Learning how to pivot and take risks aren't easy things to do, but I’ve found that allowing yourself the opportunity to do so can lead to great things happening.

For years, my identity was tied into being a journalist. Working in that field—especially in sports—was the only thing I ever wanted to do. But continuing to do so presented challenges. 

First, the hours are tough, especially if you like to see your spouse and your children. On top of that, circumstances dictated a pretty rough commute to Orlando and Tampa for my last decade in that field, and those are two cities notorious for their traffic jams and congestion. 

These were things we had to deal with, but there were perks to the job as well. I always kept a list of pros and cons, and each column had representation. Eventually, however, the list of pros began to shrink, and the cons weighed more heavily on me. Professionally, there wasn’t much more that I wanted to achieve. I had worked in a major television market for nearly 15 years, had covered Super Bowls, an NBA Finals, a World Series, a Stanley Cup Final, and several Daytona 500s. I still enjoyed the work, but on top of a bit of a stagnant feeling, other circumstances relating to the joys of the corporate world cropped up that made it clear it was time to pivot.

It was scary to apply for jobs for the first time in nearly 15 years and also figure out how my skills translated to a new career, but I was fortunate to find a job in digital marketing that was 15 minutes from my house. My boss created the position after meeting with me and was very patient as I learned the technical skills to excel at the job. Personally, I was able to go in after dropping the kids off at school and leave in time to coach their baseball games.

Two years into this new phase of my career, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I worked from home for about three months and then did so on a part-time basis for the rest of the year. As many people found out while working from home, if you can work from home and complete all of your job duties, why is there a need to go back to the office full-time? There are definitely advantages to being in the office, but it seems like employers can help workers achieve a work-life balance by allowing some of the 40-hour work week to be performed from home, especially if they proved that the job done that way in 2020.

A full-time return to the office got me thinking on how I could build a sustainable business from home, and as fate would have it, some changing roles in the office that weren’t in line with my career goals accelerated those thoughts into an actionable plan that led me to where I am today. Again, it was scary to pivot—this time by quitting a job without having another traditional full-time job lined up; I was leaving to become my own boss and placing an all-in bet to succeed on my own. 

In both cases, I had decided that it was time to leave something comfortable, but actually taking that step into the unknown is the hardest part. But I would encourage anyone who is confident in their skills to do so. Taking risks opens doors that you may not have even known existed and can lead to growth that you may have never thought was possible.

I found that out of everything I’ve done, I love writing the most. I also love editing; I love marketing strategy. And I’m loving making a difference for businesses who can use my skillset to their advantage. I am forever grateful to clients who helped get me off the ground, and I’m looking forward to giving that same dedication to new ones who come along on this journey!