If someone had told me a little over 5 years ago that I’d decide at some point not to pursue another corporate role and go independent instead, I think I would have laughed and said “I’m not a risk-taker.”
How quickly things can change. In Feb 2019, knowing the corporate role I was in was ending in a few months, my husband and I leaned into risk.
- We decided on a whim to sell our house in Minnesota and move to Colorado.
- We moved to Colorado without jobs lined up.
- We bought a house sight-unseen.
I still thought I had to get on the corporate train, and I interviewed for jobs. When I didn’t get a VP of HR role that I was a finalist for–a job that in retrospect I didn’t really want given that I didn’t love being the head of HR–I took it as the sign it was.
On June 26, 2019, I incorporated 110 West Group in Colorado and started reaching out to my network.
It took a few months to get going, but since then, I’ve had my cup filled with amazing clients whom I love to work with, and projects that allow me to live in my purpose and passion.
Along the way, I picked up a few more certifications and expanded to officially offer executive coaching, formalizing the work I’d been informally doing for a number of years.
What I love the most about being independent is the way I’m able to truly integrate my life and work. Exhibit A: There was the day I had an afternoon that was meeting-free, so I went for a hike with the pup. While I was sitting on top of the mountain having a beer, I took a call from a client so we could work out some project details.
Yesterday was 3 years incorporated–I never could have imagined I’d still be here and looking forward to continuing this journey. Thank you to all of my amazing clients, my personal Board of Directors, and the partners and collaborators on this journey (most especially Jill Hauwiller, MA, my dear friend and independent consulting and coaching mentor and inspiration).
As for the moniker I saddled myself with, I no longer consider myself “not a risk-taker.” I’m a calculated risk-taker, and every time I lean into risk, magic happens.
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