Why leaving my corporate career was the best thing I ever did
In April of 2018 my entire life changed when I decided to leave my career in advertising and become a full time entrepreneur. Here’s how my journey unfolded along with some tips and guidance if you’re considering the path yourself.
In 2016 I graduated from university with combined degrees in commerce and psychology and went to work at the most prestigious advertising agency in Canada. I was hired as a brand strategist and immediately placed on a number of high profile client accounts, many of them Fortune 500 companies.
I quickly made a name for myself at the agency, relentlessly focused on delivering excellence and proving that I had what it takes to excel in the industry.
By my second year, I was flown to New York on numerous occasions to help pitch multi-million dollar projects to new clients on behalf of the agency. I was only 25 at the time and while on the outside it looked like I was achieving great success, I felt completely overwhelmed by the pressure of these intense work opportunities. During my work trips I recall sitting in my hotel bed at night meditating and breathing deeply with tears streaming down my face in attempt to calm the pervasive anxiety I felt.
It was all too much. I felt burnt out and hollow from giving so much to a career that didn’t give enough back. I wanted out.
In those moments of overwhelm and disconnect, I’d think about how relieving and fulfilling it would be to leave my career behind and work for myself. In fact, I’d been drawn to entrepreneurship for as long as I could remember.
From selling cookies and cans of pops at family garage sales when I was a kid, to starting a greeting card business in high school, and even launching a small jewlery company when I worked in advertising. I was naturally drawn to entrepreneurship.
Fast forward to November 2017, I vividly remember driving to the mountains for an afternoon getaway with my mom when a strong gut feeling washed over me. I recall hearing my intuition say “you’re going to be become a full time entrepreneur next year” and almost as soon as those words landed in my brain my phone started dinging. I quickly flipped it over to see what was causing all the noise and I realized it was notifications from my Etsy shop. I sold nearly 10 pairs of earrings to multiple customers within seconds, which felt like a powerful and immediate affirmation from the universe.
In the 6 months that followed my strong gut feeling, I prepared to leave my corporate career. I put away finances, found a business partner, and we began building a company together.
I prepared as much as I possibly could, and in April of 2018 I took the leap. I still remember packing up my desk on my very last day and repeating the words “I’m free” over and over again in my mind. It truly felt like a massive weight had lifted off my shoulders and I could now go out into the world and pursue something that felt deeply meaningful to me.
But as a new entrepreneur, I hit the ground running and unintentionally repeated many of the patterns that lead to burnout in my previous career. I worked extremely hard to get my business off the ground but within 9 months my business partnership fell apart and I was left with no plan, no path forward, and a shattered sense of self.
All of the success I had acquired in my previous career was gone and now I had a failed business. Once again, I turned to meditation to calm the fear and overwhelm. I spent many weeks (if not months) going inward, reading books on manifestation, and searching for answers.
This inward journey led me to a profound light-bulb moment where I decided start a private coaching practice dedicated to helping women successfully start businesses and transition out of employment and into entrepreneurship.
I became undeniably committed to using my own business failings as fuel to help more people create sustainable and prosperous entrepreneurial experiences. As I started finding private clients to coach I became absolutely lit up by the work I was doing, which indicated to me that I had found the work I was meant to be doing.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve helped over 100 entrepreneurs pursue business ideas that truly mean something to them. I also authored Bedside Business Plan to give people a more approachable and digestible way to build a foundation for their dream life and business.
It’s true what they say, our shortcomings can hold a lot of insight and direction if we’re willing to look at them thoughtfully and extract the lessons they hold.
As you begin to embark on your own entrepreneurial journey, here’s a summary of my top tips and guidance:
Extract all of the knowledge, skills, insight, and wisdom you can from your corporate career because it will undeniably apply to your business
It’s never too early to start
You will pivot, evolve, and grow along your entrepreneurial journey, try not to resist change and learn to flow with it instead
Community is everything. Find entrepreneurial groups, spaces, and events where you can learn from other people and remember that you’re not alone
Get a membership to a co-working space as soon as you’re financially able to because the connections you’ll make will be invaluable
