This Former CFO Turned Entrepreneur Doesn’t Believe in Failure (and Neither Should You)

Photo: Courtesy of Kathleen Pagan

Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month, we chatted with Kathleen Pagan, CEO and founder of the homewares company Endlessly Elated. Ahead, she shares how she transitioned out of finance and into home goods, what it really took to quit her full-time job as a CFO and pursue her dreams as an entrepreneur, and why she doesn’t believe in failure.

What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated? 

I obtained a B.B.A. with a concentration in finance upon graduating college. I had an interest in business and thought a financial role at a corporation would be the right fit for me.  

What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?

Funny enough, very early on, I subconsciously knew that what I thought I should do, wasn’t necessarily what I wanted to do. I snuck in applications at the Food Network and Martha Stewart Living. Anything that would get me closer to what I secretly loved: the home space. Given my degree and work experience, I had an internship at Morgan Stanley throughout college, I didn’t quite land any of the ones I secretly yearned for. Although the Food Network CEO did respond to an email I had directly sent her, and it was certainly a highlight moment. Ultimately though, I landed a job at Citigroup in personal banking.

How did you get into the homeware space and interior design more broadly?

My journey has been anything but linear. As far as I can remember, my interests in the home space began at an incredibly early age. I remember being about eight and extremely interested in designing my own bedroom, cooking meals with my mom, and entertaining every chance I got.

While carrying out the duties of my demanding career, I nurtured my passions as a home cook and self-taught interior designer (I recently enrolled in classes at Parsons). I created a virtual destination via a blog by the same name, inspired by the beauty of home. From interiors to recipes, I consistently connected with a community of about 20k home aficionados like myself and in doing this, I realized there was a gap in the homewares space.

A gap that did not emphasize celebrating everyday moments, did not provide those thoughtfully designed conduits we all dreamed of, and certainly did not invite the consumer to have a seat at the table. After 37 years on earth, I finally listened to that eight-year-old little girl within me. Twelve months in development, a five-figure investment derived from my own savings, and amidst a global pandemic, I launched Endlessly Elated. My very own homewares company.

And as they say, the rest is history.  

How did you know when it was time to quit your full-time job and strike out on your own? What was your strategy for making the transition?

I spent seven long years strategizing my exit. Exhaustively planning every detail. Saving every dollar. All in preparation to strike out on my own. I even went as far as writing my resignation letter and keeping it in my purse for years in case, as I would tell myself, “Today is the day.”

However, the fact was that no matter how much I prepared, I simply didn’t take the plunge. As they say, I spent years allowing fear to drive the car. Crippled by the idea of failure. It wasn’t until I decided I was worthy of my dreams, worthy of living a life by design that I actually resigned. So, whenever I’m asked this very question, I say, “Yes, you should prepare. Make sure you dot your I’s and cross your T’s, but never and I mean never, stop pursuing your dreams. Find a way to live out your purpose. To share your gifts with the world.” 

How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?

I think the transition looks different for everyone. For me, it was mostly ensuring I was financially stable while I pursued my dreams of entrepreneurship. I wanted to be able to creatively work on my company without any financial stress.

However, for anyone reading this I say to make a list of what your needs are and prioritize them. That might be paying for daycare or contributing to your mortgage or simply being head of household and needing to pay for it all. Whatever that is, map out a plan that realistically gets you in the vicinity. 

Nothing turns out perfectly planned, so take that pressure off yourself. Trust that you are responsible and know that you will plan to the best of your ability. And once you do, GO FOR IT. Resign, put your head down, and gloriously work through all the things that you have been wishing for. It won’t be easy, but it will surely be worth it.

Knowing what I know now, the only thing I would have done differently was having the courage to believe in myself and my innate abilities sooner, but then again, it’s easier said now that I have made the transition. I believe in the right timing and in the end, the transition occurred at a time when “preparation met opportunity.”

Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career? 

