When Life Throws A Curveball: Leading With Purpose Through Personal Adversity

How my health crisis strengthened my commitment to family, business, and self-advocacy

If there’s one thing life has taught me as of late, it’s to expect the unexpected. 

A few months ago, I was experiencing some excruciating stomach pain. As I’m sure many can relate, I very well may have attempted to fight through the discomfort had my wife not insisted we take a trip to the emergency room. She sprung into action, utilizing her professional knowledge and network to effectively and efficiently navigate our complex healthcare system, all the while tenaciously advocating for me to ensure we got conclusive results and answers.

After numerous tests, an endoscopy finally led to a positive pancreatic cancer diagnosis, one that I don’t even think the doctors expected. Once everyone collectively managed their surprise, my first thought was one of practicality – “Okay, so what are my options?”

There were so many thoughts, fears, questions, and implications for my personal life, and for my family. But as a business owner, I also immediately thought, “What does this mean for my company? What do I tell my employees and clients?” As a small business owner, leading is not necessarily a matter of courage and choice but rather a necessity. To do right by the employees and their families, it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ but rather ‘how’ to lead and message for the entire team. 

The next obstacle ahead was surgery; a distal pancreatectomy to determine my prognosis, as well as the road ahead. I knew if, as a result of the surgery, they found the cancer had spread, I would have chosen to close my business in order to enjoy the rest of my days with my family. And I was confident in that decision. Fortunately, due to early detection, the surgery revealed a positive prognosis and outlook. In response, I relayed my entire story and experience to both clients and employees alike and brought with me a new degree of drive and enthusiasm to get back to work honoring our mission.

Experiencing a life-altering change like this is challenging enough to process, let alone finding the opportunity and the words to invite someone else into your experience. Engaging in difficult and vulnerable conversations, especially about something as personal as a health diagnosis, is never easy, but it is essential. These conversations create transparency and build trust – two things that are fundamental in relationships, whether personal or professional.

Sharing my health diagnosis was about more than just informing others; it was about fostering understanding and creating an environment where honesty is valued. When you demonstrate vulnerability, you give others permission to be vulnerable, too, and that can transform team dynamics. Beyond that, it allows people the opportunity to support you in ways you couldn’t have anticipated you’d need. I’m so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement I received from friends, family, colleagues, and clients. 

I’m very much still in the thick of this journey, but even as I reflect on what I’ve experienced so far, vulnerability is not the sole takeaway here. Living in this time defined by enhanced connectivity and high achievement doesn’t always leave sufficient room for us to feel connected to our inner selves and our physical bodies. This experience has shone a bright light on how crucial it is to prioritize self-care and to be proactive in getting the support and help you need. 

Self-advocacy saved my life in this case. Had my wife not advocated for me and requested a CT scan, I likely wouldn’t have known I had cancer until symptoms started to manifest, which, in the case of pancreatic cancer, is usually too late for any intervention or treatment. We can’t always assume doctors will offer every option, and we need to be prepared to explicitly ask for tests or care we want. 

I’m more excited than ever to live a life without regrets – to advocate, volunteer, communicate, innovate, and lead. Courage comes from a deep sense of purpose and commitment to the mission around which I’ve built my business. Promoting things that I strongly believe in – like fairness and transparency – keeps me accountable and motivated. Most of all, the trust and dedication of my team inspire me to lead by example, embracing challenges and opportunities with resilience and optimism.

Kyle Samuels is an HR Expert, and CEO & Founder of Creative Talent Endeavors.