For a long time, I lived a life that looked successful from the outside. I followed the traditional path, built a solid career in corporate, and hit the expected milestones: promotions, good reviews, steady paychecks. On paper, I was doing everything right. But deep down, something was missing.
The shift started when I had my son. Suddenly, all the metrics I’d been chasing—career growth, job security—didn’t feel as meaningful. What mattered most was being present for him. I didn’t want to ask for permission to chaperone field trips or take a day off when he needed me. I wanted more than a job. I wanted a life—one that was built on freedom, purpose, and the ability to create a lasting legacy for my family. And that’s when entrepreneurship became my way out.
It wasn’t an easy decision to make. Leaving behind the comfort of a corporate job meant stepping into the unknown, where success wasn’t guaranteed. But I knew that staying stuck in a place that didn’t align with my new priorities wasn’t an option.
The Start of a New Journey: How I Found My Purpose
I didn’t find my purpose until my mid-thirties. Leading up to it, I had walked away from agriculture and worked in an office setting on a quality assurance team. I spent my days writing new process SOPs, editing existing documents, and working on projects as our leadership team delegated their overfilled plate. I kept track of the deadlines and had the freedom to work on the projects at my discretion. It was a perfect fit for me. I was happy! I thought this company was my forever home. I wasn’t looking to make a change, but life does that on its own sometimes.
In 2020, I got pregnant! It wasn’t planned, but I knew the rest of my life had just begun! I started worrying about my future finances with a baby on the way. I realized during pregnancy that I didn’t want to send my son to someone else while I worked full-time. I felt a pit in my stomach whenever I imagined dropping him off and picking him up eight hours later. Only spending the evenings and weekends with him.
As a world, we were still in the COVID-19 social distancing era. I worked from my home office four days a week, driving into the company office on the fifth day. I thrived the days I worked from home. I loved every minute of the freedom to design my day, not having a thirty-minute commute, being able to quiet notifications, turn up some music, and dig into projects.
In May 2021, I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy and took the full twelve weeks of maternity leave that was allotted. In August, I started back at work. My son went to daycare forty hours a week, and my heart sank every morning at drop-off. I’d pick him up early as often as my work schedule allowed. I reveled in my time with him but dreaded the nine-to-five grind.
Taking Action: The Power of Being Open to Opportunities
I knew I had to change something, but I didn’t know exactly what that looked like. I started scouring the internet for ways to make money from home. That’s when I stumbled across a Facebook group for stay-at-home moms. I saw women sharing their stories of earning income through network marketing. It piqued my curiosity, though I was skeptical. I didn’t see myself selling makeup or jewelry, but wellness—that was different. I had struggled with my health throughout pregnancy, and the idea of improving my health while earning an income sounded like the perfect fit.
I spent months researching, listening to information sessions, reading social media profiles, and vetting the opportunity. I wasn’t jumping into something without knowing it was the right fit. By October, my husband and I had budgeted and realized that if I could earn just $1,000 a month, I could quit my job and stay home with our son. That was the spark I needed.
Building Something for My Family: A Commitment to Growth
Starting a business from scratch was terrifying. I had no online business experience, and my social media following was tiny. But what I did have was the determination to make it work. I dove into every training my new venture offered, woke up earlier to work before my corporate job, and stayed up late after my son went to sleep to build my business.
My first month in business I earned much more than I had anticipated, and by Christmas I had helped four other women start their businesses! By January, I had put in my two weeks’ notice at my corporate job. In just 88 days, I had gone from a corporate employee to an entrepreneur. It was a huge leap, but it was the leap I needed to take.
The Freedom I Was Seeking: More Than Money, It’s About Legacy
Entrepreneurship taught me so much more than business skills. It taught me about resilience, growth, and the power of being open to new opportunities. Most importantly, it reminded me that success isn’t just about climbing the corporate ladder or achieving titles—it’s about creating something meaningful, something that lasts.
I wanted more than a paycheck. I wanted the freedom to design my days, the flexibility to be there for my son, and the ability to leave a legacy that would impact my family for generations. It’s about building a life where you don’t just endure the grind but thrive in your own way.
The Lesson I Want to Share
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: you don’t have to stay stuck. No matter where you are in life—your age, your job title, or your circumstances—opportunities are always around you. The question is, are you willing to be open enough, courageous enough, and committed enough to take them?
For me, that change meant leaving behind corporate life and diving into entrepreneurship. For you, it may look different. But whatever your version of freedom, passion, and legacy is, it’s worth pursuing.
Because at the end of your career, no one will remember the meetings you sat in or how quickly you responded to emails. What they’ll remember is the impact you made, the love you gave, and the life you built.
And that’s worth everything.
By Janis Dieter
