Lessons from a Quitter

Can you imagine being able to pay off almost 90k in student loans in only 2.5 years? It may seem impossible, but it can be done! On today's episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Kevin Ha from The Financial Panther, a blog about financial independence and side hustling in the sharing and gig economy. Kevin was able to pay off his loans by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer, and it paid off, literally! In addition to paying off his loans, Kevin starting experimenting with the gig economy on his free time. He quickly learned that he could make a lot of money on the side doing things that he enjoyed. After 5 years of being an attorney and switching between three different jobs, he finally came to the conclusion that practicing law just wasn't the right fit. He just quit his job earlier this year after deciding to go all in on blogging and side hustling, which makes him the newest member of the #quitterclub. Now he pursues everything from Rover, to Post Mates, and beyond. I loved Kevin's story because he decided to push against societal expectations of what type of work is "acceptable". Not only that, Kevin shows us that it's possible to create a steady source of income by doing something (or many things) that bring you joy. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How it's possible to create a steady income through side hustles. Why it's important to learn about your finances. Why you should push against societal expectations. And so much more! Where to find Kevin:   Website: https://financialpanther.com/ Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/you-dont-need-to-start-your-career-in-your-20s/ Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/lawyers-doctors-and-the-appeal-of-the-clear-career-path/ Blog Post: https://financialpanther.com/monetize-life-get-paid-live/ Email: kevin@financialpanther.com Resources Mentioned: 5 Steps To Figuring Out Your Calling PDF I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi The Simple Path To Wealth by J L Collins Your Money Your Life by Vicky Robin The Bogleheads' Guide To Investing by Taylor Larimore The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Today's episode is a perfect example of how to be intentional in your career. So often we do what we think we should be doing: working insane hours, building the biggest business possible, trying (and often failing) to balance life, etc. We go for the money or the title, even if that's not what we really want. Dona Bumgarner bucked that trend and is building the life, and career, that works for her and her family.   Of course, it wasn't always like this. Dona started out in a position that many of us find ourselves in- climbing the corporate ladder. She was working at Apple for over 11 years and eventually landed herself in an upper management job at the company before quitting to pursue graduate school. But as she was starting school, she found out she was pregnant, which changed her priorities. She decided to leave school after one semester to become a full-time mom. Thankfully, she had saved up enough money to have a little bit of wiggle room before deciding what to do next, but not everything was smooth sailing.   During this time period, she found herself struggling a bit when her life shifted from a conference room to a changing table. While this struggle led her to try multiple different careers, it ultimately helped her craft the career she wanted with intention. Through a coaching program, Dona realized that her passion was in helping other moms who have lost themselves in motherhood.  She now works with other moms to help them unearth their passions and step back into their fierce, powerful selves, so they can live a life far bigger than just being Mom. However, she intentionally has kept her practice small, only working 10-15 hours a week, so that she can be the primary caretaker of her young daughter.   Her decision to reject the pressure to build the biggest business possible in order to have the balance that she so deeply wants is inspiring and a great lesson for anyone on their quitting journey. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why it's okay to explore and try out different paths until you find the right fit. The importance of being intentional about how you want your life to look and feel. How it's normal to experience Imposter's Syndrome. And so much more! Where to find Dona:   Website: http://www.nurturedmama.net Podcast: http://www.nurturedmama.net/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturedmama/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nurturedmamablog/ Resources Mentioned: http://www.nurturedmama.net/quitter Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

