Hello
"Your Cross to Bear is your Gift to Share" Sam McDonald
Hi, I'm Sam McDonald Founder of WITH-Humanity
My top Strengths: Futuristic . Strategic. Ideation. Communication. Activator.
I have a belief that every individual possesses unique talents waiting to be discovered and shared with the world. This is why I founded WITH-Humanity, which has Human Development at its heart, with an intention to change dysfunctional systems with systemic injustice, into Functional Social Systems, by empowering individuals to claim their agency and unlock their true potential to thrive and flourish, one individual at a time...
Read my personal story below
My Story
As a child, my mother instilled in me the belief that everyone possesses unique talents waiting to be discovered. This ideology imbued in me a deep hope that we all had something unique and of value to contribute to the world. Imagine my delight when I learned that our talents could be measured through a simple 30-minute Talent Assessment. However, after completing the assessment in 2007, I found myself asking, "So I know who I am, now what?" and the assessment fell by the wayside. In 2014, serendipity intervened when I heard someone utter those very same words. Determined to understand more, I knew I had to back myself to learn everything this person could teach me about the true value of this assessment and the depths of its potential to empower all people to flourish, turning systemic injustices, intertwined within our dysfunctional systems, into fully functioning Social Systems, one person at a time.
After qualifying as a Coach in 2014, and trading as my own name, I founded WITH-Humanity in 2019, intent on making a significant impact. I’ve never been more excited. Through in-person and online groups with self-organized learning and coach-led content, I created a platform for individuals to explore their Talents and Strengths individually and collaboratively, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie whilst learning how we are naturally wired and motivated as well as our triggers, over/under use patterns, and what is right about us . My focus is specifically on the future of Identity as the corner stone of one's agency, making use of the StrengthFinder® Assessment & Interdependent Rules of Engagement© to create positive 'self' constructs, to replace the many negative labels that can often leave individuals feeling worthless, thus allowing each to actualise their purposes.
Growing up in Nottingham, surrounded by both affluent and marginalized communities, I witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to opportunities. Inspired by the principles of Robin Hood, I sought to democratize human development, making it accessible to individuals from all walks of life. I aim to inspire affluent individuals to fund and learn, alongside those from less fortunate backgrounds, with a cross-subsidy model, which is why we offer four affordable pricing options commensurate with one’s income.
My upbringing, marked by my mother's determination and entrepreneurial spirit, shaped my life's journey. My mum created an opportunity for us to emigrate to South Africa and after a bumpy ride I found myself in the world of entrepreneurship. Despite facing challenges, I remained optimistic and focused on manifesting my vision for the future. Traits like Futuristic, Includer, Strategic, Activator and Positivity have guided me from my childhood throughout, empowering me to embrace the challenges of business ownership, and utilise my strengths to create positive social impact.
In 2018, with no high school diploma or degree to back me up, I approached the University of Stellenbosch with an idea to match my talents to a degree in Futures Studies, partly as an experiment to understand "If we match our intrinsic wiring to our applied learning, would our growth be exponential". In 2019, in my 50's, I went on to register for my Master in Futures Studies and graduated with a first class degree. After a decade of research following the simultaneous ongoing trend of mental health, non-communicable disease and anomalous behaviours, my thesis concentrated on biases associated with alternative causes of behaviours, commonly known as mental illness. Young people are our future and I have created a concept for under-resourced called 'Motivate one Million' (MOM) - because everyone needs a Mom.
I hope my story serves as a beacon of hope for those having difficulty decide how they should apply themselves to life. The rest of my story can be read here.
Contact
I'm always looking for motivated individuals who want to turn their lives in something with new and exciting opportunities that can impact their future. Let's connect and tell me who you are and what you're dreaming of ... Sam
WhatsApp +27 726059909