Samantha Houghton is a Ghost Writer, Book Coach, and Editor. She supports authors to authentically write their transformational stories to impact the world.
She told us that, “I’m an award-winning author, intuitive ghostwriter and inspirational book coach – my genres are memoir and self-help books. My speciality and passion is in trauma and overcoming adversity – helping entrepreneurs to heal, get aligned and visible with their story organically. One story can change the life for many. I also love to tell inspirational stories as a passionate speaker and embrace my high sensitivity to energy. I trained as a hypnotist and sometimes bring this into my work to support clients with limiting beliefs, fears, doubts and retrieve locked away memories.”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your professional journey/venture/initiative and what inspired you to choose this career.
Highly challenging/traumatic. I suffered from chronic depression, anxiety, obsessive thinking and an eating disorder as a young person due to my environment and my self-perception. Always one to love expressing my intense feelings, writing became my best friend when speaking became too difficult. I excelled in creative English at school and was encouraged to follow that path. I realised this in my forties after trauma prevented me from living an authentic life until that point. Books were my saviour, specifically other peoples stories and so I dedicate my life to helping others tell theirs.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
The birth of my son. Until that point, I did not feel worthy of transformation from the background I have described. It became about him, to give him everything I hadn’t received so he lived a fulfilled, confident and joyous life. Then I began to do it for myself.
Tell us about your goals, interests, and role models.
To continue to grow and develop my services and business to impact many more people around the world. To incorporate more overseas travel into my work and meet new global clients to serve. Role model – my former self, and to absolutely fulfil my greatest potential.
Everyone has their own set of challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. Still, the most essential part for others to learn is how you deal with those. Would you like to share with us your challenges and your coping mechanisms?
As a highly sensitive entrepreneur/ person my biggest challenge is always to manage my energy. Writing, reading (as in furthering my knowledge), energy work and self-development help me.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
I have reached thousands of people globally with my books and through my clients books to encourage positive transformation and the inspiration to make that happen. That is epic! I intend to multiply this significantly and use the powerful stories to create great change for the world.
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
I had my second best ever year in business in 2020 as I framed it to motivate and inspire me by allowing nothing to stop me from my purpose.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
My first memoir won an author award for my honest writing style. I healed myself from shame of my past and shifted my identity into one that empowered and served me.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
Use your story, however traumatic, or not interesting you may judge it to be, for a force of good and inspiration for the world. No one needs to feel alone in their struggle and your story could be the turning point for someone else. It’s your greatest asset!
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
To honour your soul’s calling and listen to your intuition – it knows what’s right for you.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women’s leadership today?
And so it should be. It’s 2023 and it should rightly be an equal playing field even though we know its not, but it’s moving in the better direction.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Follow your heart – but take your head along for the ride. Keep going on what matters to you.
