big thank you to Jennifer Underwood, a fellow coach and true partner-in-believing. We’ve built our businesses side by side, masterminded ideas, lifted each other up, and reminded one another on what’s possible on the hard days.

And of course, the biggest shoutout goes to my husband, Mark Vidano. He’s my constant. My cheerleader. The one who celebrates with me when things are amazing, and holds steady when life gets messy. His love makes everything feel lighter and easier. I couldn’t do what I do without him.

Website: https://lifecoachsharon.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonvidano/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonvidano/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558104600105

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SharonVidano

Other: What Lights Up Your Soul? podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-lights-up-your-soul/id1823297218 spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4kfN8MN7SfnbJ2loyyK5eS?si=70e4412699574a8f and iheart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-what-lights-up-your-soul-283096122/