The path that many of us have been brought up to follow usually goes a little something like this: take the right classes, get the good grades, get into the prestigious school, graduate, and then find a high paying job. We're taught that it is a linear path that you stick to and climb to the top. Well, in today's episode, Phil Black teaches us why you should buck that wisdom. Phil has one of the most interesting careers we've ever highlighted on this show. His story is a testament to following your curiosities and always re-evaluating what is most important. Among his many accomplishments, Phil played D1 collegiate basketball at Yale, worked as an investor at Goldman Sachs, was a Navy Seal Officer, went to Harvard Business School, is a firefighter, entrepreneur, father, and more. While it wasn’t clear to him during his journey, he was gaining an incredibly useful skill: the ability to find his way into really competitive positions. This is, as Phil calls it, his “superpower” which later led him to create his current business venture, PrepWell Academy. The academy is an innovative approach to preparing high school students (and their parents) for the rigors of the college admissions process. His unique program is delivered online and focuses on the early preparation of students (freshman and sophomore year) interested in attending highly-selective colleges (e.g. Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, etc.), military service academies (e.g. Naval Academy, West Point, etc.), and those seeking athletic or ROTC scholarships. Visit our website to enroll your child in one of our custom programs (Pathway, Ivy, Military, Athlete). Phil’s story is mindblowing and is a real testament to the fact that we’re allowed to start over not just once, but as many times as we want! Here is what we chat about in this episode: The process of how Phil reinvented himself multiple times. The importance of evaluating (and re-evaluating) your life. How Phil discovered his “superpower” and how it helped him build his current business. How it’s okay to never settle on the idea of pursuing one thing forever. And so much more! Where to find Phil:   Website:http://www.prepwellacademy.com/ Email: phil@prepwellacademy.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/PrepWellAcademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prepwell_academy/ Linkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipablack Resources mentioned in this episode: The Start Up Of You by Reid Hoffman What Are You Waiting For? by Nickelback Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

One of the biggest excuses around starting a new venture is lack of time. We are obsessed with being busy (and telling everyone else how busy we are!). Well, on today's episode, Steve Chou debunks that excuse. Steve ran multiple 6- and 7-figure businesses while maintaining his career as an electrical engineer! The secret? Plan for the long game and prioritize your time. Steve's entrepreneurial journey began back in 2007 when his wife got pregnant and wanted to quit her job. He actually enjoyed his job as an electrical engineer but they weren't going to be able to live off of one salary in the Bay Area. So they had to come up with a business that could replace her income. Their potential plans ranged from opening a Kumon franchise to a creating meal prep company, and more. Eventually, they chose to start an online E-commerce business selling handkerchiefs, called Bumblebee Linens. Keep in mind that this was before everyone was selling on Amazon and there were a million tools like shopify. Through diving in head first with a limited set of skills, Steve began to put the pieces together through trial and error (even learning how to embroider). They ended up making over $100,000 in that first year. Because of their success, Steve began blogging about their experience at mywifequitherjob.com. Over the years, he added additional avenues to share what he's learned and teach others how to do the same. He eventually started a podcast, an online course, and a conference. He has since grown each of these platforms to 6- or 7-figure businesses. But the most amazing part of this journey is that Steve didn't leave his full-time job until 2016 - almost 10 years after the official launch of their E-commerce store! I got to talk to him about how he was able to accomplish so much while he was still working, why he kept his job when he was making so much money from his side income, and more! Steve's story is a great reminder that you can plan that first step forward as much as you want, but you'll never truly know what will happen until you take that leap- and it doesn't have to be a giant one either! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why they chose to go the E-commerce route How to make better use of your time What it took to create their online businesses How it cay pay off to play for the long game Why you don't need to have everything figured out right away to take that first step And so much more! Where to find Steve:   Shop: https://bumblebeelinens.com Blog: https://MyWifeQuitHerJob.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywifequit Online Course: https://profitableonlinestore.com/ Conference: http://sellerssummit.com/ Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Today I have the honor of talking to Dave Hollis, CEO of The Hollis Company. If you’re living under a rock and haven’t heard yet of Dave or, his wife, Rachel Hollis, just know that they are on a tour of world domination to help every person become a better version of themselves.   Rachel has been building a career, first, in the lifestyle blog space and, more recently, in the personal development arena for the past 15 years. She has 2 New York Times Best-Selling books (Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing), is one of the most sought after motivational speakers, has 2 top-rated podcasts, and has been called the female Tony Robbins.   Dave stepped in as CEO of The Hollis Company just 10 months ago to lead the expansion plans in the next, exciting phase — focusing on media (books/podcasts/live coaching/radio/tv), live events and merchandise.   But before taking on this role, Dave had an incredibly successful 17-year career at the Walt Disney Company which culminated in his role as President of Theatrical Distribution. Dave was in charge of global theatrical sales for Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucas film. During his tenure, Disney had industry breaking records such as the first $7 billion in global ticket sales in one year and the only studio to cross $6 billion two years in a row.   His job was, by all accounts, “the dream” -- high paying, high glamour, highly respected. And yet, I talked to Dave about why it became unfulfilling and how he came to the decision to walk away. This episode is full of inspiration and incredible wisdom about how we all should be approaching our lives. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why the very thing that made Dave’s role at Disney a dream job was the thing that ultimately led him to quit What 3 circumstances in his life at the time led Dave to decide to make the leap How a conversation about personal development with Rachel changed the trajectory of his life Why you should be honoring the struggle What Dave would have done if he didn’t have the opportunity to run the Hollis Company What it’s like to work with your wife And so much more!   Where to find Dave:   Website: www.theholliscompany.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrdavehollis Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrdavehollis Podcast: Rise Together   Resources Mentioned in this episode: Mindset, by Carol Dweck   Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast  

