This wasn’t on my bingo card
When I left my corporate position earlier this year, I had no clue what I was going to do next. The only thing that I did know was that I couldn’t continue the path I was on. After spending the majority of 2023 completely miserable, gaining stress weight, and feeling like I was having to fake it just to make it through a day – I knew that changes needed to be made. I’d spent many therapy sessions expressing frustration about my life and finally my therapist kept it real with me – the only way that I was ever going to get where I wanted to be in life was to make a change…and what she was referring to was my job – I was no longer aligned with the work. To receive whatever was next for me, I had to make a change. Hearing such frank truth was shocking. It tapped into the depths of my soul…where fear resided. This required stepping into the unknown, completely relying on faith, and shaking up my well-established comfort zone.
“One thing that I wanted to be sure of was to maintain both the clinical and technical skillset I’d spent years developing in the workplace. That’s where health coaching came in. I’d heard of it in passing but when I further explored health coaching as a potential career path, I knew it was exactly what I’d been searching for.”
It took a few months but I finally worked up the nerve to take the step of faith and leave. Once the decision was made, I realized that I could use the opportunity to pursue fitness full-time. The thought alone got me excited. While I didn’t fully know what it would look like, I knew that this was in line with where my passions resided. I also knew that at this point in my life, I needed to be my own boss. I wanted to be able to express myself and creativity on my own terms. So, when I started to think about the next chapter, I further identified what pillars of my own business would entail. Yes, teaching fitness classes but what other services can I provide? How can I use my previous work experience and knowledge as a pharmacist? Is there something that I can create that’s unique to me?
After having several conversations with various friends, it came together. And in all honesty, they believed in me more than I believed in myself. But it was their confidence and excitement that propelled me forward. One thing that I wanted to be sure of was to maintain both the clinical and technical skillset I’d spent years developing in the workplace. That’s where health coaching came in. I’d heard of it in passing but when I further explored health coaching as a potential career path, I knew it was exactly what I’d been searching for. Health coaching approaches healthcare from a different perspective. Rather than slapping a label on a person so they are forever known as a disease state, health coaching takes a holistic approach. It looks at the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of a person and provides accountability along their wellness journey. It’s client centered and allows them lead the way. This is the type of relationship I want to have and approach I desire to take when working with people. And when it’s combined with my experience in fitness and pharmacy, something truly magical can be created.
So, here we are! I completed the accelerated Health Coach Training Program through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition Program and applied for my LLC through the state of Maryland. The past few months have been whirlwind of figuring things out as I go along, googling and looking at YouTube videos on various aspects related to my business, and having networking meetings with other female entrepreneurs so that I can learn from their experience. It’s been daunting, overwhelming, and frustrating at times but I wouldn’t change it. I am in a MUCH better place personally and I am excited about where this road will take me. Not only am I doing what I am meant to be doing at this time in my life but I know there are so many channels that I have yet to discover. The opportunities will be much bigger than anything I can envision on my own and for that I am truly grateful.