We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabs Hayes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabs, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

As a business owner, I find immense happiness in my role! Yet, there are moments when I think about what it would be like to have a full-time job again, and many entrepreneur friends echo this sentiment. Though not talked about enough in the entrepreneur community, going back to work for someone else is sometimes the stability step you need to grow your business to the next level. The journey of entrepreneurship presents unique experiences and challenges that push you beyond your comfort zone unlike anything experienced as an employee. This can sometimes evoke a sense of longing for the familiar comfort of being an employee, for the stability in paycheck but also to not be the sole decision maker. While many of us venture into entrepreneurship fully aware that we are leaving that comfort behind, we are willing to go to great lengths to ensure the success of our business and personal lives – even if that means considering a return to a regular paycheck.

One instance that stands out was when a large client faced a challenging acquisition, leaving my future plans with them uncertain. Simultaneously, I was expanding new avenues of my business that had yet to stabilize. Initially, I contemplated seeking employment again, but I recognized the level of effort it takes in the current competitive job market, especially within my field of supporting career changes in product management. I made the conscious choice to redirect my focus and dedicate that time to my business. All my efforts were generating revenue by this point, and I had to choose between exchanging time for a steady paycheck that could impede business growth or opting for a period of intense, focused work to advance and scale my business. Ultimately, I prioritized scaling my business. Reflecting back, that period marked the most significant growth for my business, and I am grateful for the decision I made!

Gabs, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Gabs – I wear many hats: wife, mom, founder, mentor, and a passionate memory-chaser who finds a peaceful escape in music. But at my core, I’m all about helping people unlock their confidence and design a life they truly love.

My journey to becoming a career alignment coach wasn’t exactly conventional. As a proud corporate professional, I never saw entrepreneurship, especially people-first entrepreneurship, in my life plans. Yet without me knowing it, life’s experiences combined with my desire to chase memories and a blind-eye to fear led me here. Five years ago, I was lost and consumed by a career that felt more like a burden than a dream, feeling so trapped in every aspect of my life. I dreamt of having someone to guide me through finding myself and my dreams, someone who understood my struggle, but there wasn’t anyone.

That’s when I had my “Aha’ moment. If there wasn’t anyone, I would become the someone. I transitioned from product management to support professionals navigating their own career crossroads, fueled by a mission to prevent them from experiencing what I did. My unique approach stems from my own lived experience. Providing a safe, non-judgmental space, to find your love for your career and life again.

I help clients rediscover their confidence and cultivate a mindset that empowers you to design the life you truly deserve. We work together to shed limiting beliefs, identify your strengths and values, and tackle exactly how to align your professional life to your deepest desires. I understand the challenges, the doubts, and the exhilarating moments of clarity, because I’ve been there myself. I share the very tools and strategies that helped me rediscover my passion and purpose.

There is no greater feeling than the text of a client who is reminded what it feels like to be valued again. The confidence that radiates off the pages of our personal brand story exercises is why I show up every day. Giving me a front row seat to the transformation in my clients. Seeing them shed their fear, embrace their potential, and take ownership of their lives.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

For three years, I juggled a full-time job while side hustling. My mentor, now business partner, saw my consulting potential (long before I did) and started offering me subcontracts when she was overloaded. Those early projects were invaluable, not just for the experience but also for the confidence boost. Before I knew it, my side hustle income was nearing my full-time salary!

As those numbers creeped closer and closer together a nagging feeling persisted: I was turning down clients who sought my expertise, while simultaneously fighting for a culture of impact and change in my day job. My passion was overflowing elsewhere, and the limitations of my current position became suffocating.

Seeing the positive impact on my clients, the growing demand for my services, and the unwavering support from my mentor – it all chipped away at the self-doubt. Finally, I had to face the truth: I was worth going all in on. The decision wasn’t easy. Leaving the security of a full-time job was daunting, but the fear of stagnation was stronger. With a deep breath and a whole lot of self-belief, I took the leap.

It hasn’t always been a smooth ride. There were challenges, moments of doubt, and the inevitable learning curve of any new venture. But with each hurdle overcome, my confidence grew. I poured every ounce of passion and dedication into my work, and the results followed.

I have since become a three-time founder and know my soul was put on this earth to create people-first businesses.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I consider myself incredibly fortunate that my business partner was also my initial mentor in product development. My journey into product management was unplanned, but it turned into an intensive crash course in product building. With the guidance of a remarkable leadership team, I was introduced to Jackie Flake. She helped me navigate the field, teaching me best practices in a practical manner that gave me the confidence I was cut out for this new gig. Our bond grew stronger as we shared the experience of being pregnant at the same time and enjoyed numerous lunch breaks over warmed-up Jimmy John’s sandwiches in the break room. Even after leaving that company, we kept in touch.

After a couple more children added between us and collaborating on client projects, we discovered that not only did we work effectively together, but we genuinely enjoyed it. This realization led us to formalize our partnership. In a typical product development approach, we swiftly entered discovery mode and launched our initial business offerings within a few months. While we have made some pivots and rebranded along the way, our collaborative spirit remains strong, and we humorously claim to share the same brain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebravestart.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/highly.inquisitive
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielleahayes/