How Amy Sanchez Breaks Free From Corporate’s Golden Handcuff and Create Amazing Life Transformation

Pamela Bardhi
Hello, everyone, and welcome to another episode of underdog, today I have a super awesome guest here with me, Amy. How are you, Amy?

Amy Sanchez
Doing well, Pamela. How are you?

Pamela Bardhi
I’m doing awesome. Thank you so much for being here today. And I’m so excited to hear your story, sort of how you got started. Now you’re an amazing coach to all these fortune 500 companies. Swim Against the Current which I love the name, by the way, I think it’s such a perfect title for your company. And what I’d love to know is how did you got started as a coach, sort of what inspired the journey to get you here?

Amy Sanchez
It’s such an interesting story. It’s one that I hear in varying forms as I work with clients because now I work with clients on helping them through their career evolution. So the first 13 years of my career, I was in sales and marketing working for some of the largest companies, Fortune 50 companies, Eli Lilly, Johnson, and Johnson, also worked for smaller startups, massively growing companies along the way.

And Pamela, my very last role, the one that inspired me to launch my search for where I really wanted to go in my career, I’d been working the hardest that I’d ever worked, the majority of my working hours or my waking hours were dedicated to working. I’m sure many of your listeners can relate to and I got pregnant. It was my first child and I was in a remote capacity at that point leading a marketing team. And shortly after I announced my pregnancy, as soon as I came off maternity leave. They asked me to move to the home office and pay for it out of pocket.

Pamela Bardhi
Wow. And you were remote before that?

Amy Sanchez
That’s right, so it came as quite a shock to me and I have one of my top values is loyalty. So hearing that from an organization that I put so much blood, sweat, and tears into was difficult, to say the least. The story has a really good ending, I was able to negotiate a severance package. And it gave me the opportunity to really think about what I wanted to do moving forward. At the same time, my priorities had slightly shifted, because now I have this new human being that relied on me to keep her alive, so what that allowed me to do was. First of all, max out my maternity leave. So I took time off for the first time in years. And that was a massively transformative process.

For me. At first, I didn’t really know what to do with myself. And that was when I hired a coach. What I knew deep down is particularly having this newborn who not only was my happiness and my future, my career about me, and now it was about this, my daughter as well. I really wanted her to have a mom who loved what she did. In addition, three weeks after my daughter was born, my grandfather passed away. So it was this very raw moment where I realized how valuable and how short life can be.

So all of those things, combined together gave me the courage to go on this journey of exploration. What am I meant to do and what would really make me happy and I hired a coach, I worked with a coach and I had like, never heard of coaches. Before that I had no idea what they were. I had no idea they existed and she took me through a very powerful introspective process. And on the other end of that journey, Pamela, what I realized was, I was being called to be a coach. It checked all my boxes, it catered to all my strengths. And it allowed me to start my own business, which was something that I had always in the back of my mind, had a dream to do.

So here I am, gosh, that was, I think, four and a half years ago that I went through that journey and founded Swim Against the Current. I really wanted to start a purpose-based organization so Swim Against the Current. It’s all about catering to leaders in the corporate space, who know that they’ve got the raw talent and the capability and that history of success. But for whatever reason, they find themselves in a professional place where they’re not happy. I work with leaders to help them replace that stress and overwhelm with more joy. And ease so that they can reach their full potential while they enjoy their life. Life is way too short. And I’ll tell you what, it was a journey worth going on because I love what I do.

Pamela Bardhi
Amazing. Oh my gosh, what a story. So I love the transformational process. Where it’s kind of one thing led to another. And your inspiration became your newborn. You’re like, I want to lead for her which I think is absolutely fascinating. Now, sort of backtracking a bit, what inspired you in this business journey in the first place? I think you had mentioned that you had gotten your MBA, as well. So what sort of led you to that point? What inspired you throughout your childhood or anything like that. To lead you on the career path before you jumped into the business world like college?

