Every once in a while, something happens that really matters. Something that will define at least the next chapter of your journey – perhaps it’s a conversation with a client, a meeting with a visionary or a major event in your personal life. Below, you’ll find some very insightful folks sharing defining moments from their journeys.

Candace Graves

I knew as a freshman in high school that I wanted to work in the helping field and I did just that. It wasn’t until years later that my purpose began to take shape within the industry. Read more>>

Erin Maccabee

When I was at my lowest, battling years of substance abuse, it truly felt like I was nearing the end. The world as I knew it was unraveling, and sobriety seemed like a last-ditch effort to pull myself out of the abyss. Read more>>

Dr. Zabina Bhasin

Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your job? If so, please share the backstory so we can fully understand and appreciate the moment and take in any lessons or wisdom that might be learned from your experience and story. Read more>>

Sylvan Streightiff

I learned about Art Therapy during a lecture series while earning my BFA in Drawing and Painting at CSU Long Beach. I’d like to say this was a defining moment in my career but it was more of a stepping stone that motivated me to enroll in a series of psychology courses. Read more>>

Philip Palmer

Absolutely, there was a defining moment that changed everything for me. It was 2015, and I was at a crossroads. After years of struggling with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury from my military service, I found myself spiraling. Read more>>

Courtney Garner

I started off as a nurse, working 60 hours a week, sleeping terribly, and feeling drained from a busy mind I didn’t know how to shut off. I felt stuck in a restless prison of my own mind and it was affecting my relationships, creativity and health. Read more>>

Cindy Spratt

My life had always revolved around food & health in one way or another. So it wasn’t a surprise for me, or anyone that knows me well, to alter my career path and choose that of Holistic Health & Nutrition, particularly after having had a life altering experience with Cancer (but that is another story). Read more>>

Rachel Word

The defining moment was my personal experience with postpartum depression. Once I was in a space to truly start healing, I could see my experience from a different perspective. Read more>>

Dorathy Scott

After years of being in corporate America, I decided to make a long life dream come true. I went back to school to earn my graduate degree, so I could pursue my dream of becoming a mental health therapist. Read more>>

Erica Blades

I NEVER imagined myself as an entrepreneur. I have been a nurse for over 17 years, and enjoy helping people. After going through my own journey with autoimmune disease, I realized I wanted to be a health coach, and help other women struggling with autoimmune disease also. Read more>>

Shalini Breault

A defining moment in my entrepreneurial career was when my angel prayer was accepted for publication in a multi-author collaboration book. Read more>>

Ashanta Venise Campbell

One defining moment in my professional career came shortly after I completed my MBA. I was ready to dive into the business world and apply my newfound skills, but something didn’t feel quite right. Read more>>

Carrie Gauden

I wanted to test my body to one of the most extremes adventures by achieving the belt buckle of the Leadville 100 Trail Run. Completing this race under regulated time was life-changing. Read more>>

Kathrine Bright

The defining moment for Kat in creating KatFit Strength emerged from her personal experiences and profound realizations about the fitness industry’s shortcomings, particularly for women and mothers. Read more>>

Tim Krause

The defining moment of my career came when I decided to become a Men’s Coach. I was at a point of in my life where I felt very unfulfilled professionally, and it seemed like I was simply going through the motions in my career, my relationship, and pretty much every aspect of my life. Read more>>

Lani Buess

Back in 2015 I hit a serious rough patch. A real “there’s got to be more to life than this!” come-to-Jesus moment. I was down and felt a total lack of meaning and fulfillment in my life and job. Read more>>

Cecile Hemery

I’ve always been quiet. As a child, I loved reading books, and playing in my room on my own. I wasn’t antisocial and I had a couple of “best friends”. Never many, but friends I felt a deep connection with. Read more>>

Joe Moody

During the pandemic, I lost faith in a lot of institutions and even modes of living. But one thing stood out like a shining beacon: Qigong (which translates to the cultivations of life-force energy. Read more>> 

Sheldon Bethea

I purchased my first clinic from a retiring Chiropractor. The clinic was staffed with a receptionist who was actually more of the office manager. I would always refer to her whenever I was unsure of a decision to be made. Read more>>

Holli Smith

I’ve been a bit too much in my head most of my life. I seemed to stress over the little things, even when it was not necessary. Read more>>

Jesenia Wright

I am a Social Worker by trade. I am a Director at local nonprofit which I truly enjoy. I also am the CEO & Founder of GivingsCloset which is a donation based clothing and footwear agency that transports gently used items to those in need. GivingsCloset was inspired by my childhood self. Read more>>

Lorrie Bertrand

This is such a great question! I remember always having an interest in doing something in the mental health field. This was not really something my family encouraged for a number of reasons. Read more>>

Dr. Natalia Zhikhareva

I remember taking a civil rights course during my undergraduate studies. Before I was interested in psychology and planned to study law, I took this course. As an immigrant, my knowledge of American history was almost nonexistent. Read more>>

Esther Ruggles

The Blox- Season 9 I was cast for a reality show for entrepreneurs in June of 2023. I applied with my business Restorative Bodywork LLC and I wanted to be able to be myself on the show because it’s a reality competition show.  Read more>>

Mike Guevara

While training high school athletes in LA, I worked with a diverse range of clients, focusing on fitness. One day, Victoria Azarenka approached me for assistance after a session with a talented high school tennis player. Read more>>

Jaclyn Siegel

I love this question because it touches on my core motivations: why I became an Aesthetician, started my own business, and chose to specialize in acne. My defining moment came from my own struggle with acne and how I was treated by Dermatologists. I first got acne when I was 10 years old. Read more>>

PAT AVERHART

The summer of 2020, and the pandemic in its entirety. It showed me that the institutions designed to help and benefit the people simply could not and ultimately failed to do so. That was the fuel used for my work in the community and within the realm of mutual aid. Read more>>