How I Got Started:

After quitting my corporate job, I was set to join the Peace Corps and spend 2.5 years overseas. However, a sense of panic overwhelmed me—what if I never settled down, met someone, and had children? I withdrew from the Peace Corps, spent a few months in India, and then returned home, still feeling lost. I began taking part-time jobs to support myself and slowly started building my first business, a pet care service I lovingly called Buddies 4 Paws (B4P)

Building My First Business:

For 13 years, B4P was my baby. I poured my heart and soul into it, and it became my life. Yet, even during those years, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still missing. Life became focused on my business, but the yearning for purpose, fulfillment, and family still lingered in the background. Eventually, I was forced to close my business. While it was bittersweet, it was also necessary. I needed time to reflect and mourn the loss of what I thought my life should be.

Healing and Rebuilding:

It wasn’t until the end of 2023 that I realized I had to heal from the loss of B4P. I also had to let go of the guilt surrounding my desire for motherhood and the path my life had taken. In the meantime, I began to dabble in the online space again. This time, things were different. I found affiliate marketing programs that aligned with my values—programs that offered genuine support and systems I could believe in.

The Turning Point:

I no longer feel unworthy of being in this space just because I don’t fit the traditional roles often glorified online. I may not be a mother, but I’ve learned that I can still build a life filled with purpose and meaning. Each day, I push through the guilt and embrace my own journey, realizing that my worth is defined by the people I help and the value I bring to their lives.

Personal Values:

I believe that everyone deserves support, not to be seen as just a dollar sign. In both my businesses and affiliate programs, I strive to offer products that are beneficial and genuinely helpful to customers. I encourage others to find their own path and break free from societal expectations, and my mission is to help others create a life they love.

Challenges and Overcoming Them:

One of my biggest personal challenges was feeling that I had no place in the online space because I wasn’t a mother. The online world seemed dominated by parents helping parents, and it made me question my purpose. But I’ve pushed through that pain, and while confidence is a daily battle, I’m determined to live my life on my terms unbroken. My purpose isn’t tied to parenthood—it’s tied to helping others find their way, just as I found mine.

Balancing Humility and Confidence:

I’ll be the first to admit that confidence is a daily struggle, and that’s okay. I’m not perfect, and I never aim to be because perfection doesn’t exist. What does exist is the life I’m building for myself, filled with joy, fulfillment, and the knowledge that everything I do also benefits others. I’m humble enough to recognize that I don’t know everything, but confident enough to know that what I’m building matters.