Amy Sanchez
Great question, Pamela, good coaching question by the way.For me, like a lot of people, you know. I looked at my parents for guidance and advice. And my dad was a really important figure in my life and he worked his way up the ranks in corporate America. Stayed with the same company for 30 years, which was incredible. You don’t really see that much anymore. But that was the way it was back in the 90s. The 80s, and 90s. So I took a lot of my strength and a lot of my vision for what success looks like from him.

And that’s what got me interested, really in business to begin with. I also just love strategic problem-solving. So all that I was able to do was mimic my dad’s career, when in fact. It was like trying to put a square peg in a round hole and adjust. It was always a sense of a mismatch. But I didn’t realize it until you gain the courage to really say. Is this something different, I didn’t gain that courage until I had another human being looking at me. It’s just, it’s funny. I see that time and time again, with my clients.

Pamela Bardhi
So your father, which industry was he in that he was there for 30 years? What was he primarily focused on?

Amy Sanchez
He was in the pharmaceutical industry. So he worked for a large pharmaceutical company in finance, a really hard worker. I respect that generation so much. You know, having gone through, we’re going through COVID right now. So it’s the first example of large worldwide suffering that this generation has seen. But his generation experienced, World War Two, and then went through the Vietnam War. And that massive. You know, up roaring in the 1970s, which is such an interesting era. But man, really hard workers, dedicated, loyal, I have so much respect for that generation.

Pamela Bardhi
Absolutely. And it’s interesting that you mentioned that, you know, this is kind of our first time. So for the millennial generation, like, I feel like COVID-19 was a big hit, and then 2008-2009. So for my generation, I can speak, you know, so I see it now. COVID was probably the biggest thing. That I remember in my career, so for my generation. This is the first time we’re getting a little bit of a shock wave.

So it’s really fascinating to compare it, to what has happened in the past. It’s like COVID-19 is a big deal. Don’t get me wrong, but based on what your father experienced through the war, living in World War Two as I can only imagine. You can only imagine what that’s like, we’re still suffering. But it’s a blessing compared to what other generations have gone to. So I agree with you, the same respect and same love to them. Because it’s like, I can’t even imagine what that’s like.

Amy Sanchez
Yes, I can’t either. Even the generation before them, even went through more with the great depression. But as difficult as COVID has been, it’s been a real gift. Because it has allowed people to really understand what their top priorities are. And it’s, I’ll tell you, my coaching business has picked up big time this year. I am busier than I’ve ever been, I’m almost tapped out incapacity. And it’s so inspiring to see so many people take a step back and really evaluate. You know, what is it that I really want out of life?

Pamela Bardhi
Right, and that’s fascinating that you say that and I’m so happy to hear. That your business has picked up. Because I keep hearing stories of like, so many losses during COVID-19. And then here you are, like, so happy to hear that your business is picking up. So, that’s fascinating to me. So what you’re saying is people are paying attention to more of their priorities. And sort of almost forced to reflect in a way.

Amy Sanchez
Yes. We were so financially focused prior to this. I don’t want to take away from all the people. Who are suffering financially, it’s a really hard time for a lot of folks. That’s been very difficult to see. On the flip side of that, once you’re able to get to a place where you’re not as worried financially and you really start to think about all the things. That are most important in life, family, friends connection. You know, making sure that your basic needs are met. Just going back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, right?

Once you take care of all the basic needs, then you get to security and belonging. So security, the sense, and the need for security and belonging. Have shifted during this pandemic. Where we were just in such a time of financial success and they just seemed like there was no end in sight. It was just hard to see that. This would ever end, leave it to a worldwide pandemic, turn that upside down. And allow people to really realize what is most important to them.

Pamela Bardhi
It’s absolutely fascinating how, like, certain businesses have grown, and certain businesses have collapsed. So like you said to anyone out there who’s been suffering through this, it’s like. This is your time to pivot and really evaluate what matters to you like. What really matters at the end of the day. And I say this all the time, I’m like, regret is worse than fear, right? So if there’s something that you’ve always wanted to do, do it now. Because guess what, when you look back on this, like 10 years ago. I mean, 10 years later and you didn’t give it a shot, you’re gonna kick yourself, right? Like, you’re gonna kick yourself and be like, why did I not do this? And I think it’s fascinating that. What you’re doing in the coaching world, sort of inspiring that in your clients. Which is so cool.

