Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Monica Ortega. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Monica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

As someone who’s not a risk-taker, I’ve spent my life taking risks. Chasing the entertainment goals to Nashville to sing and Los Angeles to act, moving to cities without knowing a soul, starting my own travel show, writing a book, you name it, I’ve done some scary stuff! When I started my travel show Monica Goes, I quickly realized I was afraid of almost everything! That quickly became the premise on the show; crying white water rafting, crying rock climbing etc. But this biggest “risk” I’ve taken in my career is following my gut even when it doesn’t seem like somewhere I want to go. Listening to it when I had $20 to my name and my gut said to keep going! Listening to it when it said “Ok, it’s time to get a steady job…trust me I’m still taking you places”. Trusting it when it said to write a book and host a retreat. You name it, the “riskiest” thing I’ve learned as a creative, is to trust my gut!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years in many, MANY different ways. I started at a resort in college as a musical theater performer which turned into stunt shows, improv and sketch comedy, and even riding a bull at the rodeos! From there, I went to Nashville to sing and write music but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. But while I was there, I began emceeing for big events and teaching line dance at the Wildhorse Saloon. I also started acting in commercials and music videos until I was a full-time performer. After some fate encounters (a much longer story), I ended up in Los Angeles acting in commercials and films and emceeing large music festivals.

In 2014, after reading the book “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero, I realized I was my happiest on stage emceeing and began the journey of becoming a host and speaker. I started my YouTube travel show Monica Goes as a way to inspire people and break out of their comfort zones on adventures. The show took off and since then I’ve created Pivoting Productions LLC. and we’ve produced hundreds of videos and created content for tourism boards around the country.

In 2020 when the world shut down, I ended up writing the bestselling book ‘The Power of Pivoting – How to Embrace Change and Create a Life You Love”. This turned into coaching, speaking, and an epic women’s retreat! My now husband and I moved to Denver Colorado and in 2022 welcomed our son Grayson. I’m currently working on a children’s book and becoming a full-time speaker.

I’m most proud of the fact that over all of the changes, I’ve been able to follow my pivots and keep finding new ways to create things I love. I always go back to asking myself “Am I on the path I want to be on to end up where I want to go?” and “Do I like who I’m becoming?” And I’ve followed that wherever it’s taken me. I’m also proud that I’ve been able to keep the travel show going for so long!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Bouncing around from singing, to acting, to hosting has seemed a little chaotic at times. In 2020 I found myself with a Travel Show about adventure, a Podcast about business (Stumblin’ Forward), and a book about Pivoting. I ended up hiring a business coach to try to help me make sense of it all because in my mind they were connected, but I could see why my audience wasn’t getting that.

The through line has always been the same “Breaking out of comfort zones to become present and facing our fears to lead us to our best lives.”

Even now with the children’s book and the topics that I speak on at events, it’s all about inspiring people to go for it, even when it’s scary. I truly believe that in moments of fear and uncertainty, we are fully present. And what’s on the other side and the lessons learned along the way can be incredible.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Well, as someone who’s created a career ABOUT pivoting, I’ve been through many. But there have been two that shifted my life entirely.

In 2016, I was in a very unhappy and emotionally abusive marriage. By the time my ex-husband confessed to cheating I was SO relieved! It was the first time in my life where I felt like the rules of what I thought I “Should” be doing went out the window and I got to choose. I dove into the travel show, got the most amazing adventure dog, and truly fell in love with my life and who I was.

In 2020 when the world shut down, my travel show came to a halt. I also met my now husband at that time. In the chaos of the pandemic, we decided to leave LA and ended up in Denver Colorado. After breaking my foot and becoming pregnant, I had to make the difficult decision to step back from the show full-time and accept a “real job”. It broke my heart at the time. But that pause has shifted into new inspirations of speaking and writing. The travel show is still going (although more locally at the moment) and my audience didn’t go anywhere. It truly taught me that it’s ok to pause and change directions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monicajortega.com https://www.monicagoes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicagoesshow
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monicagoesshow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicajortega/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/monicagoesshow
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/monicagoesshow