9 minute read

From Ice Skating to Business and Bullies to Critics: How Businesswoman Sarah P. Antonella Manages It All

This month, we spoke to Sarah P. Antonella, an international bestselling author and the owner of an international agency. Sarah has appeared on the cover of magazines ranging from Maxim Australia to Glamour Ukraine. She’s well known for being a savvy business strategist with infectious positive energy and integrity.

Dennis Postema: How did you end up in business after trying to compete in the Olympics as an ice skater?

Sarah P. Antonella: I did ice skating competitively, and I ended up with an injury. The ice-skating sponsor I had inspired me to get into importing and exporting commodities. He introduced me to the field, and it opened my blinders. That new perspective on the world was so enticing, I decided I needed to do it.

Dennis: How did the self-discipline from ice skating transform your everyday life and business today?

Sarah: When ice skating, I was very disciplined. I woke up at four in the morning, trained from five to seven, went to school, trained again from three to five in the afternoon. On top of that, I would do dance or gymnastics. It required a lot of consistent discipline and hard work. If somebody kicks you down, you keep going. It’s the same thing in business: you have a lot of high highs and a lot of low lows, and you have to persevere and push through them all.

Dennis: How did your injury impact your mindset?

Sarah: It killed my confidence because it was almost my identity. That’s what I was taught from a young age. I had to really find out what made me “tick” as a person: my values, passions, and what drove me to become the person I am today.

Dennis: Do you feel like your enthusiasm for ice skating transferred over to business?

Sarah: Definitely. That hardworking structure that I learned as a child, doing the same technique over and over again, falling down and getting back up, in a literal sense, not just a mental sense. In skating, you would try to jump over a hundred times, and you still wouldn’t land it, and it messes with your head. Sometimes in business, it’s almost the same, but it’s more like a mental game. It helped me implement hard work and perseverance in business. Dennis: How do you keep it all together? What does your day look like now, compared to when you were skating? Sarah: I wake up extremely early in the morning, and I go to bed late because I work with Asian time zones. I have to stick to a tight schedule and make sure I get everything in that I need to because if I don’t, then it’s a nightmare. I learned a lot from being a figure skater, because I would train from five to seven in the morning and have to rush to get to school on time. If I was late to class, then I’d get detention. As an adult, obviously I don’t get detention, but being late means I suffer in other areas, so it’s important to focus and determine how much time I can invest into one thing. I have four assistants who help me plan and prioritize. Dennis: A lot of people lack structure when working from home. Did you learn selfmanagement skills early on, or do you think it stems from being an entrepreneur? Sarah: I definitely think a lot of it had to do with

what I was taught early on as an athlete. I had to be structured, even at home, doing stretches and yoga before getting on the ice in the morning. Even in the car, I would study for exams. I’ve always maximized my time to get the most out of my day.

Dennis: What inspired you to write “Level Up”?

Sarah: I wrote that book because of what I’ve gone through personally. I was bullied growing up, and even now, I’m treated differently as a woman and minority in business. It’s sad. I’ve been told many times, “I didn’t know you would look like this,” and I kind of embrace that, but I wanted to show people that even when you go through the worst of the worst, you can always overcome it if you just lean on God.

Dennis: How did you deal with the bullying, and how do you compare it to critics in business?

Sarah: It’s been a humbling process, and I feel like God put those trials in my life because if I didn’t go through that tribulation, I wouldn’t be as understanding, sympathetic or empathetic toward people. I think I’d be a lot colder because most people in my industry are self-centered. I deal with a lot of people who will say outright that they’re the best, and I can’t say much to that. It’s one thing to know you’re really good but saying it in a certain way and carrying yourself is a different story. When I was in college, I did ballroom dancing, and my partner didn’t want to dance with me because I was so short. He wanted me to get kicked out of college, so he stole my dorm key and threw it in a random trash can. I searched the whole night. I cried. I didn’t ever want to feel like that again. That’s how I feel in business now—if someone pushes me down, I say to myself, “No. I’ve got this. I’ve been through much worse,” and it pushes me to prove them wrong. In the beauty world, photographers will comment on how much you just ate, because they have this image in their head that you’re supposed to be skinny and not eat much. But I know what my body needs, and it’s about stepping outside of that comfort zone and saying, “I know who I am as a person,” instead of conforming to what other people think. Dennis: At what point did you realize that was part of God’s plan? Sarah: When I was going through my divorce. In my culture, you’re not supposed to get divorced, so people shun you and cut you off. I really grasped what I was taught about God and understanding, “Okay, I can get through this.”

I looked at it as, “God’s made me this beautiful cake, and He’s just adding icing and different flavors to make it even more beautiful.” That’s how I’ve accepted it now, and it’s made me the person I am today. I’m able to connect with people on a different level.

Dennis: How many companies have you had?

Sarah: This is my fourth one.

Dennis: How do you inspire other people, and what do you want for them? Sarah: I want to inspire them through my experiences. I love to read or listen to audiobooks and being able to show people that you do go through all these trials, and it doesn’t seem like the grass is greener on the other side, but you can get through it. I want to show people that I am a living image of that. Dennis: Have you always been a reader? Is that part of what you attest to your success? Sarah: I have trouble focusing, but growing up, I did love to read. But I have to take notes while I’m reading, because if I don’t, then I don’t absorb the message. I have to constantly be active or keep my brain going, because otherwise, I’ll lose interest. I’ll read a book three or four times to make sure I definitely get the message. But I didn’t get that trait until later on in life. Dennis: What is your next goal? Sarah: In my personal life, I’m hoping to get married and have kids, because I want to be able to share with a future family of mine. I feel like it’s maybe meant for me, maybe it’s not, I’ll give it to God, but I do wish to hopefully have that in the end. There’s nothing more important than family.

In business, at this trajectory, we’re going to keep growing and improving.

Dennis: What advice would you give a younger version of yourself if you knew that you were going to go through these things again?

Sarah: Lean on God and persevere through anything. There were times when I thought I needed to give up. It was very tough, and I feel like if I could, I would tell myself, “Just talk to God,” because there were points in my life when I was hateful and I thought God wasn’t listening, but sometimes God answers us in a different way that we don’t understand. Sometimes it’s not the right moment. If I could, I would tell myself, “Be patient, things are going to happen, don’t give up.” I think that would’ve been huge for me.

Dennis: What advice would you give about pushing through and not giving up?

Sarah: Put time into yourself. If you feel like you’re going into that depressive state, or that state where you just want to give up, it’s good to have family or professional help to help you get out of it. And on top of that, having that connection with God is huge. God can help you only if you give yourself the tools to get help, and you can’t just lie in bed and say, “Hey, God, help me.” No. You have to put in the work. If you’re feeling that way, don’t just sit there and wait for a miracle to happen. Keep pushing and know that God has that plan for you, and you can do it.

To get in touch with Sarah, visit her website, sarahp.me, or reach out to her on Instagram: @ sarahpantonella.

Sarah discusses how she keeps her energy up:

A lot of it has to do with drive and passion, but also what I take in my body, and knowing how much physical stuff I can handle. I have green juice in the morning, salad later in the day, and something a little heavier—but still healthy—for dinner. I love a nice steak and lobster, but I do know that’s not the best on my stomach, and I feel slower, almost—it’s crazy how food can slow you.

I also have to know how much physicality I can handle. I have to analyze and structure whether I should work at home or in the office that day. Some weeks, I feel like my body’s taken a toll, so I work at home. Being at home reboots me and gives me extra foundation. Even though I’m working at home, I’m still getting everything done and keeping that mental focus.

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