Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Sammet.
Nikki, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story starts from the moment I was born. Being an only child of two psychologists always put me on a path to working in the personal development space. I had been traveling down the road of coaching and psychology for a long time – thinking things had to be one way. It wasn’t until we got our Goldendoodle Pax, that my mindset began to change. I created an Instagram for him and had no idea it would unlock everything else. His Instagram now has about 70,000 followers in a little over a year and a half. I received hundreds of questions about raising him and how to grow an Instagram that I decided I needed a central place for all this information to be housed. That’s when Leader of the Pax (LOTP) was born! It was a place where I could offer specialized coaching & education. However, I thought it would stay just a place for Pax’s followers but it transformed into my personal development company as the people reaching out didn’t just want dog mom support they wanted community, motivation, growth, and education to get to where they wanted to go!
Pax which means peace in Latin inspired my business name, Leader of the Pax. Now, Leader of the Pax has several meanings #1: Choosing to follow our passions and become congruent to our life purpose will channel more peace, more confidence, and more enthusiasm! #2: I am Pax’s leader, and he is also mine. He taught me to follow my heart, tune into my intuition, and to believe in myself. He has shown me what it is to be actually present, to be grateful, and always to be kind. #3: Leader of the Pax is precisely as it sounds. My job is to help you become the leader of the pack in your world. Whether that is in your social media presence, increasing brand awareness, strategizing in your startup, crafting goals, losing weight, working on communication in your relationship and breaking down your own limiting beliefs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nope! Not even close. There is no such thing as a smooth road for entrepreneurs – we have to learn as we go. We fail, we win, we try again! It was years of me questioning my abilities, hating jobs, and feeling lost in my career. I knew I wanted to be a business owner and work in personal and professional development, but I wasn’t entirely sure. So, I followed my interests and went back to graduate school to receive a Master’s in Leadership Development thinking I wanted to a business coach… and after that was done it still wasn’t the right fit, so I went along and started my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology thinking that it was therapy was what I was meant to do. I will graduate in 2019 with a doctorate degree. Although, I love psychology and it will always be apart of my career I don’t plan on opening a private practice anytime soon. I see myself helping others and leveraging my education in other ways.
On September 1, 2018, my life changed forever. I was in a boating accident that resulted in several lacerated tendons and 10 days in the hospital. I am so grateful to be ok and to be alive. I am also so thankful for the lessons the experience taught me. Although, I still judge myself and worry about being perfect… the accident taught me that life is short and to stop holding myself back. So, for the past seven months, my life has looked so different than before. I’ve chosen to believe in myself and have accepted that all the twists, turns, jobs, and experiences I’ve been through were just preparing me for this all along.
My biggest piece of advice is to TRY EVERYTHING! Don’t hold back because you’re concerned about how others will view you. To go after what you truly want, you to have to TRY even when it’s scary. I’d also tell someone that it’s ok to have lulls. There is often a creative high followed by a not so creative lull which can feel defeating. I now understand that the calm is just part of life and it’s ok!
Additionally, write everything down – from ideas to thoughts, to things you hate. Write everything down and get it out of your head so you can think with more clarity. Lastly, have a community. Find another entrepreneur who has been in your shoes or is in them right now! You can’t do this alone- utilize your network to learn, jump on webinars, download content, research everything. During that process, you’ll learn a ton!! Remember, do not compare to others – we are all on our own path, and there is room for everyone at the top.
What should we know about Leader of the Pax? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a psychologist, educator, writer, and coach. I also specialize in life and business coaching. LOTP provides strategies and for individuals, influencers, and brands. Leader of the Pax empowers women to be the leader of the pack in their life, business, or social media. LOTP goes beyond teaching someone how to build something- our work truly inspires someone to take action and follow their passions. I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve made and getting people to go live their dreams.
We do a lot of work on Instagram (@leaderofthepax) and through blogging. Right now, the business is in a bit of transition where we use to focus on 1-1 coaching, and now the direction is towards about motivational speaking/writing and coaching. I use Instagram to paint a picture and provide tools/resources, and LOTP has a Facebook group where the community can come together and empower one another.
I specialize in social media. Not only growing an account or branding oneself but the psychological impact that the App can have on women. I did my doctoral dissertation on the effects of social media on millennial women. I work a lot with clients on how to stay mindful while living in a social media world and not letting it consume them.
I believe that being authentic and genuine is what sets me apart from others. Sharing what it on my heart and mind. I am passionate about helping others succeed, and I like to share MY OWN experiences through writing. I try to be relatable and a voice that other’s can go “Oh, I say that too” or “I think that too” and give them tools to move away from their negative thought patterns.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Competition (looked at as a negative quality rather than being a positive one) and comparison (always trying to be like others rather than ourselves or thinking people are better than we are which then creates more insecurities).
Pricing:
- I always provide a 20-30 minute free consultation with clients to see how we can best work together.
- Sessions begin at $99.00.
- We several packages that are customized to each client or brand based on the needs (life, business, or social strategy).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leaderofthepax.com
- Phone: 858-769-9072
- Email: nikki@leaderofthepax.com
- Instagram: @leaderofthepax & @paxthedood
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/729492504112608/
Image Credit:
Nikki Sammet
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