Freedom is calling...

Our Story

As a former fortune 500 VP, I thought I had it all. 6 figure salary. Benefits. Travel. Connections at the top of large corporations. Everything. Really, I had nothing. Let me explain.

2020 was a year of significant challenges for us all. During the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, our company had a travel freeze on like most others. While this was challenging on all fronts going from being a 20-year road warrior to a virtual worker from home, it was a true blessing because it gave me and our family to opportunity to connect differently. 

Being from Michigan, our state was under some of the strictest regulations for Covid-19. As a restless family, we made an impulsive decision to do something we always wanted to do but never had the time between work, practices, games, lessons, etc. We snuck out through the upper peninsula of Michigan and headed west for an EPIC journey to 7 National Parks. No real plan, hotels and restaurants were closed, and limited cash. Just a mini-van and 5 driven souls looking for adventure and connectivity. And what an adventure it was!

Once we returned home, it was back to the routine. Our company was going through a transformational change along with the challenge of the pandemic. I was watching my peers being furloughed. People, including myself, were being shuffled into different roles to keep things floating. There was a feeling of too much being out of my control. Something was missing. And depression was starting to sink in. Being the breadwinner and only income in our home, I needed inspiration. So, I turned to my then 14-year-old daughter.

Being an entrepreneur at heart, I always wanted to start my own company but never made the commitment to try because, frankly, I didn’t have to. Like I said earlier, I thought I had it all. My oldest takes after me and has that same entrepreneurial flair. So, we decided to start our own company. We spent time researching. Trying different products. Testing them on overnight hikes. And really enjoying the experience. I could feel my soul being filled again. I was starting to understand what was missing. 

Flash forward a couple months; I was on a conference call at work. I was listening to leaders that were uninspiring and in survival mode. My mind starting drifting to how much I enjoyed working on our business and suddenly, it clicked. Working on the business was freedom. Something real. Something to be passionate about. And something to believe in. 15 minutes after the call ended, I resigned from my career. Because I found what was missing. What was always missing.

Who quits their 6-figure career in the middle of a pandemic during an election year? I’ll tell you who. Someone who discovered what was missing…PURPOSE. We are all born free. It just took me 44 years to understand what that really means. And with that newfound purpose and freedom, I’m taking my happy hike. Will you take yours?