This was my number one fear. The steady paycheck narrative. But here’s the thing, is the paycheck really steady? Yes, it might be regularly paid but is it firmly fixed? We all know someone who has been put in a room only to be shocked by the news that restructuring was occurring, and they would be laid off. 2020, was a culmination year of this very situation. Unfortunately, so many individuals were furloughed or completely laid off. So, I ask you, is anything really steady?  

I will never tell you entrepreneurship (or starting a new career) is easy. It is the HARDEST thing I have ever done. At times, it can be scary and lonely, but it is also the most rewarding. Doing your life’s work. Living on purpose. Living a life by design is all worth the journey of taking the leap.

Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?

I am definitely a planner, so I did not jump in headfirst. In 2012, the year of my dad’s death and ultimately the reason I had my “am I living a fulfilled life?” epiphany, I started saving every dollar. Maxing out my 401k, investing in the stock market, and skipping out on as many shopping trips and vacations that I needed to. 

By the time I resigned in 2019, I had saved the equivalent of two years worth of my CFO salary between my liquid savings and investments. This also included a five-figure investment for startup company costs. It took me seven years to do this, lots of sacrifices, but I did it. I was intentional and ultimately walked away feeling empowered that I had set myself up to be financially secure.

What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?

That I am worthy. Yes, that is a full sentence because anything more would give the sentence a justification and it simply doesn’t need it. You are worthy because you are.

When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?

I absolutely have no regrets and know for sure that it was the best decision, the most rewarding one I’ve ever made.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunities and lessons that my career taught me. Looking back, the dots always connect. If it weren’t for my finance career, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge on how to manage my business finances, make solid financial decisions, create budgets and inevitably scale my company. It is important to remember that we all learn from our paths no matter how disconnected they may seem from what we ultimately desire. 

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

Confidence is something that I can truly say has come with age and wisdom. There are aspects of my life that I’m extremely confident about and there are others that I sometimes have to remind myself of my “badassery” (my favorite Shonda Rhimes’ word). I’ve learned that when fear, the killer of confidence, creeps in, to give myself examples of things I’ve achieved. Examples of times I have succeeded. This inevitably boosts my confidence and serves as a reminder that I can do anything I put my mind and efforts on.

So, cultivate your confidence by constantly reminding yourself that you are a force to be reckoned with. That before this very moment there have been plenty of instances where you have overcome obstacles. That believing in yourself, having that confidence is what got you here and it will certainly get you to your next chapter.   

It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?

My idea of failure has had a complete makeover over the years. My theory is simple, I don’t believe in it. See, failure can only occur if you stop trying. The only way you can literally say you failed at something is if you gave up. If you don’t, if you get up every single time you are knocked down, then you can’t fail. Ask any successful person how they’ve achieved success and they’ll tell you they never stopped moving. They did whatever it took to get them to their goal. So, failure doesn’t really exist. It’s simply an obstacle in disguise. 

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?

Ahh, I’ve made plenty. It’s part of everyone’s journey, right?

But, I would say that my biggest mistake thus far was not listening to my own intuition as it related to my career. Not trusting my own instincts and ignoring my gut, which always proved to be correct. It’s hard to look back and know that at times I chose a different path simply because I didn’t believe my inner compass. That if I had just listened, my life may have looked very different. Although I don’t regret much, I can certainly say it was a huge disservice to myself. A mistake I am very cognizant to not repeat. 

What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?

“Year of Yes” by Shonda Rhimes is definitely a must-read. This is neither a career book nor a money book, but I do think it is one that inspires you to go after your dreams. To believe that if you simply say yes to everything that scares you (usually you are only fearful of the things that secretly make you tick) your life would completely change, and you too could live a life full of passion and purpose.

What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?

As Nike’s slogan says, “Just do it.” I used to be extremely afraid to tell people to pursue their passions, for the fear that if something didn’t work out I would be to blame, but the truth is that most of us are responsible for our choices, and not telling you to go after what makes you tick is not only a disservice to you but also to those gifts that have been embedded within you. Simply imagine if Oprah had asked us and we told her to stay the “safe and steady” course. To continue her career as a local news broadcaster. Today, we wouldn’t be witnesses to all of her greatness. Don’t let anyone do that to you, but most importantly don’t do that to yourself. The moral of the story is you only have one life, so make sure to make it count.  

