We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Stepney recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
This year, I made one of the biggest risks of my life—I left a stable corporate job to become an independent contractor and entrepreneur. For years, I worked in structured environments where I received a steady paycheck, clear benefits, and predictable routines. On paper, it made sense to stay. But deep down, I knew I wanted more freedom, creativity, and purpose in my work.
The backstory is that I had been balancing my corporate job with side projects—writing books, consulting on intellectual property, and volunteering in my community. I loved the flexibility and impact those projects gave me, but I often felt torn between pursuing them fully and keeping the security of a traditional job. The turning point came when I realized that if I didn’t take the leap, I might always wonder, “What if?”
Walking away from a consistent salary was not easy. There were months when I questioned if I made the right choice. However, I am now able to create multiple streams of income, publish books that touched people’s lives, consult with clients on their intellectual property, do real estate and continue working with nonprofits and community projects that aligned with my passion for mental health advocacy.
Taking that leap taught me that risk is not the absence of fear—it’s moving forward in spite of it. The decision didn’t just change my career path; it reshaped how I see myself. I’m no longer just an employee; I’m a creator, a builder, and someone who bet on herself.
Tiffany, 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?
My name is Tiffany A. Stepney, and I am an author, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and licensed Maryland Realtor. At the heart of everything I do is one mission: to use my gifts and experiences to inspire, educate, and help others build legacies of their own.
Professionally, I’ve built a career as a legal assistant in intellectual property law, where I gained deep knowledge about trademarks and patents. That experience allowed me to begin offering intellectual property consulting services to entrepreneurs and creators who need guidance on protecting their brands. Beyond that, I have worked with The Eudaimonia Project Inc. and In Vivo Exposure LLC, where I support publishing projects, event planning, and community initiatives that focus on mental health, storytelling, and empowerment.
On my own, I’ve authored several books including Growing in Grace, I Used to Love H.I.M., and I Used to Love a Narcissist. My writing often explores themes of faith, resilience, love, and healing, and I use my personal experiences to connect with readers who may be navigating similar challenges. In addition, I provide real estate services in Maryland, helping families and individuals achieve their homeownership dreams.
What sets me apart is that I combine professional expertise with lived experience. I understand the challenges of starting over, of walking away from security to build something new, and of transforming pain into purpose. My work is hands-on, faith-centered, and people-focused. I don’t just deliver a service—I build relationships, provide encouragement, and create pathways for growth.
I am most proud of turning my personal healing journey into a platform for others. Whether it’s through my books, consulting, or community-based events, my goal is always to help others find their voice, protect their ideas, and step into their power.
If there’s one thing I want clients and followers to know, it’s this: my work is not just about business—it’s about transformation, legacy, and empowerment. I bring resilience, authenticity, and faith into every project I touch.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
There was a season in my life when everything I thought was secure seemed to crumble all at once. I was balancing the demands of a corporate job while also carrying the weight of personal grief, including the loss of my oldest daughter. That loss could have broken me completely. For a while, it felt like it did—I struggled with my mental health and questioned my ability to keep moving forward.
But somewhere in the middle of that pain, I made a choice: I wasn’t going to let my story end there. I leaned into my faith and began to write as a way to process my experiences. What started as journaling became the foundation for my books. I also made the bold decision to leave the security of a corporate career and step into entrepreneurship. It was terrifying to walk away from a steady paycheck, but I knew I needed freedom to create, to heal, and to help others do the same.
That leap taught me that resilience isn’t about pretending everything is fine—it’s about finding strength in the middle of the storm. Through my writing, consulting, real estate work, and community advocacy, I’ve been able to turn my struggles into stepping stones. Today, when I help a client protect their brand, when I hand a family the keys to their new home, or when someone tells me my book gave them hope, I’m reminded that every challenge I’ve faced prepared me for this.
My journey illustrates resilience because it shows that you can lose so much, yet still rebuild, still create, and still shine. I don’t look like what I’ve been through—and that’s exactly the testimony I want to share with others.
Have you ever had to pivot?
One of the biggest pivots in my life came after the passing of my oldest daughter. Losing her at such a young age was something I never imagined I would have to endure. It shook me to my core, and for a time, I didn’t know how I could move forward. Grief has a way of making the world feel like it stops spinning, and I found myself standing at a crossroads: either stay stuck in the pain or find a way to carry it and transform it.
That was the moment I pivoted. I leaned into my faith and began to write as a way to release what I was holding inside. At first, it was simply journaling, but over time and with the help of a friend, those words became a documentary and later books that allowed me to connect with others who were struggling. What felt like an ending turned into a beginning—I started to see how my story could help someone else find healing in theirs.
This pivot also reshaped my purpose. I became more intentional about my work as a mental health advocate, author, and entrepreneur. Out of my grief came a calling to serve—whether through my writing, my community work, or real estate. Instead of letting loss define me, I used it as a turning point to build something that honors life and creates impact for others.
That personal pivot showed me that resilience isn’t about pretending pain doesn’t exist—it’s about finding a way to redirect it into purpose. It was in that moment of heartbreak that I discovered my greatest strength: the ability to rebuild, to serve, and to keep moving forward while carrying my daughter’s light with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TiffanyStepney.com
- Instagram: TiffanyStepney.realtor
- Facebook: Tiffany Stepney Realtor
- Linkedin: Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=tiffany-stepney-47237690
