Some folks knew they wanted to start a business since they were tall enough to ride “Splash Mountain.” But if you’re anything like me, the path to owning your own business may not have been straightforward.

Maybe you started with odd jobs in high school and college…. Or hustled your butt off in hospitality. Or retail, like I did for six feet-numbing years. Or maybe you began in corporate. Until you felt the fluorescent lights zapping your brain cells.

Was I a horrible employee? Depends how you define horrible. Did I “talk back” when I thought a boss was “unreasonable”? Did I routinely take “cat naps” in the dressing room when I hawked haute couture on the Upper East side? Did I “get into trouble” for “flirting” over IM when I was an assistant at a talent agency? Did I get fired for “apathy” after two years as a personal assistant to a (persnickety) romance novelist?

Some of my employers wouldn’t have voted me most likely to succeed. But, thing was, I didn’t want to succeed at being an employee.

“I think the best entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs because they were unemployable or they had an awful boss.” Codie Sanchez, author of Main Street Millionaire

Can you relate? I mean, it’s not like your work ethic sucks. Or even that you’re a rebellious rule-breaker. You need stimulation. Challenges. And maybe you don’t live for being bossed.

But most of all, you crave a deep sense of purpose. The reward that comes from helping people in a meaningful, even life-changing way.

What I Got Right

I showed up (go me) and got my work done. I loved developing systems to streamline efficiency and accuracy. I didn’t like being told what to do, so I made it a mission to stay 10 steps ahead to get things done before I was asked. This also left a wide berth for boredom to creep. Thus, naps.

While at the talent agency, I calculated our less-than-minimum wage, working 12+ hour-days in-office — plus reading scripts and writing coverage evenings and weekends — and negotiated 75 extra cents per hour for the assistant pool. That’s right. Seventy-Five big ones. 💸 💫

As for the IM, well, that feature was new to the office and none of us knew the head agent was BCC’d on ALL OF THE ASSISTANT IMs. 😳

(P.S. This was not one of the jobs I was fired from.)

The Freedom of Being Your Own Boss

It wasn’t until I started writing freelance that I got a taste of running my own business. I loved the freedom to set my own schedule. I loved the challenge of the assignments, the interaction with people, the meeting of deadlines. I loved making money doing something I loved. Love wins! 🫶🏼

I had incredible experiences writing for magazines like California Homes and Allure; writing copy for publicity firms for 10 years, interviewing fashion designers, architects, hedge fund managers, celebrity hair stylists, estheticians, and massage therapists; and I loved writing on a Primetime TV show.

When a Marathon Changed Everything

“Life is a marathon…” they say, “not a sprint.”

In my mid 30s, during the last 3 weeks of training for an actual marathon (breakups are inspiring), I experienced what I thought was a tear in my hamstring but turned out to be a tumor that wrapped around my sciatic nerve.

As a result, UCLA wanted to operate. The prognosis: “Best case scenario, you’ll lose some mobility. Worst case, you’ll be paralyzed.”

Words you never thought you’d hear.

My sprint halted.

Determined to find another way, I delved into alternative healing including naturopathy, acupuncture, herbs, essential oils, cleaning up my diet, ridding toxic chemicals from my home, and some deep emotional healing work.

The road to natural healing launched a trajectory that not only resolved my health crisis, it ignited a sense of purpose that illuminated my path to start a business that served others in their health and healing.

You are Exactly Where You are Supposed to Be

Standing in 4-inch heels, staring out the window of a NYC designer showroom all those years ago, there was no perceptible view of where I’d be today: running a successful wellness business with awesome, loyal clients, a booked-out calendar, four-day work-week and five weeks off per year.

And I while I know certain relatives considered my work history a concerning “hodgepodge” of experience, it is exactly what put me in the perfect position me to start my own business and achieve the success I’ve enjoyed in the wellness field. My experiences also play a giant role in my passion for helping practitioners like you avoid the avoidable mistakes and ease the frustrations of running a business so you can excel at what you love.

What was a pivotal turning point in your life? What led you to start your own business? I’d love to hear your stories! Share in the comments. And follow along for helpful tips and tricks to make your business happy.