Anything else to add?

Yes. We must remember that saying yes to things that are out of alignment with what we know to be true for ourselves is inevitably swaying us away from the very things that make us who we are and who we were meant to be.

Photo: Courtesy of Endlessly Elated

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"If You Aren’t Growing in a Role—Whether That's Your Title, Salary, or Responsibilities—Leave ASAP!"

Photo: Courtesy of Cassandra Dittmer

Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month, we caught up with fashion stylist Cassandra Dittmer who has not once but twice left a full-time job to start her own venture. Here are her tips for when it's time to put in your two-week notice.

What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated? 

Apparel merchandising and design with an emphasis on international relations. I wanted to be a fashion designer or work in trend forecasting.   

What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?

I graduated and 48 hours later drove out to Los Angeles. I was looking to break into the fashion industry and definitely wasn’t looking to be in entertainment. I had interned the previous summer for a celebrity stylist and she offered me an unpaid gig while I was looking for paid work. I took the opportunity so that I could be boots on the ground in L.A. looking for work and taking freelance styling jobs. I fell in love with the styling industry and, at the time, was only interested in styling gigs.  

How did you get into fashion?

I was always interested in fashion from a very young age. I grew up in rural Iowa and always loved how dreamy and artistic the fashion industry appeared. It seemed so glamorous and foreign to me. My mom got me really interested in personal style and runway shows very early on. She was always dressed to the nines and instilled in me the mindset to dress for yourself and cultivate a deep sense of personal style. Where I grew up had absolutely nothing related to the fashion industry. Every internship started with a lot of cold emails. Instagram didn’t exist at the time and I would exhaust myself emailing every stylist in the industry for an interview. Eventually, I flew out to L.A. one weekend my junior year of college and literally knocked on doors until I could convince someone to hire me as an intern.  

What was it like balancing your full-time job with your passion? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job? 

I barely know any other way at this point because I am constantly piling on my projects and keeping myself really busy. I think starting a side hustle when you have a full-time job is the most responsible way to start. Side hustles are important to staying agile and open-minded. I find that I access different parts of my brain when there is less pressure attached to the outcome and that brings out a whole other side of my creativity. 

How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?  

When you can make the economics make sense it is definitely the right time to leave a full-time job. Starting any new company or venture always takes more time and capital than anticipated. The strategy is to create a schedule and stick to it. It sounds simple, but it takes a lot of discipline to put in that after-hour work and source that reserve brain energy. I started with a lot of exploratory calls and coffee dates. I would reach out to everyone I knew who had experience related to my side hustle and start to build the research out. Don’t sleep on the research and product development portion of starting a new company. This foundation should be solid before you take a leap. 

How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?  

Twice I have left a full-time job to start my own ventures. The first time, I left a full-time styling gig to start my own styling company. Styling is a unique industry because it’s very difficult to grow your clientele while maintaining full-time employment. At times, I wish I had waited longer and had more clients so that I didn’t have to bootstrap so hard. Other times I wish I hadn't stayed so long (almost five years) in an assistant role. If you aren’t growing in a role—whether that’s your title, salary, or responsibilities—leave ASAP! I had very little business experience and spent most of my time working directly with artists. I wish I had prioritized my business acumen as acutely and with as much emphasis as I focused on the creative.   

Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career? 

Money was my #1 concern when leaving my job. I was luckily in zero debt but had very little savings when I changed careers. There is a lot of legwork and preparation that can be done while maintaining a full-time job. I used to make 3-month, 6-month, and year-long projections and work backward from that. I have started many collaborations and designed projects by working only 3-5 additional hours per week. Set that schedule and commit to it. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, paralyzed, and not know where to begin. The hardest part for me is starting and staying organized. I always like to approach any new venture in bite-sized chunks. Start small and accomplish things weekly so that you are giving yourself positive reinforcement. 

