Bridgette Simmonds - Life & Leadership Coach
Thirlby Co. Leader to Learn From: January 2023
January 4, 2023
For over a decade, Bridgette Simmonds has inspired and coached thousands of leaders and coaches internationally to engage their personal power, elevate their leadership and monetize their passions.
Founder of Limitless by Bridgette, her professional development brand, she equips individuals and teams with a winning mindset followed by intentional action to achieve incredible results.
If you are a passionate leader committed to growth, contribution and fun, Bridgette is who you want to pay attention to.
“I believe life is meant to be lived out loud, on purpose and in service to others,” Bridgette shared. “My belief and life’s work is to return every person back to themselves, their true essence and the ease, fun and flow that existing and expressing ourselves as ourselves is. That is limitlessness.”
Read on for our special interview with Bridgette, where she explains what leads to us feeling stuck and unfulfilled in our lives, and offers her professional guidance for navigating the new year.
OUR INTERVIEW WITH BRIDGETTE
We’d love to hear more about your professional journey. What inspired you to become a life coach?
“Why” was my favorite question as a child - much to my parents' delight-turned frustration in the pre-Google era in which I was raised. I deeply wanted to understand EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. This curiosity about humans and their possibilities to be and do amazing things in life if they put their minds to it never really left me.
After working an unfulfilling corporate job and asking myself why do I stay here if it does not fulfill me, I decided to find what would fulfill me. It was supporting and guiding others who may be asking the same question of themselves and freeing them to the truth of who they are and their purpose in life. Coaching was the fulfillment I was seeking.
You believe that “life was created for us to feel and be limitless.” Explain more what that means to you, and why you feel it’s important?
Limitlessness is our true nature as human beings. When we are children, our minds and lives are a blank canvas awaiting our internal unique gifts to paint upon it for the enjoyment of those around us.
Unfortunately, what tends to happen is this blank canvas is painted upon by our caregivers, society and so many outside forces - often with the best of intentions - that end up limiting our potential to simply LIVE in the fullest expression of our truest selves.
The result is we find ourselves living lives that are not satisfying, unfulfilling and limited by the expectations of others.
My belief and life’s work is to return every person back to themselves, their true essence and the ease, fun and flow that existing and expressing ourselves as ourselves is. That is limitlessness. That is our divine birthright. That is what we deeply desire to feel. Free.
Now is an exciting time as we close out the year and set intentions for 2023. What guidance do you have for our readers as they shape their visions for next year?
First, be clear about not only what you want to experience in your vision for a 2023 that’s well-lived, but also include how it will feel when that vision is a reality.
Second - write your vision for your year out, including your feelings of living it. Share it with a trusted friend or a group of friends.
Third - commit to and take small steps daily, weekly, and monthly that are in service to your vision.
Fourth - hire a coach to hold you accountable. My visions came to fruition faster and bigger every time I invested in a coach to support me along the way.
Fifth - Celebrate! Tiny wins, huge wins, losses that are lessons - celebrate all along the way.
And last but not least - be sure to find at least 5 things to feel grateful for.
How would you define confidence?
Expressing your truest, most authentic self right now in the present moment. Hiding nothing, holding nothing back and reinforcing the truth to yourself and everyone witnessing your confidence that this is the highest potential for living.
What have you learned about vulnerability, in the context of leadership?
I’ve learned that vulnerability is not as scary as I once - and still do in moments of being vulnerable - thought it was. And that your leadership, self trust, and confidence grows by leaps and bounds when you choose to be vulnerable. We also give others permission to be the same for themselves.
How would you define your mission or purpose in life?
One word - LOVE. My mission is to be the embodiment of and human expression of love in any space I find myself in. Everything else is just a fun way to do it.
My most recent fun way is through my mission of connecting unfulfilled ambitious professionals to their purpose passions in order to help them find freedom, fulfillment and financial success by being themselves.
What is your greatest superpower as a leader?
My intuition. I love my ability to sense things that I cannot tell you how.. but I do. And it meets the moment brilliantly!
What is something that might surprise people about you?
I’m an introvert and adore my space and alone time. Because I’m not shy and am outgoing, people doubt this, but it’s the truth. I will make a mysterious exit from a gathering quickly to go and stop talking and restore my energy from “peopling” as the kids call it. [Laughter]
What advice would you have for someone who is struggling or feeling stuck right now in their life or career?
First, admit that you’re stuck. Refusing to face the truth keeps you stuck. Next, invest in a coach to create a powerful partnership to get you unstuck. If your car was stuck in mud, would you refuse support to help you push it out? Absolutely not. Invest in a coach.
What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
You love teaching. Go teach!
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am so honored and grateful to share my heart and thoughts with you. Thank you!
About Bridgette Simmonds
Bridgette Simmonds always knew she was destined to be a coach to others. She created Limitless by Bridgette as a movement and philosophy that is inspired by the words of writer Henry David Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined,” and that is exactly what Bridgette Simmonds supports her clients in doing.
Believing that “life is meant to be lived out loud, on purpose and in service to others,” Bridgette is a coach, speaker, facilitator and trainer dedicated to being a true partner to everyone she connects with. A joyful facilitator of corporate trainings across the globe, Bridgette focuses on developing creative strategies for growth and expansion, accountability—and having fun—with individuals, leadership teams and groups of all sizes.
Bridgette believes in taking action, moving forward, and bringing her intuitive and creative skills together with sharp logic to solve challenges and reveal opportunities. She also revels in helping other coaches develop their true voice and calling.
Certified through the International Coach Federation as a Professional Certified Coach and the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), an accredited Life Coaching Program, Bridgette also holds a certification in Conscious Business from the Conscious Business Academy.
Bridgette received her bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in Psychotherapy from Argosy University. Beyond professional and personal coaching, she has spent more than 15 years managing business development and sales and marketing for large Fortune 500 financial service corporations. She brings together these diverse skills and passions to help her clients find clarity, achieve business goals and spark greater happiness.
When she is not coaching or going confidently in the direction of her dreams, Bridgette lives in sunny Tampa with her fur baby Ginger. The middle child of a proud Jamaican family, she enjoys traveling, food, dancing, Sunday naps, documentaries and anything created by Oprah Winfrey.
In real life or virtually, Bridgette Simmonds knows how to inspire and innovate for teams and individuals ready for growth, transformation, new experiences and the exhilarating feeling of being limitless. Start a conversation with Bridgette here.
About This Feature
Leaders to Learn From is a standing feature in The Thirlby Company’s monthly newsletter that recognizes leaders in our community who embody our company’s core values. You can learn about our other honorees here, or subscribe to our newsletter to receive this feature and more inspiring content in the future.