Amy Sanchez
I love what you said, terms of regret are worse than fear. You’re a great example of this Pamela. You’ve shifted a couple of times and followed your dreams, and absolutely made it happen. And you’re right, it’s true. Sometimes, this phrase has been coming up a lot lately. The devil I know, is better than the devil, I don’t know. How do people don’t move forward just because of fear? They don’t know what’s on the other side. And it is easier to stay with something that you know and can predict. Even if it makes you miserable. But it just takes a couple of steps to get you closer to a life full of purpose and full of fulfillment.

Pamela Bardhi
And so for you, for your clients, right? Like, what would be the top three things. The top three struggles that you’ve seen. Whether it’s related to COVID-19 or any of that. What’s sort of been happening in the executive suite world, if you will.

Amy Sanchez
Sure. Okay, number one golden handcuffs. I make so much money, but I am miserable. I can’t walk away from my company and my job. Because then I’m just not going to make the same amount of money. And this is really tied up into value. And especially if you’re caring for other people, right? So my kids won’t have the same amount of money, my family members, whoever rely on me. So this is a big one, they feel tied to their company, because of the financial piece of it.

The other thing that a lot of people experience is, believe it or not, this always shocks me. But this comes up time and time again, Pamela is, am I good enough? I work with people who have a long history of success on paper. These are people who have gone to top schools and gotten top grades promoted year after year. At a young age put into a leadership role. And when we get on the phone, when they talk to a coach in confidence. Their number one fear is am I good enough, to do something else. And if you think about it, it makes sense.

Because these are type-A personalities. Who are constantly trained for years and years. And years to focus on their deficits. And that’s how they up their game. That’s how they get better. But when you are trained to focus on your deficits and the things that you don’t do. Eventually you start to wonder what your strengths are and what you can do.

Pamela Bardhi
You know, what’s fascinating about that, right? Because, say, my generation, right? We’re in our late 20s, early 30s. And we’re looking at the C suite executives, who have made it to the pinnacle of their career, entrepreneurs. C suite and executives. Whoever it may be, and you’re looking at them, you’re like. Wow, that looks awesome. Like, they’re so strong, and they’re so you know like. They have this whole, but it’s a facade, which is so interesting at not all the time.

But you know, what you’re mentioning is like, it’s a struggle for everybody. And that sort of puts the really big human element. Because I’ve seen some of the most amazing and beautiful people that I know, be like. I don’t know, I don’t know if I’m worthy of this and I’m just like, what? No, no, yes, are. And it’s really refreshing to hear that the human element to it, that it’s like. These people are human to like, yes, they can be the CEOs of this company and have the successful record. But at the end of the day, they’re human and they feel and they do these things. I wasn’t expecting that to be completely honest. Because it’s like, you have role models your whole life, right?

And then when you get to the level where you understand. Like their pains, and you hear about their struggles. You would never think that that’s something that comes up. So I think that, that’s a huge thing. For any listener to know that. Listen, we all have our struggles at the end of the day, right for myself included. You know, it’s like you were mentioning earlier, Pam, you’re reinventing yourself. I’m reinventing myself again. Now as an influencer like I had in my real estate career. That I felt like I mastered him. Well, then done very, very well and now it’s like. I’m being pushed to a different direction to elevate and empower. And it’s like, I’m learning within that, too. So it’s just fascinating what you mentioned. Wow.

Amy Sanchez
If I could ask you to help with this, what was it inside of you? When you were in real estate, but you had this fire in your belly. This sort of calling to do something else? What was it that gave you the courage to explore it and to try it?

Pamela Bardhi
You know, it’s that thought process. That you’re being pulled in this direction for a reason. The universe wants you in this direction for a reason. And I always pray for one thing, I say, you know, God, universe. Whatever anyone believes in, like, please just put me on the path. That’s of my highest and best use. And so for me, going the influencer route, and sort of taking this podcast to another level was all. Because of the people who’ve reached out and been like, Pam, I heard this episode.