We're usually sold on the idea that once we achieve x, y, or z then we'll finally be happy, but that isn't always the case. When Annie saw her mom's experience as a lawyer, it was cemented in her mind that she must follow the same path. It wasn't until she landed her dream job at her dream company that something didn't feel right. Despite everything looking picture perfect on the outside, she could feel it in her gut that this wasn't where she was supposed to be. Something was still missing. Luckily, Annie met her future partner, Annabelle, at the same law firm in Miami. They both shared a love of candles and wanted to find a way to make them more personalized for gifts. The two became instant friends (can you say, soul sisters?). The A-team connected first through design: they both decorated their offices to perfection--from gold staplers (yes, all gold everything) to luxurious candles. But they soon bonded on a deeper Level: their gift for all things thoughtful. It wasn’t long before TAJA was born. TAJA Collection launched in June 2017, to create what was missing from the market: customizable home accessories. Their business focuses on both e-commerce and wholesale. Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why she felt drawn to the path of becoming a lawyer How everything suddenly changed when she got her dream job How a common interest in candles sparked the idea for their company How they utilized their local female network to help get the word out about their business And so much more! Where to find Annie:   Website: https://tajacollection.com/ Email: info@tajacollection.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tajatribe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tajacollection/?hl=en Resources mentioned: Coupon code for TAJA Collection: GOLI15 Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

I love Dawn’s story! Did you know that you could even be a professional crafter?! I didn’t. And, actually, neither did Dawn. She started out her career in the corporate world and ended up leaving when she had her second child. She had every intention of going back to work when her children were in school.   But because her daughters had special needs, Dawn needed to stay at home much longer. When her daughters were grown, Dawn was looking for something to occupy her time and decided to teach crafting at her local community center. Given her love of crafting, this hobby was a great way to earn a bit of extra money while doing something she loved.   However, through networking, volunteering, and a lot of hard work, Dawn turned that hobby into a full-time career. Dawn is now a professional crafter, vlogger and podcaster based on the New South Wales Central Coast of Australia. She has worked in the Australian craft industry for well over a decade, creating projects for craft magazines and brands across a variety of craft mediums. She has hosted an Australian papercrafting television show, spoken at The Artful Business Conference about how video is a valuable tool for enhancing the customer experience.  She has an online store selling craft supplies, teaches in collaboration with other businesses locally, and just launched The Craft Room Podcast. Find out exactly how she made that jump on the episode today! Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why she left the corporate world to stay at home with her children Why her plan to go back to the corporate world didn’t really work out How she got involved in the craft community How she went from just a hobbyist to a professional crafter How networking really helped her career take off And so much more!   Where to find Dawn:   Website: http://www.dawnlewis.com.au Email - enquiries@dawnlewis.com.au Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DawnLewisImagery YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/DawnLewisPaints Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dawnlewisimagery   Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

Typically, on this show, we feature stories of people who have quit their careers and started over in a completely different field. I’m so excited to talk to Nicole on this episode to show that you don’t have to do that. If you like the field that you’re in but want something more, be it flexibility, more money, more ownership etc, it is time to think outside of the box.   Nicole started out her healthcare PR career in 2002 at a large medical device company, Guidant Corporation, where she learned the trade for 5 years. When the company was acquired by Abbott in 2006, Nicole was no longer allowed to keep her part-time status. Because she wanted the flexibility of staying at home with her kids and having a career, Nicole quit her job and started her career as a medtech PR consultant, working primarily with startups to launch their companies and products. She hired her first fulltime employee in 2016. Today her agency has approximately 20 employees and offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Orange County.   Nicole is also a founding member of MedtechWomen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to highlighting women leaders in the medical technology industry. She was named a 2015 PR Executive of the Year by the Business Intelligence Group and is a finalist for PR News' 2019 Top Women in Healthcare Awards.   We talk all about how taking that jump, and knowing how to value yourself, led Nicole to create an incredible business that also gave her the flexibility she wanted. Here is what we chat about in this episode: How to recognize the value you bring in your career and how to charge accordingly How she realized it was time to make the jump Why setting up a business isn’t as difficult as people make it seem. How freelancers can provide a lot of value that companies can’t provide Why you shouldn’t work for free Why the riches are in the niches How she grew her company from being a single consultant to 20 employees Why she believes in investing in yourself even if you’re not making money yet And much more! Where to find Nicole:   Website: https://healthandcommerce.com/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicoleosmer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleosmer/     Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast  

