Hi, I’m Bonney! I grew up in a small Kansas town and became the first in my family to graduate from college. I moved to a big city, found a wonderful partner, secured a fulfilling job, had children, and, ideally, lived happily ever after. However, life isn’t always that straightforward…as we all know.

Much of this narrative is true, but the notion of a ‘happily ever after’ has seen its share of twists and turns. I’m happy now, very much so, but I want to emphasize that I’m not naïve enough to assume that there won’t be more surprises along my journey.

In the spring of 2023, I left my very steady, corporate job of 17 years. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason, and looking back, I am immensely grateful for the way things unfolded. But, when you’re caught in the midst of it all, it can feel overwhelmingly distressing—there’s no sugarcoating it.

Let’s backtrack a bit. I cherished my corporate career for many years. It afforded me the opportunity to explore the world with my family, something I had never even dreamed of. I relished the fast-paced, ever-evolving lifestyle, steadily climbing the corporate ladder. It was exhilarating, especially when I was young(er) and possessed the energy and drive to match it. I was on top of the world! However, in hindsight, I can now identify where my self-esteem and self-worth began to take a dip. I transitioned from being one of the ‘favorites’ to repeatedly missing out on promotions. This experience was heart-wrenching, demoralizing, and, frankly, embarrassing. I experienced so many emotions during this period (which lasted years).

I kept pushing myself, telling myself to ‘have grit,’ ‘stick with it,’ and ‘maybe the next round will be yours.’ I relentlessly pursued that promotion. When it finally came (years later), it didn’t feel as fulfilling as I had anticipated. After all, I had been performing that role for years. Nonetheless, I persisted, working tirelessly in pursuit of the next promotion. I was certain that I could catch up with my peers, but it remained out of reach.

Sharing this story is challenging, but I’m now grateful that the subsequent promotion never materialized. Hindsight is indeed 20/20, and here’s what I clearly see now: the absence of another promotion and the final modification to my role served as the signs I needed. They signaled that it was time to move on, that this chapter of my life had reached its conclusion. It was time to begin scripting the next chapter.

Facing this reality was daunting. This style and pace of corporate life had been my world for 17 years, the same goes for my family. I had convinced myself that nothing could be better. The job provided a steady paycheck, excellent benefits, workplace friendships, consistency, reliability, and enticing perks—the list seemed endless.

Nonetheless, I knew it was time to chart a course for the next chapter. Understand, this decision didn’t happen overnight. Looking back, the transformation had actually begun three years earlier. In the summer of 2020, amidst a world in chaos, I enrolled in an online group coaching course—a decision that proved to be one of my best. This marked six months of intense self-reflection, implementing personal processes, maintaining an open mind, and learning from peers in similar or entirely different situations. It truly opened my eyes.

At the end of 2020, I enrolled in another course to explore Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), which occupied my entire 2021. I became a relentless consumer of self-improvement materials, devouring podcasts, books, articles, and eagerly sharing what I learned at work. I began taking better care of my physical well-being—more water, improved sleep, regular workouts, healthier eating, less junk food, and reduced alcohol consumption. It was a gradual process. I also took inventory at my job to determine what truly brought me joy. It always came back to helping others. Many times I heard from colleagues how much they appreciated me just ‘being human’ with them. None of the corporate fluff or vague answers that are supposed to be given.

I became more present, observing both external and internal developments in myself. Admittedly, I’m not perfect; I’m only human, just like you. I made mistakes and still do, but I’m more self-aware. I’ve discovered what works and what doesn’t, and it’s my choice which path to take.

I had the opportunity to step away from my corporate job in the spring of 2023. At that time, I was enrolled in a coaching certification course, along with another group coaching program led by the same woman who had initially captivated me in 2020. I knew I was ready to take that leap. I was being coached from every direction by incredible mentors and coaches.

I trusted myself. I was well aware of what this small-town Kansas girl could achieve. I had spent my entire life proving it to myself. So, I took the plunge and bid farewell to my faithful 17-year corporate career, ultimately giving birth to Better To Be Human.

I’m here to support individuals in the workforce who feel like they don’t quite fit the mold that many organizations demand. I’m not advocating that everyone should quit their jobs; far from it. There are certainly many ways to make work-life and home-life more manageable, and I can assist with that. However, if you have that gut feeling that it’s time for something else, I can help with that too.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the future, well-prepared for the twists and turns that lie ahead.