“You will find more fulfillment and joy out of becoming the best version of yourself.”

—Cassandra Dittmer

Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst? 

I wish I had saved more, but I just jumped in headfirst! I think it’s hard to find the balance between boldly betting on yourself and being naive. I only saved about 15% of my annual income at the time I quit and would not recommend starting a new venture with that little savings. 

What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?

I have found cultivating and maintaining a set of ethics and standards is crucial. If you can create a business that truly reflects who you are as a person and maintains high standards you will be successful. It is crucial to add real value to your customer or client. When you have cultivated a community of people and you are truly listening to their needs, you will add far more value, and therefore be indispensable. 

It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?

I try to meet failure with a humbled mindset. I work hard to remove my ego from the situation as failure often feels so personal. At the end of the day, in business, you have to have resilience and persistence. It’s important to keep evolving and realizing that everything isn’t personal. Failure is an opportunity to grow stronger as well as be more strategic in your decision-making. It’s also nice to take a bit of time and recharge yourself when you are forced to restart. I can’t create anything meaningful when my brain isn’t clear. 

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way?  

Working without contracts and making business decisions based on a handshake. I have been burned many times before, typically financially, by later realizing there is not an alignment in terms. It sounds simple, but get everything in writing and take the time to do it right the first time!  

When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?  

At times, I have reflected on leaving a cushy job to leap into the highs and lows of self-employment, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I find immense joy in poking holes and finding gaps in the industry and market. Being my own boss and having my own company allows me to be more agile, take bigger risks, and therefore have greater rewards and fulfillment. 

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

I am naturally confident, but also very self-deprecating and critical. I oftentimes wish I wasn’t so hard on myself, but I have big goals and know that requires being uncomfortable and taking calculated risks. It isn’t productive to compare yourself to others, especially other women. Everyone is dealt a different hand and has different lived experiences. All you can do is focus on your capabilities and work within those constraints. You will find more fulfillment and joy out of becoming the best version of yourself.  

What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why? 

It’s been years since I have read Seth Godin’s “Linchpin,” but the title sticks out to me because I remember reading it right around the time I left my first job to start my own styling company. I remember thinking that becoming indispensable and learning how to add real value as a critical mindset to embody.  

What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?

Make sure that you are providing a service that adds value and making decisions that are solutions-based. I have made many decisions in my ego and based on what I thought was cool and that doesn’t always translate. It’s important to take a step back and build a community around the product or service you are looking to sell. Entrepreneurship and the fashion industry are both highly glorified, and it really isn’t that glamorous 99% of the time!

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This Founder Left a Steady Paycheck at Microsoft to Pursue Her Side Hustle Full-Time

Photo: Courtesy of Diana Nguyen

Walking away from a 9-to-5 job with a steady paycheck and health benefits to start your own business isn’t easy. To help you to take the plunge, we’re introducing a new monthly editorial series The Case for Quitting where we ask self-employed women all about how they successfully struck out on their own, from how they balanced their side-hustle with their full-time job to how much money they saved before handing in their two-week notice. This month we caught up with Diana Nguyen, a senior finance manager turned fashion designer who quit her job at Microsoft to launch her own workwear label, Madison / Savile. Read on to learn how she broke into an entirely new industry, saved up to make the transition, and successfully turned her side hustle into a successful startup.

What was your major in college and what did you want to do when you graduated? 

My major was in accounting with a minor in marketing. When I graduated, I wanted to go into marketing or advertising. 

What did you actually do after you graduated? What types of jobs did you apply to and what industry were you looking to break into?

My stepfather was very strict and adamant that I should pursue a career in accounting, not marketing. I ended up applying to public accounting firms and graduated with five offers to work at the top five accounting firms at the time. I spent 15 years as a consultant, auditor, finance manager, and data analyst serving public and privately held companies in industries spanning from manufacturing and technology to retail.

How did you get into fashion?