So it really helped inspire me to do this, or Pam, I saw your post that you did this. So I was able to do this in my life, so for me. The purpose is really more so the people that I’m impacting. That have really made it like, okay, Pam, you can’t fail. You have to go like, so my motivation was sort of external. And then internally, I just had this like, feeling in my heart. Where when you’re on the right path. You feel it right here. Like, it’s like fire, you cannot avoid it. You’re just like in your pole, like, upper bodies, like pumped up. It comes from the heart, it’s a weird thing to explain.

But once you have that, like, you know, like. This is where you’re supposed to be, this is what you’re meant to do. And anything that you’ve done in the past doesn’t mean, that it’s a failure or anything. It’s just a stepping stone to get to your purpose. So for me, that was the case. So it’d be super interesting to see how your clients have shifted. Those struggles and how they sort of overcame them to get to their next career.

Amy Sanchez
That’s such a beautiful story. Such a beautiful story, Pam, and it’s a really good segue into the third most common thing. That I hear once we get past sort of the fears and the emotions blocking. Then the question is, well, if I could wave a magic wand. And put you anywhere you want it to be in five years. What does that look like? A lot of people say I don’t know. So what you just tapped into. And what you just shared is so key to this process.

Because I work with a lot of corporate leaders. They spend so much of their day in their heads. Being analytical thinking through things, in a very cognitive state and in order to get to a life-changing transformation. Have to step outside of your head. You have to go to your heart and you have to start listening to your gut and your intuition. And not a lot of my process. But the beginning stages of my process are very focused on that. Is how do we use different facilities. That we have access to as human beings to move past this challenge? And that is where the real magic comes.

Pamela Bardhi
Wow. And are there any, tools that you do like any visualization? Or like vision boards? What would you say would contribute to helping paint that sort of picture for them in five years? Because I feel like almost kind of have the vision. And then make all the decisions to get there?

Amy Sanchez
That’s a great question. So before we even get to the vision, it’s so important to address the blocks. When you remove the blocks, you start to see opportunities. So the very first thing we do is we take them through a separate we optimize their energy. And I’ve got a number of tools to help with this and there’s an assessment. There are exercises I take them through, but at the end of this, all my clients came out. Feeling really good and really optimistic. And then we go into visioning and then, we go into the dream sequence. Which is super fun.

Because in that dream sequence, it’s important that they’re seeing possibility everywhere. We don’t want anything left off the table, like you said. Regret at the end of your life is the worst thing that could happen. So, then the dream sequence, that’s where you know. Depending on the client, there’s a bunch of different tools. You can use some more woo some more, a little bit more concrete. Just depending on what works best for everybody. Because everybody’s different.

Pamela Bardhi
It’s fascinating. Now, what are some of like, the mom shares that you sort of hear going through this process? Like what helps, take them through that process of transitioning and like feeling comfortable to let go? Because, as you said. Those golden handcuffs and I hear that all the time in my generation too. And I’m just like, well, if you guys drop, what you’re doing. You could be making x, y, z and not only that. But you love what you do. Sometimes that’s not enough. How do you help somebody like give them that kick in the butt to go be like, listen. You’re not happy here, go out and seek something else?

Amy Sanchez
That’s a really good question. And I’m glad you asked that. Because oftentimes people will reach out to me and they’re not necessarily looking for a coach. They’re just looking for somebody to solve their problem. But the methodology they think. They need a mentor that says, hey, based on your resume. You would be really good for XYZ. So why don’t you connect with. You know, Bob, Tricia, and Paul and talk to them and see what doors that opens?

That’s not what I do, that’s going back to the adage. That I shared my story, where I was looking to my dad to give me the answers. What I do is empower clients to help start to find the answers internally. Because that’s where the real switch happened. And that’s sort of the long-term sustainable value that coaching. Can provide versus let me just solve this one isolated challenge that I’m facing.

Pamela Bardhi
It’s beyond fascinating to see this world. Because right, like. I’ve never worked in corporate America. So hearing these, this thought process is really interesting. So what would be your favorite transformation of a client? And sort of what were the tips and how they made that transition?

