Written by: Samantha Buckley-Hugessen, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I have been a self-employed business owner for more than a decade now. Before that, I spent most of my career from the age of 18 in management and leadership. I joined the mom world at 36 and again at 39. I was all about my career prior to that. Any parents out there know what I am talking about. Things change after kids, as they should. What really happens is that we as strong independent humans in business make everything business. We are the leaders, we are the managers, the top of the Org chart at work and at home. We can do it! We have no choice. We are masters at getting s*it done.
Let me tell you about “Catherine” who gave birth to 7 children, lost one to SIDS, and another is mentally and medically challenged, she had 14 grandkids and received her master’s degree in her 40s and her Ph.D. in her 60s all while working full-time as a Project Manager responsible for literally millions of dollars. Her last day of work was Friday, December 16th, 2022, as she passed away from cancer on Monday, December 19th, 2022.
She had my back; she was my person.
She was my sounding board when it came to work challenges. She was my mastermind partner for professional and personal growth.
She was my confidant and mentor when my spouse was pissing me off. She had a successful 46-year marriage, that is experience and mentoring at its best!
She was my advisor when I couldn’t see myself clearly.
She was my nonjudgmental, solution-based support. She got me! She understood the pressures of being at the top of the org chart in business, at home with the kids, and even in the social circle.
As she got sicker and sicker, I shared less and less of my struggles. I kept more inside; I even hired a coach for all things related to my business in 2021 and that was one of my best investments to date.
This experience of having and then losing “My Person” has hurt and helped a lot. I have realized through the tougher times; I really love life coaching. “Coaching the whole person” not just the business side, the sales side, or the operations side. Yes, all of these AND the moms, the daughters of the aging parents, the solo women managing life and work all alone. Yes, I LOVE coaching women like ME!
Ask yourself, who is my person? Trust me when I tell you, you need one. Life is a whole lot better when you have someone who understands business, family dynamics, health issues, and is your trusted advisor, your BFF who is sworn to secrecy, with no judgment, the person that only wants your success and your happiness. The person you turn to for brainstorming and masterminding, the one who gets you, is experienced and an expert. Even someone you vent to sometimes because they are safe. You need your person.
I mentioned earlier in this piece about hurt and helped a lot. Let me explain. I realized (even more than I already had) this past year how powerful coaching really is, as well as the power of a group of like-minded people when they come together in support of themselves and each other. I gained an even greater understanding that most of us have the “I got this” attitude and struggle silently. No more. Here is the truth, we probably do “got this” and we probably can “do this” but why make it so very hard? My business coach reminded me “you can't see your own eyelashes”. This is of course a metaphor meaning we need someone that can see things in us, or what is going on with us, that we can’t see easily on our own. This is another reason why we have “our person”. We are worth the investment in ourselves, we do so very much for everyone else. We need to be gentle with our BADDASS selves and have that trusted professional who truly cares, can guide, support, mentor, and sees us.
Samantha is an American Certified Coach originally from Seattle Washington, and an ex-pat living in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. She has 2 amazing kids, a wonderful 23+ year marriage, and 3 fur babies. Sam is a force at 6’2” tall, she is “THE” Life Coach for Leaders, as their Confidant, Mentor, Sounding Board, Ultimate Counsel, and Trusted Advisor.
She is transparent, direct, and down to earth. As well, she has an incredible sense of humor. Her deep belief is that life is meant to be fun!
She is super effective and passionate about helping people design and live lives they love. Samantha has been managing and leading people her entire career and started her “Professional Life Coaching, Sales, Leadership and Mentoring” company full-time in 2011.
In October 2019, Sam released her first Book UNS*UCK YOURSELF – The Guide to Designing a life you love, gaining Amazon International Bestseller status in 4 categories. Her company is perfectly named “A Designed Life, LLC”.
Contacts and Media:
Samantha Buckley-Hugessen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Samantha is an American Certified Coach originally from Seattle Washington, an ex-pat splitting time between Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and Bellingham, WA. Sam is a force at 6’2” tall, she is considered “THE” Life Coach for Leaders, as their Confidant, Protector, Sounding board, Ultimate counsel, and Trusted advisor. She is transparent, direct, and down to earth. As well, she has an incredible sense of humor. Her deep belief is that life is meant to be fun! She is super effective and passionate about providing a structure of support and helping people design and live lives they love. In October 2019, Sam released her first Book UNS*UCK YOURSELF – The Guide to Designing a life you love, gaining AMAZON Bestseller status in 4 categories. Her company is perfectly named “A Designed Life, LLC”
