Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Huff.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Heather. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
My story starts with a pregnancy test, two pink lines and a boss who wouldn’t see past my unmarried status, my age, and the bump that was quickly growing under my professional business attire. From the moment I took the test, I knew in my heart that, while this positive test was going to change my life forever, it would also change the trajectory of my career.
The first words out of his mouth when I told him were, “Will you still be able to do your job?” “I guess you won’t be able to travel to that conference next month..” To him, me being pregnant was a risk to the company. In his mind, I went from an able-bodied, qualified woman, to someone who couldn’t even travel or perform my normal job duties.
I was shocked, but at the same time, an inner voice was preparing me for even more disappointing news. I knew that the whole way my pregnancy announcement had gone down was wrong, so I went to HR to communicate the way I was feeling about the situation. Unfortunately, there would be no remedy for the situation, rather I would be given a six months severance package and told to go.
I was told that if I had my lawyer look it over, the offer to keep my health insurance would be taken away. I was scared, confused, and even more so totally devastated that I would be a first-time mom without a way to take care of us. It didn’t matter that I graduated from college with honors, or my resume, the skills I had acquired, the hard work I put in everyday…
As soon as I became labeled as the “pregnant marketing girl,” I lost all of the respect I had once had. Following this gut-wrenching experience, I tried my best to find a job. I would wear clothes to hide my bump the best as I could and shake hands with anyone willing to interview. Even jobs where I was overqualified were turning me down, one look at my belly and I was no longer considered for the position.
Through postpartum depression and being on unemployment, I felt like I had lost all sense of purpose and the identity I had built for myself was in pieces. I was so ashamed, ashamed at myself and ashamed at the idea of anyone knowing about this experience.
Upon entering the work field when my son was seven months old, I found the climate to be completely intolerant to mothers. I even heard my then boss make fun of a woman whose kid was out sick from school, saying that they would never hire another mom again. It was disheartening; the way mothers in my industry were treated when it came to balancing family and career was deeply saddening.
When I got pregnant with my twins, another shake-up was in the works. While I was too afraid this time around to even bring up my family’s news, rumors spread around the job that I was expecting and the next thing I knew I was being called into the office to talk about lowering my salary by $15,000. I was No. 1 in sales for this company, but it didn’t matter. My being pregnant was inconvenient to the growth of his company.
The pregnancy got really complicated and forced me to resign from the company. But, “at least this time I’m not the victim,” I thought to myself. However, at the same time as I’m out of a job, my family is financially struggling to support us, in addition to the growing medical bills I was accumulating while I was in and out of the doctor’s office three times a week. We were living paycheck to paycheck, borrowing money, barely eating.
When my medical team told me that one of my twins wasn’t doing well and that I would have to spend the rest of the duration of the pregnancy in the hospital under constant observation, I lost it. How does one cope with the news that both their unborn baby’s life and their own is at risk? If I thought losing my job and getting a severance package was tough, I had hit my all-time new low. I was afraid for my life.
The old me would have hidden from the world, too embarrassed to be struggling, too proud to ask for help… but this time something was different within me. I found more courage than I’ve ever had in my life in hospital room 270. I decided that if I wanted my life to be different, if I wanted a miracle, that I could be my own change maker.
In all of my pregnant glory, I pushed the good tray that was beside my bed to a window at the corner of my hospital room. In my darkest moment of life, I went live on social media and shared my sorrow and shame. I opened up about my fears, about needing help… and wouldn’t you know, help arrived. I created my online business from my hospital bed.
I found that, inside me, was a burning desire to help other women become self-sufficient, to know that they can create a life of freedom, to build a business that allows them to become mothers without the fear of job loss. And it turns out my story really resonated with A LOT of women who were experiencing the same injustices.
Through my loss of identity from “Marketing Manager” “Sales Manager” “Social Media Manager”… I found myself. I became a Champion of Women. Using my experience to help motivate other women to follow their dreams, to be fearless in their lives, to shed the roles society has given us and to become whomever you decide! To lose the weight, to follow the dream, to quit the job, to leave the marriage, to pick back up the pieces and live a fulfilled life.
My mission became centered around HOPE. When I was able to shed the victim stories and open up about my struggle, I was met with a force of compassion that changed my life.. And now I want to help others follow their passions and become brave, knowing that nothing happens TO US, only FOR US.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
– Lost my job at four months pregnant, got a severance package and told to go
– Was on unemployment for months
– Had an NDE while I was pregnant with my twins, lived in the hospital for six weeks
– Gained 60 pounds while under the stress of self-discovery
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Heather Huff Coaching – what should we know?
I run a successful Business and Life Coaching company, specializing in helping women build, scale, and grow their online business. I work with women who are ready to use their experiences and healing journeys to inspire others to start their own story.
I create programs, courses, and personally mentor women in business through spiritual principles and marketing strategy, knowing that the real growth always starts first with your mindset and from there, the sky is the limit.
What sets me apart is my online marketing know-how, my ability to be 100% open in my experiences, and my unique ability to channel intuition through my spiritual practice.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Authenticity is key. The universe will have no idea where to send you the abundance and blessings you pray for if you aren’t being 100% yourself. Through that, you can alchemize the audience, the opportunities, the growth. Know yourself, and then trust yourself, it’s that simple.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heatherhuff.net
- Email: heather@heatherhuff.net
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/xoheatherhuff
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/xoheatherhuff
Image Credit:
Sean Huff
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