Amy Sanchez
Oh, gosh, I have. So I have so many stories and this is like just thinking about. This, like my heart is warming up, because it’s so powerful to see these transformations. That it makes my job so much fun. The story that’s coming to mind right now is I had an executive reach out to me, he was a senior VP. A very large biotech company, very large. And he had been miserable for probably the past four to five years. He’d been with this company, though, for almost 20 years, the entirety of his career. And similar to what you and I’ve been talking about what he expressed was, am I good enough to go somewhere else? Are other people going to want me? What do I want?

The other challenge he was grappling with, is because he felt a lot of loyalty to the team. He was managing, so he was struggling a lot with abandoning his team. By jumping ship and going somewhere else. But he was so miserable, Pam, like miserable. So we started working together. And through the course, we started Of course. With removing those mental blocks and really helping them start to see the opportunity. Once we got him to the stage, where he realized him leaving was also probably the best thing for his team. Because for a number of different reasons. And then he started networking, literally, Pam. I think he was networking for and this is the networking piece that can take anywhere from one hour, two months. On end to find the right next step.

For him, it happened very quickly, within one month. He was in the final rounds of interviews for a company solving exactly the disease state, he wanted to work on the significant promotion of building a new team. Reporting to somebody who had previously worked with and had a relationship with. So it’s interesting with a lot of clients, once we get them past those initial blocks. It’s almost like a slingshot where you pull them back and you let them go. And they just fly forward, so that’s what happened with him. So he ended up getting an offer. We had an emergency coaching session when he got the offer. Because he was like me, I’m just going to take it. It’s not entirely what I’m making right now. But I’m just so grateful for an offer.

And I just want to get out and this is like so many things are good here and I was like whoa, whoa, slow down. So what we also learned, was he was afraid to negotiate. Again, I went back to understanding and appreciating his value. So after we talked that through, he helped gained some more confidence. Pam the next day, he called me he had negotiated an additional $100,000. Signing bonus and a much more lucrative and favorable stock allocations, so literally. Because of his bravery and because he was able to break through some of those barriers, he would have left a lot of money on the table that he was brave enough to go and pursue and fight for. Because he recognized his value, so that was one of my favorite stories.

Pamela Bardhi
Oh my god. $100,000 sign-on bonus and stock options.

Amy Sanchez
Yes.

Pamela Bardhi
That is unreal. Oh my gosh, wow. Okay, now I have to ask you and if this is proprietary, you don’t have to answer it. But in terms of helping your clients through that, jump right those getting over those blockages. Because this is exactly the same thing I do with the podcast is like how do I help you overcome your challenges? I’m always interested to know. What is like the top tip or you could share? However many you want to have to overcome those blockages, because that’s the hardest.

Amy Sanchez
I love that your podcast is so focused on solving that for people. It’s so inspiring, Pam.

Pamela Bardhi
Thank you, Amy.

Amy Sanchez
Gosh, the biggest way to get past those blocks. Well. The first thing I’ll say is the definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So the first thing you need to do is lean into the idea, that you’re going to have to make a change. Change can be scary, because can’t see the other side. But the best way to move through change, it’s to try small things over time, that lead to big results. So a couple of things that are really easy to do and you can do like the comfort of your own home. When you’ve got the time is to access and start to tap into a different part of your brain and sort of slow down.

And just all of these cognitive thoughts is meditation. There’s a lot of really great free meditation apps and you know, try just a 30-day practice. Where you meditate for five minutes a day and see what clarity emerges. That’s a great one. Another to carve out time to journal, and really get in touch with all of these thoughts that fire again and again. But we just ignored and stood away in a drawer and close the door and lock it. You have a lot of messages around you, that is already telling you what change you need to make. And what is the key to this change? But it’s a matter of paying attention to those external signals outside of what’s cognitively. Or tuning in to some of those subconscious thoughts to really help you with that.

