Heya, Bob here!
Today, I’m excited to share the story of Allana Schmidt, a story about Facing the Uncomfortable and trusting your gut.
Her journey is a perfect example of what it means to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, embrace discomfort, learn and grow, and reach the full potential of life’s challenges.
Allana’s path wasn’t a straight line.
Like many first-generation Canadians, she felt the weight of family expectations. Her parents wanted stability for her, pushing her toward a career in healthcare, law, or engineering, the “safe” jobs with guaranteed security.
For a while, Allana followed that path. She earned degrees in psychology and social work, working at respected institutions. She was good at her job, but deep down, she knew she wasn’t living her true passion.
Business and entrepreneurship were calling her, even though it wasn’t the expected route.
Then came the leap.
Allana left her stable career and dove headfirst into entrepreneurship, starting her own events and marketing company.
And let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. She was facing the uncomfortable, stepping into a world with no guarantees and plenty of risks, and outside her comfort zone.
But Allana embraced the discomfort. She faced self-doubt, financial pressures, and the challenge of building a brand from scratch.
Facing the Uncomfortable Builds Resilience
I’m sure you know the feeling, those moments when you feel uncomfortable, like you’re in an uncomfortable situation where you wonder if the mountain is too steep to climb. But Allana kept going, and in doing so, she discovered her true strength. Her company quickly gained momentum. She broke into a new market, brand development, photoshoot styling, and influencer marketing.
Through grit and determination, she landed contracts with major brands, styled magazine covers, and worked with notable celebrities.
But beyond the success, Allana was transforming. She had become a leader, a visionary, by continually facing the uncomfortable and embracing discomfort. By staying committed to personal growth, she faced many difficult conversations and grew stronger every time.
After years of building her business, Allana made another bold move. She transitioned from being an entrepreneur to joining a luxury retail company as the Director of Retail Operations and Business Development. This company was headed by the same family that first introduced the world to stylish yoga wear and the well-being lifestyle.
Embracing Change While Facing the Uncomfortable
After three years in retail operations, she pivoted again to work with a B2B advertising company, overseeing business operations and culture as COO. Through innovative business strategies, she transformed their revenue from under $400,000 annually to over $3M in three years.
Finally, she is currently at a global tech BPO company, where she is taking on an executive leadership role focused on people strategy and supporting 30,000 employees across 14 countries.
This was yet another leap into the unknown. By now, Allana had mastered the art of facing the uncomfortable and thriving in even the most extremely uncomfortable moments.
What Can We Learn from Allana’s Transformation?
- Trust Your Inner Voice:
Allana knew what she wanted deep down and took bold action to follow that passion. - Embrace Discomfort:
Allana continually stepped into the unknown and came out stronger every time by facing the uncomfortable head-on. - Pivot When Necessary:
It’s okay to change direction. Allana’s ability to pivot shows that new opportunities often lie outside your comfort zone, and growth comes from embracing discomfort.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when facing the uncomfortable and engaging in difficult conversations. But Allana’s story shows us that the most fulfilling journeys come from challenging yourself, feeling uncomfortable, and moving forward, no matter how extremely uncomfortable it feels.
Cheers to embracing the uncomfortable!
Until next time,
Bob
