Samantha Karim
1 – Samantha? How do you keep going when you are so emotionally drained and overwhelmed?
The first thing I do is listen to my body. I pause and ask myself… Am I physically tired? Or am I mentally overloaded? Those are two very different experiences. And they require two very different responses.
If my body is physically exhausted, I stop and rest. Things can remain on the to-do list. My family gets to know I’m not fully available. Then I ask for the time and space needed to restore my energy. Pushing through physical depletion doesn’t happen anymore. Overriding my body only creates a deeper crash later, that’s what I’ve learned.
If I’m mentally overwhelmed, it’s usually because I’ve lost clarity. Mental fatigue often comes from trying to hold too much at once. After all, when you prioritize everything, you prioritize nothing. So, I get honest about what actually needs to be done that day. Not what could be done. Not what would make me feel productive. Instead, what truly matters is based on impact and importance.
Then, I choose my top three action items. If something isn’t in that category, I allow it to move. I rescheduled it intentionally. I don’t ignore it. Likewise, I don’t avoid it. I still take responsibility for it…just not today.
Overwhelm isn’t always a sign that you can’t handle more. More often, it’s a signal that you need to focus better. Also, you need to protect your energy. Finally, you need to make cleaner and clearer decisions about what stays and what goes in this moment. That’s how I keep going…not by forcing myself forward, but by responding wisely to what I actually need.
2 – What was the biggest turning point in your mindset that shaped who you are now?
I’ve had several defining moments. However, one of the most transformative moments was the moment I chose radical honesty. First with myself. Then with the people around me.
When I first met my husband, we had a beautiful beginning. But we also hit a significant rough patch. It was messy. It was emotional. And some people strongly encouraged me to walk away. Those were the moments that compelled me to choose who I wanted to be.
In the middle of that drama, I had to decide whether I was going to live according to other people’s standards. Or my own truth. Then, in a moment of deep vulnerability, I admitted something to myself that felt terrifying to say out loud: I loved him, and I was unwilling to leave.
So I told the truth. Not defensively or rebelliously. Just honestly. It created a series of uncomfortable conversations. It disappointed many people. It forced me to sit in tension, uncertainty, and people disliking me. But for the first time, I experienced what it meant to stand firmly inside my own feelings. All without giving up my power to make decisions.
That moment changed me. I realized I was far freer than I thought. I didn’t owe anyone a performance of strength. Likewise, I didn’t owe anyone a decision that made them feel at ease. The only thing I chose to honor was what was true within me…even if the path forward was complicated.
That experience shaped how I move through life now. I don’t make decisions based on other people’s “supposed to’s” and “should’s.” Instead, I make them based on alignment. And there is nothing more powerful than a woman who trusts her own truth.
3 – Are confidence and authenticity connected?
Yes…authenticity leads to confidence.
When you honor who you actually are, you also honor where you are in your life. That includes your fears, your current capacity, and your level of comfort in certain situations. You stop denying your level of discomfort. You also stop shaming yourself for still growing. There’s power in that kind of honesty.
When you offer yourself grace for your own progress, you create the safety to take courageous action. This is true even when the emotional risk feels high. That’s real confidence. Confidence isn’t the absence of fear. Instead, it’s trusting yourself enough to know you’ll be okay on the other side. This holds up even if things don’t unfold perfectly.
But that kind of trust can’t exist without honesty. Why? Because honesty cultivates stability. And from there, courage can grow. Then, alongside your courage, your intention to be aligned with yourself fuels the fire. You take action that feels congruent with what you want. You make decisions that reflect your values. You don’t wait to get it right before going. Finally, you take care of yourself along the way.
Authenticity is what makes that possible. Without it, confidence becomes performance. With it, confidence becomes power.
4 – What does “Bold Bitch” mean when no one is watching?
When no one is watching, “Bold Bitch” means I’m living my life fully. And I don’t need an outside opinion to guide me. I’m living my life in peace because I accept who I am. Also, I accept who I’m not.
