When I was a kid, I only cared about making art and caring for animals. My mom was quite crafty, so there were always art projects coming alive inside our four walls. I also remember taking a lot of art classes when I was very young. We had a menagerie of pets, due almost entirely to the fact that I wouldn’t let it go until I got what I wanted (I had a cat, mice, a guinea pig, hamsters, and eventually a dog). Naturally, I wanted to be an artist or a veterinarian when I grew up.
That didn’t change much in the next decade or so. Because the idea of having to anesthetize animals that were too ill to carry on simply broke my heart, I decided to go to college for fine art.
That was short-lived because my parents were footing the bill for my college tuition, and they requested that I change my major to one that was more conducive to post-degree employment.
The only other subject I was immersed in at the time was psychology. They found this to be an agreeable redirection, and so I graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology.
But something was constantly tugging at me to return to my creative roots.
Throughout my early career, I tried jobs in finance, HR, event planning, sales, and marketing. The only time I was able to stomach the non-creative elements of these jobs was when I was working in nonprofit, because at the end of the day, whether or not I found joy in the work itself, I was helping people or animals to live better lives.
About 7 years into my career, I became a contract designer/developer for a small creative agency. I fell in love with being able to make my own schedule, have life balance, and work with clients that I cared about.
There were ups and downs and eventually, the business was changing and so was I. There was so much good that came out of that job, I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for the experience.
Learning what you don’t want is just as important as learning what you want.
I started on a self-help journey—devouring books, listening to countless podcasts, and following the greats (hello, Brené Brown!) online. My first epiphany was that I needed to make more money. I knew that meant my situation had to change, but my mistake was thinking that it required me to go back into the corporate world.
I took a job at the exact compensation I’d been visualizing and manifesting for myself. I thought that meant it must be perfect!
It wasn’t.
While I learned a lot about design systems and best practices, as well as a good bit about business, I also learned a lot about how manipulating, dishonest, competitive, and toxic a corporate environment can be.
I looked at the people that were getting praise, promotions, and raises and I did what they did. I acted like they acted. I dressed like they dressed.
I wore clothes that felt out of character for me,
kissed the asses of people I didn’t respect,
did work I wasn’t passionate about,
got stepped on by others (and was encouraged to step on others) just to climb the next rung of the ladder, and
exercised authority for the sake of proving I had authority.
I was showing up as someone else.
It wasn’t me.
It wasn’t authentic.
It felt terrible.
Thoughts become things.
It did, however, validate the power of manifesting what I wanted (or what I thought I wanted anyway).
Along my self-improvement journey, I came upon a coaching training program, booked an introductory call (because what’s the worst that could happen?), fell in love with the founders and the mission of the organization, and enrolled to start the following month. Eighteen weeks later, I graduated as a certified life coach. It was one of the most illuminating and fulfilling journeys of my life, and I’m so grateful for our community of coaches who have become my extended family.
It’s also when I realized I wanted to work with women entrepreneurs with heart-centered businesses.
Knowing that I wanted to serve other women entrepreneurs had me feeling completely out of alignment. I was making good money, had solid benefits, ankara escort and lots of perks, but I wasn’t living my purpose. This just added to my feelings of inauthenticity, and I knew it was time for me to leave the corporate world.
I love coaching because I get to share the very tools and teachings that changed my life: to accept ourselves just as we are in this moment (because you are ENOUGH), take risks and set goals that once felt out of reach (because you are WORTHY), and most importantly to remain curious and compassionate with ourselves, others, and the world around us (because you are LOVE).
Although it hasn’t always been easy, I have peace of mind and spirit knowing that I am doing what I was put on this earth to do. I work with clients I love, doing work that is meaningful to both myself and my clients, and I am valued as a design partner and a coach. I am able to charge rates that align with the lifestyle I have always desired. I have more time for family and friends, and more resources to invest in the people and causes I believe in.
I’m finally living a life that I feel good about. Even when ish hits the fan—which it inevitably does—I am proud of myself for taking risks and I now view failures as experiments that provide valuable data.
I want the same for my clients. I love seeing my clients build confidence, try new things, learn tricks to quiet their inner critic, experience success they once thought they were unworthy of, and so much more. It’s truly an honor.
Thank you for being part of my tribe.
XO,
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