During my corporate career, I noticed a lot of women around me at work and in my network (including myself!) that would talk about how much they love blazers, but how hard it was for them to find the right one with the right fit and design. Fit is everything, not only can it make a garment look amazing, but it allows for comfort and mobility. I saw a gap in the market. I love how a suit with the right fit looks on a man, so sharp and powerful and I wanted the same for women! 

All my life I knew I wanted to do more and that I had a higher purpose or calling. It kept getting louder, but I didn’t have clarity on what that was earlier in my life. I got a career coach that helped me narrow it down to being an entrepreneur, which eventually led to the idea of reinventing and redesigning the blazer based on the gap in the market I observed. However, that still wasn’t enough for me to take the leap until it aligned with my passion and purpose to help and empower others and to inspire a more beautiful world inside and out. Thus, the name Madison / Savile came to be. It is the definition of two worlds I’m combining; Madison means gift of God and warrior (inspiring others to bring out their inner warrior, reminding them of the gift that only they can bring to the world) and Savile is for Savile Row in London known for its bespoke suiting.  

What was it like balancing your full-time job with your passion? Do you recommend starting a side-hustle while you have a full-time job? 

I definitely recommend starting a side hustle while you have a full-time job. You are at a stage of exploring, experimenting, and building. I talk about this in one of my podcast episodes “Taking That First Step in Pursuing Your Dreams.” As my podcast guest Jessica Johnson, the CEO of Buzzworthy Content, put it: “It’s chasing your curiosities” and testing out if you even like your side-hustle. Having a full-time job helps to provide the security and funding to spend on exploring and building out your side hustle. 

However, it took prioritizing and discipline to balance my full-time job and my side hustle. How much do you want this in order to re-arrange your schedule and make sacrifices to spend the time needed on exploring and growing your passion/side-hustle? It takes planning and a commitment to yourself of how many hours a day or week you want to allocate to it. Only you can make it happen and only you can move the needle on your passion.

How did you know when it was time to make the transition from side-hustle to full-time? What was your strategy for making the transition?

Working at Microsoft, I was blessed to have a great manager and team where I was able to be fully transparent with them about my endeavors and my plan to quit. I kept my manager informed of my progress and timeline so I could transition my role with plenty of time and make sure the team was set when I leave. They were supportive of me every step of the way and still are. 

I was working on Madison / Savile on the side until it got to a point where it became a full-time job and I needed more hours during the day for meetings and research. I honestly thought if I can get 40 hours a week back and spend that additional 40 hours on Madison / Savile I could launch in six months. I was wrong and it was one of the first lessons I learned.

How did you prepare for the transition before quitting your full-time job? What, if anything, do you wish you’d done differently?

I wish I had stuck with my full-time job or explored working part-time until I actually officially launched. With product development and looking for the right fabric, factory, and suppliers it took much longer than six months and more like 2-3 years. It is all part of the entrepreneurial journey of learning and growing… you don’t really know until you are actually in it. 

Before quitting, I did a lot of financial planning personally and for the business. I had two plans for my personal finances; one if things go according to plan and one if they don’t. Let’s just say with COVID, I am very glad I planned for two different scenarios. 

Were you worried about money? What advice can you share for people who are worried about leaving a steady paycheck to start a new career?  

Money was definitely a worry, especially as I was in a comfortable position for so long and had become accustomed to a certain lifestyle. Jumping into the unknown and not knowing where money was coming from was definitely scary. 

My advice is to plan for a long runway and then plan for a longer one for yourself, your family, and the business. Apply for a line of credit, loan, or whatever you need while you have a steady paycheck as it would be challenging to apply for financing, loans (home/auto) without that. Save the money you need to live and finance your business and then take that leap because if you don’t you will always be wondering—and I always say, don’t live a life of “what ifs.”

Did you save up first or did you just jump in headfirst?

