Judith Eugene is the founder of the Loving Hands Group, as well as an instructor and practitioner within her organization. Once a successful architect,Judith left her chosen field following a turbulent chapter in her personal life where she realized that nothing is guaranteed and that her career was not as fulfilling as she had hoped. So Judith started the Loving Hands Group, which offers seniors and those living with disabilities throughout the Cleveland area the opportunity to take life-enriching classes and experience healing therapies.

In this episode, Judith discusses the difficulty of leaving architecture behind, elaborates on why Loving Hands Group is for- rather than non-profit, and gives advice to those seeking more fulfillment and meaningful action in their lives.

Show Notes:

• What was Judith’s first job in her original career?
  • Was an architect for twenty years, first working in New York City and then Washington, D.C.
  • Architecture was the “logical combination” of her love for math, art and science.
  
  
• What were the biggest challenges Judith faced as an architect?
  • Working her way up the ladder, as well as figuring out what kind of architect she wanted to be.
  
  
• What beliefs about money did Judith’s family instill in her?
  • Parents grew up in the Great Depression, so she was taught to be thrifty and hardworking from an early age.
  
  
• How has Judith’s attitude toward money changed throughout her career?
  • Went from making considerable money as an architect to basically none after leaving that career, so she’s had to learn not to be fearful of financial insolvency.
  • Doing the right thing became more important to her.
  
  
• Why did Judith ended up changing careers?
  • In the span of a year, Judith lost her mother, went through a divorce, was laid off from her architecture job, and she lost her job.
  
  
• What is Judith’s advice for those going through a similarly turbulent period of change?
  • To see these shake-ups as the universe guiding you toward a new path with new opportunities.
  • If you want to be yourself and use your talents to help others, the universe will help you make that happen.
  
  
• What was it like going from financial success to starting a business from scratch?
  • It was a scary time, and one that didn’t see immediate results. She had to dig her heels in.
  
  
• How was the Loving Hands Group created?
  • Originally planned to help out her community when she retired.
  • Learned her friend had a fulfilling job taking portraits of nursing home residents.
  
  
• How did Judith decide that the Loving Hands Group should be a for-profit organization?
  • Realized that being a non-profit meant that funding was not always guaranteed.
  • She is leaving the possibility of non-profit work for the future.
  
  
• What does the Loving Hands Group do for their clients?
  • Work with and provide activities to seniors who live on their own or in assisted living facilities. Apart from activities, they are able to check in on these seniors for their family members.
  • They also work with the directors of group and living homes, as well as local government and some companies.
  
  
• How has Judith’s definition of fulfillment changed in the course of changing careers?
  • She doesn’t think she truly knew what fulfillment meant until launching the Loving Hands Group.
  • Fulfillment now comes from her actions in and of themselves rather than just the effects of those actions.
  
  
• What is her advice for those looking to launch a similar for-profit, community-centric organization.
  • Listen to your heart, figure out what your motivations are, and stick to them.
  
  
• Who has been the most impactful person in Judith’s journey to do well and achieve financial success?
  • Her brother, a fellow business-owner motivated to help his clients.
  
  
• Who has been the most impactful person in Judith’s drive to do good?
  • Her mother, the inspiration for the Loving Hands Group.
  
  
• When Judith is having a bad day, what does she do to get herself out of her funk?
  • Remembers that she has gotten through all of her previous bad days.
  
  
• What book does Judith recommend to those seeking a more successful path in life?
  • Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach
  
  
• What are the worst and best pieces of advice Judith has received?
  • Don’t let yourself be scared, know that you’ve gotten through the worst before.
  
  
• Places to find Judith:
  • The Loving Hands Group – http://lovinghandsgroup.com/ 
  • Judith’s phone number: 216 408 5578
  
  

Do Well & Do Good Challenge Nomination:

“The agency was founded in 1962 by a group of parents, frustrated by the lack of support services and quality education available for their children. While many services now are available for families, the system is far from perfect. The Arc of Greater Cleveland can provide desperately needed assistance by working with and on behalf of families to ensure that their family member with intellectual disabilities receives the services he/she needs to experience quality of life.

The Arc of Greater Cleveland has been an independent advocate fighting for the basic needs, safety and rights of children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities by helping families secure support services, financial assistance, housing, education and training, employment, health care and much more. The Arc of GC is the only independent voice in the area fighting for equal rights and equal access to services for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.”

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