My Entrepreneurial Journey: From Army Veteran to Life Coach
If you’ve ever felt a calling deep inside to start your own business, you’re not alone. My entrepreneurial journey has been filled with twists, turns, challenges, and invaluable lessons about myself. From childhood dreams to finding my true passion as a life coach, every step along the way has been part of a bigger story. Today, I’m sharing that story with you to remind you that no path is a straightaway, but every detour can teach you something powerful.
In this blog, I want to walk you through some key moments in my journey, from my days in the Army to my Etsy shops and now to where I am today—helping other women step into their power and realize their own dreams. If you’re curious about how I got here or wondering what lessons I’ve learned along the way, let’s dive in!
For a more in-depth look, make sure to watch my [YouTube video here](insert link).
The Entrepreneurial Spark
My entrepreneurial spirit has been with me for as long as I can remember. It all started when I was a kid making friendship bracelets. I didn’t just make them for fun—I had a plan to sell them! I even got a little table space at a local craft fair. While I didn’t know it at the time, those small experiences were the foundation for what would eventually grow into a full-fledged business mindset.
That’s the thing about entrepreneurship—sometimes it’s not about the immediate success or the big sales. It’s about learning to see opportunities where others may not. Even as a child, I was thinking, “How can I turn what I love into something more?” That mindset has been a constant throughout my life.
From Soldier to Stay-at-Home Mom—and the Challenges in Between
Fast forward a bit to when I joined the Army at 18. I spent six years in IT, and while I learned a lot during my time in the military, the most important part was meeting my husband. After leaving the Army, my husband had a little time to fulfill his enlistment, and I decided to pursue my dream of opening a bakery. I had even put together a business plan. I was excited and ready to take that step, but as many military spouses know, life had other plans.
My husband’s military service threw us a curveball that I hadn’t expected. Actually, it was my husband that threw the curveball when he told me he wanted to make the military a career. The unpredictability of military life made it impossible to move forward with my bakery plans, and for a time, I had to set that dream aside. I became a stay-at-home mom, focusing on my family while adjusting to frequent moves and the demands of military life. While I cherished my role as a mom, I also struggled with the feeling that my own dreams were being postponed.
For several years, my entrepreneurial spirit took a backseat as I prioritized my family. But deep down, I never let go of that desire to have something of my own.
The Etsy Experiment
When the timing felt right, I took my first steps back into the business world. I started out with network marketing, which was where I discovered that I really wanted to be an entrepreneur. While network marketing wasn’t the right fit for me long-term, it helped me realize that I wanted to make and sell my own products. That realization set me on a path to something more personal and creative.
That’s when I opened my first Etsy shop. It all started in the carline while waiting for my son at school—I picked up crochet to pass the time! Hats, headbands, ear warmers—and lot of other fun little feel-good items. Eventually, I expanded into wood signs and even taught myself woodworking through YouTube tutorials. This was a whole new adventure, and it wasn’t always neat and tidy, but it was so fulfilling.
I eventually opened a second Etsy shop and named it in honor of my late dad, who loved crafting in his own workshop. Every piece I created in that shop helped me feel connected to him.
The Life Coach Path
After trying my hand at different business ventures, I realized that what truly brought me joy was helping others. I didn’t know it at the time, but all of my entrepreneurial experiences were leading me to my true calling—life coaching. Helping other women discover their dreams and guiding them on how to turn those dreams into reality is what lights me up every day.
Looking back, I can see how every step in my entrepreneurial journey, from selling friendship bracelets as a kid to running Etsy shops, was preparing me for this moment. Every experience—even the ones that didn’t turn out as I’d hoped—helped me grow into the coach I am today.
My journey from Army Veteran to Life Coach was full of twists and turns and I didn’t always know what the lesson was in the moment, that I’d be meant to take with me, but as they say hindsight is 20/20 and now it feels so clear what I was to learn along the way. And the beauty is that it’s not too late for that clarity. In fact, I’d suggest that it all happens in it’s own time and always right on time.
Your Entrepreneurial Journey Starts Now
So what about you? Maybe you have your own list of business ideas that you’ve been dreaming about. Or maybe you’re waiting for the “perfect time” to start. Here’s my advice: Don’t wait. There is no perfect time. Your path won’t be a straight line, but that’s the beauty of it. Each twist and turn will teach you something new about yourself and the business you want to build.
Write down those ideas, dream big, and take action. And if you’re looking for more guidance, I encourage you to check out my free ebook, “More Than Mom“, where I walk you through how to build a business while balancing life and family.
Finally, don’t forget to watch my Youtube Video for a deeper dive into my story. It’s all about the lessons I’ve learned, and how you can take your first steps toward building a business you love. I can’t wait to see what’s next for you!