Meet Sam Peña | Leadership and Relationship Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Peña and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I love this question. Starting a business can be hard or easy. It all depends on one’s mind-set. If I would have started my own practice 5 years ago I would have been filled with expectations for my business. Today I can say that progress is way more important than results. My thought process for starting my practice was to be able to do more of what I love to do. It seems simple and it was. I began to start my practice as a Leadership and Relationship coach part-time while I worked my full time job. I think everyone should start their own business part-time. It’s less pressure don’t you think? Along with my practice I was able to create an amazing youth program. This program was created through reflecting on my past, especially High School, to really identify what lessons helped me become successful as an adult. I realized that High School really doesn’t prepare kids for adulthood. I love what I do and that will help me overcome any road blocks that come my way. Progress is happiness.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our Life Arena is a 4-Week Program where we pair individuals up with a Leadership Development Coach. The individual is coached twice a week for 4 weeks, for a total of 8 coaching sessions. Once they complete the 4-Week Program they will have access to the discounted monthly membership where they will have access to weekly LIVE group coaching sessions. They will receive support from their Leadership Development Coach year-round. Our Life Arena will also provide supplementary questionnaires and downloadable materials throughout the year to aid their self-development journey.

The exciting part is I get to help many supervisors and managers build great relationships with their employees and at the same time become a boss everyone loves to work with.

The challenging part in this industry is that people don’t think they need coaching. People like to just figure it out on their own. I wish I had this support when I got my first Supervisor job.

I’ve been a manager for over 20 years at this point, and I love where life has taken me. However, not too long ago, I remember being the boss that everyone hated and disrespected. I remember feeling alone and frustrated all of the time because my employees wouldn’t listen to me. So how did I get to the point where I’m the one coaching other bosses on how to be a great leader and the type of boss everyone wants to work for? Well, let’s go back 22 years…

In 2000, I was working for a manufacturing company and worked my way up to Plant Supervisor in 2005. I oversaw the whole plant of over 75 employees on the swing shift. I knew I had the confidence to be a supervisor. How hard can it be? All I have to do is tell people what to do and make sure they follow my directions or else. WRONG. I was a complete jerk. I didn’t have any coaching or mentoring to become a good leader, so I guess it’s no surprise that I wasn’t a very good one. When things went wrong, I always yelled at my employees, reminding them how badly they messed up. I know. I was an a**hole, wasn’t I?

Then, life threw me a curveball…

I was fired.

After only 6 months as a supervisor, they fired me even though I had worked for the company for five years. I will never forget how I felt leaving the plant with no job and wondering how I was going to face my family. My first instinct was to blame the employees for not doing their job. It was obviously their fault… right?

Fast forward 10 years and I finally realized that those few employees that had the courage to share with me how I can get better as a leader saved my career. I owe them everything. So, I asked myself, why wait for those few that are unafraid to tell me how I am winning or losing as a boss? I decided to create a process where every employee that I supervised could share my wins and losses as a boss. My career skyrocketed! I never got fired again and till this day I have employees still calling to ask how I am doing. Imagine that!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first item on the agenda would be to hangout on the Lake. Our house is on a man made lake in Bakersfield, CA. Do some fishing and take the boat and tour the neighborhood. How fun right? I love Bakersfield. There are a few cafe’s that are super good. I would plan to take them to the most famous breakfast spots nearby the house. I would plan a few trips to go watch a Dodgers or Rams game. Maybe.tailgate prior to the game and hang out to catch up. I love the Rams!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Family My wife continues to support my passion and I love her for that.
My farther has always supported and believed in my ventures no matter how crazy they were.

Mentors and Book

Dr. Joe Dispenza-Becoming Supernatural -Reason Why-He reminded me that I have the power to become who I want to become.

Gary Keller with Jay Papasan-The One Thing -Reason Why-He showed me that we only have to focus on one thing at a time.

Jim Kwik- Limitless – Reason Why- He showed me how we can overcome any limited beliefs.

Evan Carmichael – Built to Serve – He helped me find my one word. Inspire is my one world that helps me align my approach to anything.

Bruce H. Lipton Ph.D – The Biology of Belief – He showed me through science how my thoughts and environments support my well-being.

Tony Robbins – Awaken the Giant Within – He has helped me pay attention to the meaning I give to any situation. The meaning can always change for the better to overcome any struggle.

Simon Sinek- Leaders Eat Last – He helped me understand how to lead with care.

Website: ourlifearena.com