Three years ago, Amy Margolis’ life fell apart. Within a span of six months, her grandfather, mother, and father all passed away, before she could catch her breath or begin to process her grief. It made her feel lost, adrift in the world without her solid foundations to depend on. It took time for Amy to get through that grief and come out the other side, but when she did, it was as a more determined and resilient woman.
Learning painful life lessons
Amy had been extremely close to her parents. They were a great source of support throughout her childhood and into her adult life. She would call them a few times a day, whenever she needed to talk, and for advice when she had her own children. When they were gone, she felt like she had no one. “It stripped me of the support system I had always known. I felt alone, scared, and angry.” When someone is physically ill, it’s difficult for them to give their whole attention to another. Amy notes that when we are emotionally ill—heartbroken—it’s very similar. “You can’t be the best version of yourself. If I’m not feeling good about life, it impacts my kids, and I want to be healthy and present in their lives for every possible minute.”
Before her tragedy, Amy had been an assistant principal of a large school. In the wake of her loss, with a new perspective, she saw that such a demanding job left her little time and energy for those who deserved it most: her family. Amy was resolute in not returning to her position at the school—she wanted to spend her time where it counted. “You get one chance—there are no do-overs.” She also knew that she could not remain entrenched in her grief. She needed a purpose, and in order to be the best for her kids, she sought something to lift her up, to give her hope and drive.
This photo was taken just a couple of weeks before Amy started her Rodan + Fields journey. Her hands were full, but her heart was broken. This journey has brought her emotional freedom, a chance to heal by helping others, hope, and the opportunity to dream again.
Mending a broken heart
While Amy was going through her darkest moments, her old college friend Katie Wood reached out often to check in on her and attempt to lift her spirits. On one of these calls, Katie suggested that Amy try something new, something that she believed could change Amy’s life for the better. What Katie proposed was that Amy set up her own Rodan + FieldsⓇ skincare business. Amy was intrigued. “Katie was presenting me with an opportunity to change my focus and do something positive for my family.” Her husband was also very encouraging. Being an investment professional himself, he knew the earning potential and could also see that his wife would benefit from a new adventure.
Less than a year after her father passed away and while she was still juggling a newborn baby, Amy started her R+F business. Within two months, she had hit the Fast Start Program and within a year she had reached Level V. The change she felt and saw in herself was miraculous. “I went from a point where I could barely get out of bed to take a shower, to being the boss of my own successful business.”
Members of Amy’s personal Team Renew (Krista Damann, Mary Brown, Kirsten Meyers, Tracy Robb) with her sponsor Katie Wood and her sister Erin Connor during their Lexus Celebration in Boston.
Taking back control
Now, less than two years after starting her Rodan + Fields journey, Amy leads a team of over 30 women around the country. “It feels good to wake up every day and have some control over where my life is going,” she says. Working from home about fifteen hours a week, she is able to put her family first, which is particularly helpful in her situation. “Without a family support network, I need every ounce of flexibility possible.”
Her experience has taught her that things can change in a heartbeat, and that we need to cherish every moment. “I want my kids to have as much of me as possible for as long as possible.” With her R+F business, she is able to be present as her children grow up. She revels in the convenience of her new career and the freedom it brings, and says she’ll “never go back to the old way.”
Amy’s world, her everything.
Sharing the secret to a happier life
The whole Rodan + Fields journey has been a cathartic process for Amy, “I do believe R+F has given me an outlet for my healing,” she says with relief. She has learned important lessons about the value of family, and while Amy dearly misses those that have passed on, she has emerged from her grief a stronger person. She has come a long way in the past three years, and looking into the future, Amy is keen to spread the opportunity R+F offers. “I want to share this with as many people as possible, to show them that they too can improve their lives as I have.”
Having the power to help others while also helping support her family is rewarding and exciting, and Amy thrives on that excitement. She is happy to say that the new life she has begun is a perfect fit. “People say life-changing, but this truly is the real deal. The only thing I regret is not having started sooner!”
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