So journaling is a great way to get in touch with those thoughts. And I mean, the third thing that I’ll say is, there’s something so restorative and magical about getting outside. But just stepping away from your desk, getting outside breathing in the fresh air. Do that from time to time to just clear your head. You know, if you’re really in the thick of it and you’re really struggling. And as a lot of people are doing COVID right now, that’s a great way to just introduce some very quick temporary stress relief.

Pamela Bardhi
It was brilliant, Amy, thank you so much. Thank you so much for those. And a question for you, when you made your transition from the corporate world into coaching. What were the things that got you over those blockages? Was it similar to what you just shared?

Amy Sanchez
When I worked with my coach, I actually worked with a hypnotherapist?

Pamela Bardhi
What?

Amy Sanchez
Exactly. I was like what, why, who. And something in me told me, I needed to try something completely different. So that’s part of the impetus is to Swim Against the Current. You have to do something different than everybody else. Is doing to get to the destination you want to get to. To get out of the flow, right. But what worked for me is I actually worked with a coach. She was a trained hypnotherapist, and so she taught me how to do these very powerful meditation slash visualization exercises. And that’s how I was I was able to access my higher being and really gave me the courage and the clarity to pursue this coaching.

Pamela Bardhi
That’s amazing, a hypnotherapist that’s so cool. Oh my gosh

Amy Sanchez
So many different things I want to get trained on. And I was trained in classical coaching, but the one I really want to get therapy to itself.

What WouLd Her Older Self Tell To Her Younger Self?

Pamela Bardhi
That’s so incredible because like you said, once you get over those blockages. Like you just hit the ground running like you just, you walk. Well first you crawl, then you walk, then you run right, and then that’s just how it goes. But getting over those blockages. First off acknowledging them and then getting over them, I think is so key. So thank you so much for sharing those. That’s amazing. Now I have another question for you. Which I always ask everyone, what would your older self tell your younger self?

Amy Sanchez
This is an area I’ve been researching and thinking about a lot lately stress. So I am and I still struggle with this. But typical type A good grades honors program constantly was pushing, pushing, pushing to be the best, do the best, get the best internship job, you know, the list goes on. So I was always worried. Is this going to work out? Am I going to get what I want? And I’ll tell you it, it took away my ability to be brave in situations where I was wronged in the past. Felt like I sort of took on the responsibility for those things that happened to me. And so my older self would tell my younger self to not get too hung up on my age, and just know that my gut was right.

Pamela Bardhi
No, it’s true and I was exactly the same as you like to type A like I was an honors kid. I had A’s and B’s, I was on every national honor society, every single organization, every sports team, all of that. I thought I had my life figured out. When you would freak outright? Like you’re just like, I had it all planned out, right? And then life happens and you’re just gonna like Nooooo. What happens now you know, so like you said, Don’t worry like just know that there’s a higher power that always has your best interests in mind. Right? And just to let it go, let it go

Amy Sanchez
That’s how you answer the question of. Where did you find your courage and the strength to transition from real estate into this wonderful endeavor that you’re taking on now. And you attributed it to being called for a higher purpose from a Higher Being. There’s something so key and so magical about being able to tap into that.

Pamela Bardhi
Absolutely. And I love how it’s worked into your process for you and your clients. To get them to the next level, which I think is absolutely beautiful. So Amy, now. Where can all the listeners find you and sort of what you’re up to these days?

Amy Sanchez
Oh, my website, if you type in swimagainstthecurrent.com, it will take you there for swim dash again.com. And what am I up to these days? Well, my coaching practice is taking off. I would say, gosh, it has been for the past year or so. So I’m almost at capacity for private coaching, I do executive career and leadership coaching. I also do team workshops on productivity and executive coaching within corporations. So if anybody has an interest in that, they can find me on my website. And I’m just so so grateful to be doing the work that I’m doing. I’m just so grateful that I’m able to pull people out of the struggle and the pain. That I was once in to help them wake up to their purpose and reach their full potential.

Pamela Bardhi
I absolutely love that. Amy, thank you so much for being here today and offering all this amazing insight, and hearing your story to your transformative story was super incredible. So thank you.