Leaving the 9-to-5 grind, I embarked on a journey to build community and share my passions through blogging.  Here’s the beginning of that adventure. 

Introduction

When I graduated from college, I was eager to dive into the business world.  I wanted to wear a suit, carry a briefcase, and begin my journey up the corporate ladder.  I sought out a company with a robust training program that would set me up for future success-even if I wasn’t entirely sure what that success would look like.

Career Journey

I landed a trainee position at a well-established insurance company.  While I had no particular passion for insurance, the role offered exactly what I was looking for:  an opportunity to learn, develop skills, and grow under the guidance of impressive leaders.  Over nearly a decade, I gained experience in various areas, including insurance fundamentals, finance, managing people, marketing, training, and public speaking.   I also had the chance to live in four different East coast cities, each contributing to my personal and professional growth.

Later, I pursued an MBA, spent some time as a management consultant, and eventually returned to the insurance industry.  Aside from a brief period running my own Spin studio – a passion project detailed in My Story – my career was firmly rooted in the corporate world.  While I enjoyed many aspects of this life, I now realize that I often prioritized my career over other important things, like settling down and starting a family. That said, I am grateful for the mentors I met along the way, and the personal growth and financial stability my career provided.

I share this background to give you an idea of where I came from as I began to feel a growing desire for something different.  The corporate world was all I knew, and it had become a significant part of my identity.  However,  as I yearned to branch out on my own again, my previous entrepreneurial experience had left me cautious. Risking the financial  stability of a steady income made me hesitant.

The Catalyst for Change

Over the past year, my work situation became increasingly toxic, affecting nearly every aspect of my life.  I’ll delve more into that experience and my learnings in a future post.  For now, I want to share how I began to conceptualize leaving the familiarity of the 9-to-5 for a different career path.

Building the Blog and Community

I didn’t make the leap impulsively.  I started by connecting with someone who had successfully transitioned from the corporate world to a more creative career.  Her insights and encouragement were invaluable.  She became a friend and advisor, introducing me to the Roadmap Exclusive, a digital marketing course designed to help individuals build and automate online businesses.  I spent months immersed in the courses, which sparked my creativity.  I learned new skills.  I read extensively.  I brainstormed numerous ideas.

I thought back on my career and asked myself:  What work was the most meaningful to me?  What brought me joy, satisfaction and fulfillment, and made me excited to go to work each day?  The answer was easy: the years spent running my Spin studio.  My life was so full.  I regularly shared fitness knowledge and introduced friends to a new way to exercise. Through my retail space, I shared new lines of fitness clothing and accessories.  I was a member of the local community.  I networked. I introduced people.  I made lifelong friends.  I celebrated milestones.  I went to local events.  I volunteered.  I loved every minute of it.

As I explored my next career move, what work would give me that satisfaction?

Implementing Ideas

I have always had an eye for spotting great pieces to add to my wardrobe, as well as fun gifts, useful items for the home, and new shops or restaurants worth checking out.  I love sharing these finds with my family and friends.  Though sharing online rather than in person wouldn’t be the same, could I build a business that involves connecting people with products and services that I value?  I decided to give it a try with this blog.

As I worked on my initial posts, I realized how much I enjoy writing, and how rewarding it is to tell some of my story … personal info that, while making me feel vulnerable, is also somewhat therapeutic to share.  That’s when the other idea for this blog hit me.

At my studio, customers became friends.  People who knew each other only tangentially saw one another more frequently and became more than just acquaintances.  They went for coffee after class. They found a common bond through the studio and relationships grew.  I made so many close friends with my studio crowd.  Could I create that type of community again?

Could an online community of supportive women be formed around common interests, women who would also find satisfaction by sharing their stories?  I think so.

What the Future Holds

I’m now focused on launching this blog and cultivating an active social media presence.  My goal is to create a community of like-minded women who enjoy learning about and being inspired by new things. In addition to sharing ideas for Everyday Style, Healthy Living, Travel, Pets, Gifts and Home, I am eager to hear from you!  We all have stories to share.  I invite you to share yours with me and, if you are willing, with our Lisa Likes This community.  Together, we can learn from and inspire one another.

In the next post on my career transition story, I’ll share what it really looked like to walk away from stability and step into possibility.   It hasn’t been super easy, but it has been-and continues to be-absolutely worth it.

If you’ve ever dreamed of switching gears—whether that’s launching a side hustle, starting your own brand, or just figuring out what else you might want to do next—you’re in the right place. I’ll share what worked, what I wish I’d known, and how you can start exploring your “next chapter.”

If you have a story to tell or want inspiration and tips on my favorite products and services, please join the Lisa Likes This community!  I’d love to learn more and embark on this journey together!

Thanks for reading!