Being in a role for 15 years that was all about managing risk, I definitely saved up money before jumping. It was the hardest leap to make going from a very risk adverse role to being an entrepreneur which is all kinds of risk. I calculated all my expenses each month, evaluated where I can cut the unnecessary expenses (but still live comfortably), and calculated that out for the year and the next three years. I also set aside the money needed to get Madison / Savile going as it takes a lot of capital upfront to launch a fashion/retail brand. 

What's the most important thing you have learned from making a big change in your career life?

When you are working on something that aligns with your purpose and passion, the days and hours go by fast and you learn you have to have a very strong will to keep going and to bring it to life. It was definitely hard to go from a comfortable position at Microsoft to being a budget-conscious entrepreneur. To be honest, I felt that I lost my identity that was tied to my career and my position, but that’s where the learning and the growing happens. You discover who you really are, what you really stand for, and you redefine yourself as who you truly are as you become more aligned with your purpose.

It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?

Great question! Because it happens often especially as entrepreneurs and in life. You definitely have to learn to accept, to let go and pivot. It’s important to reflect back to learn and understand why things happened the way they did. I believe in things happening for a reason. Obstacles stand in your way to redirect your path or because it wasn’t the right time yet. Trust in the process, trust in the timing, and trust in yourself.

I always say your will will get you back up and your why will pull you forward. You have to have your WHY, meaning why are you doing this, and if it’s for money only it’s not going to take you far when you do run into bumps in the road. What if you were only days or weeks away from your business turning the corner, you were so close, but you stopped?

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and learned from along the way? 

Not listening to my gut right away would have saved me some money along the way, but again, it’s all part of the journey of learning and growing. Whether it is an idea or a solution suggested for your business or someone that is not the right fit for your team, sometimes it doesn’t sit right with you and you have to listen to that, and eventually, you’ll understand why.  

When you look back and reflect on your previous career do you have any regrets or are you still really happy with your decision?

I wouldn’t change a thing. My experience in finance has helped me tremendously. Knowing the numbers and being able to put together your own financial model helps to see where your costs are, your profitability, and set expectations for growth and long-term projections. Understanding business processes and procedures helps you to see where things can be improved and the pure discipline behind deadlines helps you to stay on track and be a self-starter. The people I’ve met along the way who are now my mentors, friends, and future customers are priceless. 

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

Yes and no. I’m confident in the things I know from experience, confident in my values and principles, and a fish out of water when it comes to things I’m learning. Going from finance to fashion, I had to build my confidence on the fashion side. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you trust, with mentors that you can learn from, surrounding yourself with like-minded people to help you. I’ve learned that there are so many skeptics out there, and also people that project their own failures or fears onto you and what you are doing. That knowing and confidence in what you are doing and what you are bringing to the world is so important. You don’t have to have everything perfect to start, just start.

What is the #1 career or money book you always recommend and why?

I have a tendency to start books and not complete them, so I have seven books on my nightstand to finish! The one book that I finished pretty quickly was “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero. It’s an easy and fun read. I read it in the summer of 2020 after we were supposed to launch in March 2020 and had to put everything on pause due to COVID. I was so devastated having to postpone everything and was in an unmotivated, depressed state. I read “You Are a Badass,” a book one of my mentors gifted me, and it helped change my mindset around. It was a reminder to get up and keep going. 

What advice can you share for someone who is thinking about leaving their current gig to pursue their side-hustle or passion?

I have so many pieces of advice, but if I have to narrow it down it is to know what your why is and what your north star is for what you are building. There will be many times when you are so in the weeds or have been pulled in so many different directions that you will lose your vision and knowing your why will bring you back. Your will ensures you get back up, your why will pull you forward. Be patient with yourself, you are learning. Stay true to your values, your core, who you are, and your vision. 

Anything else to add?

No one is like you. If not you, then who? Everyone is different, everyone works differently, everyone’s situation is different. Don’t beat yourself up if you hear this person worked 100-hour weeks or got funded in x months because everyone is on a different journey. At the end of the day, if you know you put your best in for where you are, that’s winning because it’s progress. My favorite quote is: “Don’t fear failure, fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” One step at a time.

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