Griz's deeply personal story highlighting how her personal challenges affected her professional life, and how she overcame them. Can you relate?
I grew up in a patriarchy where girls/women were considered inferior. Assertiveness with family members, especially to my elders—male elders in particular—was punished.
At family gatherings, male elders emotionally bullied me and I wasn’t allowed to express my anger because “they’re family” and “you have to respect your elders.” Then I’d be forced to hug them goodbye when the party was over.
Growing up in a family of immigrants with little resources, family was essential to our survival. My parents divorced when I was 4. My mom worked 2-3 jobs, my dad was a barber who worked even on his days off. My first job was at the age of 14 to help my mother pay the bills. The rest of my extended family was in a similar situation to ours, and although we didn’t have much, we made do with the little we had by sharing resources and supporting each other whenever it was needed.
But there was one day—in high school, very shortly after my father passed away—that I “woke up” in a sense, and knew that I wanted to make a life for myself.
I was determined to break the cycle. Pursue higher education. Create a different life.
And that’s exactly what I did. Being a first-generation American and knowing everything my parents did to come to this country for the promise of a better life, that point was not lost on me. So embarked on my quest to grow my education and my success.
Learning very quickly in my academic career that I was fascinated with Psychology and all things work, I ended up graduating with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Behavior Management. My professional passion space was (and continues to be) applying the principles of Psychology and the Science of Behavior to the way people work and live.
My career steadily grew in the corporate world, as did my income and level of responsibility.
However, throughout my career, I found myself in professional situations where leaders—even the abrasive, manipulative, sexist, and racist ones—were protected. They were “the elders in the family,” and I went right back to being that child. Stuffing down my anger yet overachieving and submitting out of respect, or fear of losing my job, or both.
This pattern proved toxic for me the day, soon after my 40th birthday, when I was suddenly diagnosed with a rare cancer.
That was the scariest time of my life, but the clarity that came with that diagnosis was astounding...
My cancer-containing Appendix and a third of my colon were removed that week, and along with it all went my paralyzing need to be tolerant and meek to anything, or anyone, that took advantage of me.
The day I was diagnosed with Appendix Cancer was the day that my priorities shifted into perspective like a kaleidoscope.
It was the day I promised myself that if I made it through cancer alive, I was going to take control over my life—and my career—and stop “bending the knee” to people that cause me to stuff down my frustrations and stifle my voice.
I have made good on that promise every single day since, and now I help others do the same so they can live authentically and enjoy the life they're working so hard to support.
Today, I'm a Career Success Coach helping ambitious, committed, seasoned professionals break through the fear that's preventing them from being tactfully assertive and confident in the tremendous value they bring to the world. From there, I help them grow their personal and professional success, their income, and create a healthy work-life balance.
I've lived through the feeling of being trapped, stifled, emotionally and professionally abused—not knowing how to advocate for myself out of fear—and I overcame it.
I’ve transformed my life from merely existing to actually LIVING my passion and helping the world in the way that I uniquely can help.
I use my intuition and expert toolkit to guide my clients with supportive empathy toward their vision of their best life. I give my clients exactly what they need, when and how they need it. I am patient, trustworthy, safe, down to earth, showing my clients love as they bravely venture down a path to unapologetic authenticity.
These are the same tools I used to overcome my biggest personal and professional challenges to create a life that makes me feel truly alive.
Personally, I'm passionate about living joyfully, doing meaningful work, sharing experiences with people who really get me, traveling, relaxation, self-care, delicious food, discovering new hobbies, and having the energy to be present—in the moment, in everything I do.
People become my clients when they are passionate about the same exact things, but need a little guidance to get there. It lights me up to see clients get from where they are—a state of exhaustion and frustration—to a place of joy, fulfilment, and deep satisfaction.
The pandemic has forced each one of us to look at our level of satisfaction with our life and career. It's caused many of us to take the necessary steps and create a life that is aligned to our values. Employees want their leadership to do better, and many leaders want to do better for their people.
Some organizations are making changes to keep up with the times, some are not. That’s causing people to re-evaluate their professional situation and crave progression.
Technology makes it easy to get the help you need to solve your problems—making coaching sessions easily accessible virtually via Zoom, and flexible scheduling for busy professionals who are yearning for more out of their life experience.
My unique coaching style gives you a way to finally see a clear path to your best life—a life of peace, satisfaction, fulfillment, and enhanced professional success—and the tools, guidance, and support that empower your walk down that path with confidence.
I believe that my purpose as a human is to play a role in moving the planet toward a place of love. That purpose is enacted every time I equip my clients with the tools and confidence to actualize their version of their fulfilled life.
Do you know an ambitious, seasoned professional who is constantly overworked and frustrated? Are they ready to get the support they need to grow their success, income, and create a healthy work-life balance?
If so, then please share this story with them so they know they're not alone. Help is available to them if they choose to take it.
Are you, yourself, feeling trapped and recognize your need to learn how to self advocate while preserving your relationships and increase your level of success?
Then I encourage you to trust yourself and get the support you need to turn the wheel toward the path of career clarity, unapologetic authenticity, and peace. Don't wait for the universe to force you to do it, like it did to me. You can do this right now.
I have a few time slots available in my Career Success Coaching program, and it would be my honor to guide you in making lasting, positive change in your life and career.
Schedule your free consultation today, and let's embark on your journey to enhanced success and work-life balance.
Cheers to your success and to your fulfilled life!
Grisel Scarantino, MA, ODPC is a Career Coach, better known as Career Coach Griz. She’s a coach, consultant, speaker, author, home chef, enjoyer of life, Bigfoot enthusiast, and lover of funny dog videos. If you want to fall back in love with your career path, grow your success, and better enjoy the life that you're working so hard to support, click here to schedule your free consultation.