Our Defining Moments Mary McClements

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Dave Buck. He’s an MBA, master-certified coach, and the CEO of CoachVille. To date, he has around 36,000 members in over 70 countries. He collaborated with Thomas Leonard, the founding father of professional life and business coaching, and was named the 7th most influential person in personal coaching. He is known for his great diversity and strength.
Dave grew up in a small town called Freehold, New Jersey. During his childhood, his family was very church oriented and at the age of 12, his dad ran into a great deal of stress and seemingly had a breakdown. His Dad renewed himself in the eyes of the Lord and began to preach to Dave.
However, Dave and his father had different views. Dave believed that the bible and the main character in it was not God, and openly expressed his beliefs, resulting in Dave’s dad shunning him. Although his family stayed intact, the difference in opinion put stress on them all.
A short time later, Dave got his first glimpse of soccer and became intrigued. He made an effort to play and learn the game. Ultimately, this intrigue triggered a defining moment for him. He realized that if he just looked, he could learn indefinitely.
The path of choosing for himself and discovering who he is, influenced the type of transformational coach that Dave became. He constantly searches for answers. While coaching, he remains judgment-free and practices awareness. He’s open to ideas while allowing others to believe in what they choose. These days, he’s working on a book called “You Were Born Awesome” in hopes of inspiring others.
Connect with Coach Dave: https://coachville.com/connect/ceo-dave-buck/
Sponsored by: https://www.takepassagecoaching.com/

Today we’re joined by guest Jen Ruddy. Jen shares a little bit about who she is and where she’s at in her life now, before jumping into discussing her defining moment: the moment when she decided to no longer speak to her mother at the age of 34.
This decision was made after a weekend visit with her mom. They were all on the way to a national park with her mom trailing behind, who ended up getting lost on the way. She was in hysterics when she arrived, convinced that losing her along the way was purposeful. This was when Jen knew she couldn’t take it anymore.
Jen’s mom does have her own share of trauma and Jen believes she likely chose to have kids to uplift her and encourage her self-esteem. The role of her kids in her life was always to agree with her. If she didn’t get the exact compliment she wanted, all of her kids would get in trouble. Additionally, she always wanted perfectly beautiful, skinny kids. This behavior was difficult to endure.
Another person Jen had to cut off completely was her first husband. When he tripped her during an outing on purpose, she decided she was done. We often feel like we need to suffer when this isn’t really the case. You have to find the courage you need to move on.
Over the years, Jen has decided to focus more on enjoying her life and healing her trauma. Making tough decisions has been helpful not just for Jen, but for her family as well. It’s okay to do what is necessary for you to feel safe.

Today’s guest was a high school dropout at 16, a college graduate at 20, and a single mom at 30. She’s been a cook for a broke orchestra, an SEO expert, a yoga teacher, a welder, and so much more. C. Jane Taylor is also the author of the book “Spirit Traffic: A Mother’s Journey of Self-Discovery and Letting Go”.
Jane Taylor has had such a rich variety of experiences in the work she’s done. So, what do welding and cake-making have in common? Well, they’re both structural in nature. However, she isn’t too concerned about a common thread between her career choices—she’s just a natural learner who’s drawn to discovering new things.
She also has a passion for motorcycles, which started when she was a kid. Her mother owned a motorcycle shop, and the mechanics there became her babysitters. They were scary-looking, scar-faced rebels who looked after her. While she rode as a child, she hadn’t for a long time until she got her own bike at 50 years old. Spirit Traffic is about the epic cross-country motorcycle trip she took.
Getting down her driveway on that motorcycle is C. Jane Taylor’s defining moment. It felt like entering a new world—a world where she could go anywhere. It made her realize she could do anything, which would turn out to be the catalyst behind her writing her book.
At that moment, her perception of herself changed. She accomplished something she wasn’t sure she was capable of. There were so many times she sat at the top of the driveway, too afraid to head down the hill. But at that moment, she found it within herself to continue.

Do you think in a non-linear, non-sequential, atypical way? If your thought path to a solution is a windy one, you’ll relate to today’s guest, Perry Knoppert. Perry founded the Octopus Movement, a movement driving the acceptance and awareness of the incredible abilities of atypical thinkers.
Non-linear thinking can also be described as multipotentiality. Perry decided to name his movement “The Octopus Movement” primarily because it’s easier to say than multipotentiality. In addition, the octopus also represents a curious misfit who thinks outside the box.
Perry’s defining moment happened when he was homeless, unable to see his kids, and without his furniture, books, and other cherished items. Standing in the middle of his girlfriend's living room, he looked outside. He said to his girlfriend “it’s clear to me”, and although at the time he didn’t know exactly what he was referring to, this was the moment he accepted his own neurodiversity.
The expectations set on him by the outside world couldn’t fit him because he was lying to himself. He felt everything in his life was going wrong, even though his intentions were good. He realized he doesn’t fit into the linear world because he’s wired differently—and that’s okay.
It’s important for companies across industries to understand and appreciate non-linear thinking. Atypical thinkers have a tendency to thrive in dynamic circumstances and are able to adapt through the introduction of new ideas. If you want to hire neurodivergent people, consider your unwritten rules and how you can let them go. This could open the door of potential for creative thinkers everywhere.

In this episode, we’re joined by Candace, a Rochester, New York woman. She moved a lot in her youth but eventually settled in Vermont where she started her business as a hairstylist. She’s been running her business for 10 years now.
Candace’s defining moment was one of the rawest moments of her life—the moment she decided to leave her husband. When she got married, she was certain that “making it” was a matter of determination. Looking back, she realizes this perspective came from a place of judgment.
Before separating, she had been arguing with her husband for some time. This arguing had escalated into verbal abuse. She knew staying was no longer an option, especially if she wanted to have respect for herself and for her family. One thing that surprised her after she left her husband was how very few people reached out to her.
In the beginning, it was incredibly difficult. She was with her husband for 27 years. It took a huge adjustment and about six months for her to feel like she was on her feet again. Since their divorce, she has gone without contact with her husband. She’s allowing her children to navigate their relationship with their dad independently of her.
So, how do you know when it’s time to leave your marriage? Check your boundaries. If your boundaries are getting fuzzy, or they are being pushed, it might be an indication you need to move on. Check your head, check your finances, and wherever you are, make sure you feel safe and well.

In this episode, social media expert Nichole Howson opens up about her battle with bipolar disorder and how it led her to attempt suicide multiple times. She shares her story in the hopes of helping others who may be struggling with mental health issues. Nichole highlights the importance of seeking help and getting proper treatment, as well as the importance of having a support system.