It’s not performative. It’s not about making sure someone sees my boldness. Nor is it about proving a point. Actually, it’s quieter and calmer than that.
It’s who I am when there’s no audience. It’s the way I make decisions in my own home. It’s the standards I keep, even if no one would know whether I dropped them. Most importantly, it’s choosing what feels true to me. Not what would be applauded.
Boldness, to me, isn’t something I turn on when I need it to work for me. For example, in business, in a hard conversation, or on a stage. It’s not situational. It’s woven into the fiber of my existence. It’s who I am and a facet of my identity. It shows up in how I rest. In how I say no. In how I honor my feelings. In how I stay honest with myself.
When no one is watching, Bold Bitch just means I’m leading my own life exactly as I want. I’m not negotiating with myself for approval. I’m not shrinking in private and expanding in public. I’m the same woman either way.
5 – What’s the most uncomfortable truth your clients eventually have to face?
That they’ve contributed to the situation they’re in.
And I want to be very clear. I’m not talking about blame. I’m not asking them to point fingers at themselves. Nor am I asking them to relive every mistake they’ve ever made. I’m not interested in self-attack or self-punishment. What I’m talking about is accountability.
So many people believe they’re not part of the problem. They feel stuck because of other people’s behavior, circumstances, or past experiences. And while those things absolutely matter, there’s also this silent truth: your choices have played a role in creating the results you’re living in right now.
That’s uncomfortable to hear. No one likes hearing that they’re responsible for where they are. This is especially true in seasons where they’re not proud of their outcomes. And it’s not because they’re unwilling to be honest. Instead, it’s because most people can’t separate responsibility and shame. They hear “you contributed to this” and translate it to “this is your fault” or “you did this wrong.”
But those aren’t the same thing. Responsibility is neutral. It’s empowering. Shame is what makes it heavy.
Once my clients learn to separate accountability from beating themselves up, everything changes. Why? Because if your choices helped create your current reality, that also means your choices can create something different for your future. Therefore, you become responsible for your problems. As a result, you are also capable of influencing and determining the solutions. That’s where your real power lives.
6 – What’s the unspoken contract between you and your clients?
The foundation is this: nothing we do in our work together has anything to do with their worth.
I push my clients. I challenge them. I don’t let them hide. However, that push is never a commentary on their value as a human being. Instead, it’s about their potential. And I push because I care. I push because I see what’s available to them. Also, I push because I know they’re capable of more. More than they’re currently allowing themselves to step into.
And at the same time, their ups and downs don’t change how I see them. Then, we cement that they see themselves that way too. They will have seasons where they execute powerfully. Likewise, they’ll have seasons where they regress. They’ll have moments where they feel unstoppable. And they’ll have moments where they feel discouraged. None of that alters their worth.
Results are a reflection of choices and actions. They are not a fixed version of who you are as a person. That differentiation is key and important to remember.
And truthfully, it’s not even unspoken anymore. We talk about it openly. Clear, direct communication is part of the contract too. My clients know exactly where they stand with me. They know they’ll be challenged. And they know they’ll be respected. All of it can exist at the same time.
Editor’s Note:
Samantha doesn’t overcomplicate things. She uses short sentences. She breathes between ideas. Each truth lands before she moves on. Notice her pauses. Notice her pivots. That’s not accidental. That’s her philosophy in action: clarity over chaos, one thought at a time. Her rhythm is intentional. She creates space for reflection, not just reaction. She trusts you to keep up without being rushed. So read slowly. Let it sink in. Then ask yourself: where can I pause more?
Connect with Samantha:
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-karim/
Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samantha.bordelonkarim
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldbitchcoaching/
Stay Connected:
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/executivewomen_/
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/executive-women/
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExecutiveWomen/
Read more articles: https://executive-women.global/en/the-secret-ingredient-in-great-marketing-its-stolen/
