Angela Smith

I’ve seen a lot of transitions play out in my own life (with family, and with myself) and that’s shaped how I approach my work. One belief I hold onto, both personally and with clients, is that you’re allowed to take time to process and adjust, no matter the situation. Giving yourself space to find your “new normal” matters, whether you’re navigating a business sale, a divorce, a death, or retirement.

There’s a period after any major transition that won’t feel like normal life yet — and that’s not a problem to fix, it’s a necessary part of the change. Patience and self-grace during that time make all the difference.

This belief was shaped by my mom. After my father passed away, she was only forty-four. When I later asked what she wished she’d done differently, she told me she wished she’d slowed down and avoided making big decisions, because you’re simply not in the right headspace to make major calls while you’re still processing that much change. That conversation has stayed with me, and it’s a big part of why I encourage clients to give themselves room to adjust before rushing into decisions.

Two principles guide me: being of service, and living in abundance. I’m grateful that helping others is the path that works for me. It’s how I find meaning in this work.

The abundance mindset comes from my own upbringing. I grew up middle class, and as a kid, I often felt like I had to limit myself — like I couldn’t fully relax into “there will be enough.” That scarcity mentality served me well early on; it pushed me to build a successful career. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that constant “is it enough” questioning isn’t necessary anymore. The alternative is abundance and contentment — not giving up ambition, but being able to enjoy where you are right now instead of always measuring it against what’s missing.

This shows up in my work, too. It’s easy in this industry to default to scarcity thinking, but the truth is, most of the people I work with already have the means to live with real comfort. Recognizing that opens the door to generosity of wealth and/or of time. Believing there’s more, and there will be more, isn’t naive. It’s what makes room for a purposeful life driven by your values instead of fear.

I taught myself to sew; not out of necessity, but because I’m a bit of a puzzle addict. I play some kind of puzzle game almost every day to challenge my mind, and at some point I started seeing sewing as a more intricate, hands-on version of that same challenge. One thing led to another, and now it’s a skill I’ve actually picked up.