One of Steve Jobs’ most popular quotes is “You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”   Nowhere is that principle proven truer than in John’s life and career. He grew up the son of immigrant farmers and saw first hand the hard work, sacrifice, and struggles his parents had to go through in life. So you can imagine how well-received his decision was to drop out of his Engineering program in college to join an internet startup. But John promised his mom that if it didn’t work out, he’d go back to school and become a doctor.   While he had some initial success with the startup, it eventually folded in the internet bubble burst in the early 2000s. As you’ll hear, John credits that failure as one of the best things that could have happened to him. He went back to UCLA to finish his Engineering degree and became an engineer for Boeing. Most people would have just stopped there. But wanting to make good on his promise to his mom, John decided to go back to school to become a dentist. He not only became a dentist but went on to specialize in orthodontics.   During that schooling, John met his current co-founder, Dr. Hongsheng Tong, and they began developing a product that would place braces behind the teeth in order to make them invisible. After he received his degree, John began working as the managing orthodontist for Bristol Dental and Orthodontics. But he kept working on this invisible brace product and company on nights and weekends.   Eventually, John became the CEO and co-founder of Swift Health Systems and is bringing disruptive change to the orthodontics industry with INBRACE. His past startup experience coupled with his specialized knowledge of orthodontics makes him uniquely qualified to lead such an innovative company. And in under 2 years, John has helped to raise $25 million dollars and grow the company to 75 employees! Incredible, to say the least!   There is so much we get into this episode, so you definitely don’t want to miss it!   Here is what we chat about in this episode: How John’s upbringing affected his view on work and life Why he decided to drop out of college to pursue the internet startup craze How the failure of that tech startup impacted him Why he decided to become a dentist when he had a good career as an engineer How he started his current business and how he’s grown it so fast How mentors have shaped his life How he became clear on his “why” and how that drives him, and more! Where to find Dr. John Pham:   Website: https://myinbrace.com/   Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-pham-dds-ms-999a274/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myinbrace/ Email: john@myinbrace.com     Resources mentioned in this episode   John C. Maxwell, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership     Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast

The goal in life is to be happy, right? Well, maybe not. Today on the show, we have the incredible Dr. Zelana Montminy, a clinical psychologist and reformed happiness researcher. Dr. Zelana used to focus on how people could be happier in their lives but she quickly found, through her research, that the more we obsess over happiness in our society, the more people are unhappy. She saw that the people that were content and fulfilled in their lives were the ones that were resilient to whatever life threw at them.   Dr. Zelana is now a renowned wellness architect, providing an unparalleled realistic perspective rooted in science. Whether it’s as a bestselling author, working with celebrities, hosting a television show, or leading a transformational retreat, Dr. Zelana is paving the way for mental fitness. A prominent figure in Positive Psychology and one of Maria Shriver’s Architects of Change, Dr. Zelana is the author of bestselling 21 Days to Resilience. She speaks around the world and is a go-to authority in the media appearing on Access Live, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors and more. She also makes ongoing contributions to the pages of Real Simple Magazine, Health Magazine, Redbook, Better Home & Gardens, and the list goes on.   I love this conversation with Dr. Zelana about why resilience is so important and how we can build it in our lives.   Here is what we chat about in this episode: Why we shouldn’t focus on happiness but rather try to build up our resilience What resilience actually is and how to start building it How to know when your unhappiness should lead to change v. when to weather the storm What actionable steps can you take to build resilience What is the difference between habits and goals How to build resilience in your kids, and more Where to find Dr. Zelana:   Website: www.drzelana.com Instagram: @dr.zelana email: contact@drzelana.com Follow along for more: www.lessonsfromaquitter.com https://www.facebook.com/lessonsfromaquitter https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromaquitter/ https://twitter.com/quitterpodcast