Defining moments aren’t just exciting – they are thought-provoking and fertile ground for learning. These inflection points often are the result of an illuminating moment where some truth of the universe presents itself in an easier to recognize form. Below, you’ll find talented and successful entrepreneurs and artists sharing the stories of defining moments in their lives.

Dr. Cari Schaefer, DACM

At 48, feeling healthier than ever, there was still a nagging digestive issue that eluded resolution. When a trusted health mentor in Ithaca invited me over for testing and a detox retreat, I was hesitant. Memories of extreme detox methods I’d shunned as a practitioner flashed in my mind. But weighing the odds, I decided to embark on the journey. Read more>>

Patricia and Jared Carter

In 2018, Trish was a homemaker and home-educator, caring for our three boys, and I (Jared) was working for a startup. We were married then for 12 years. This was the year that would change the trajectory of our lives forever. The year that the symptoms of undiagnosed mental illnesses, we had both been living with for over a decade, became more than we could handle. Read more>>

Dina Kleiman

Growing up, I knew how I was going to live my life, all the way to the end. I would finish school, go to a good college, get a corporate job that I didn’t hate too much, become some kind of manager, take advantage of the 401K and insurance, grow old, retire, and, well… die. Read more>>

Vanessa Rodriguez

In 2016, I reached the pinnacle of my professional career and amazing life but soon realized that it was not fulfilling. Read more>>

Enolia Fot

How many of us select and pick work positions because we were guided or persuaded by our families, friends, or curiosity, only to find out that it was not what we wanted? To be in a defined role or position is the foundation of bringing in the monetary resources you need to survive, but then realize halfway into the career you don’t like what you are doing. You feel trapped, unable to make a change in your career or life because of the dependencies, whether it is family, people, or resources (rent, food, clothing, furniture). Read more>>

Case Kenny

I started my podcast New Mindset, Who Dis in 2018 and had some initial success but I specifically recall a moment in 2020 where I was walking down Wacker Dr. in Chicago. I was waiting to cross a street and there was a woman standing next to me doing the same. She had headphones on and didn’t say a word but she tapped me on my shoulder and then held her phone up and showed that she was listening to my podcast. Read more>>

Marisa Hall

I moved to Montpelier, VT in 2017 and it was as fresh of a start as one could hope for – not only a new town, but an entirely new state (I had lived in various parts of NY for most of my life) and a brand new practice, freshly launched in April of that same year. Vermont has supported holistic + alternative practitioners for decades, and unlike other areas of the country, I felt like my Ayurvedic offerings could really take off here. My people felt present. Read more>>

Donasja Cooper

During the start of my career as a personal trainer I worked at a medical weight loss clinic. My duty was to increase sales of personal training and gym revenue. In the beginning of my career I truly struggled with this part of job duties. Read more>>

Tory Travers

When I was 18-years-old I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. I was told I was a “young girl with a serious disease and it was only going to get worse”. I knew in my heart that I could heal naturally. I rejected the lifelong medication I was prescribed and went on a quest for natural healing. Read more>> 

Basil Ribakare

A defining moment in my professional career was when I worked with the nonprofit Assistance League of Phoenix in the summer of 2022. This nonprofit had originally served me when I was a sixth grader through their Operation School Bus event where they provide free school clothing to children from lower income backgrounds. When I interned them for the summer, I really got to see the work behind everything they do from marketing to event planning to even being able to observe a board meeting. Read more>>

Brittany Jugert

A defining moment for me was when I met the woman that would later become my personal trainer. I had spent months in the gym wandering aimlessly and feeling lost, getting conflicting advice, and having gone through multiple trainers that were just not the right fit for me. From being told that I needed to lose 20 lbs, to doing hours of cardio, to not eating more than 12oo calories a day, I was discouraged and confused. Read more>>

Francesca James

My life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer 23 years ago. This devastating news could have shattered my spirit, but determination and strength propelled me forward. This experience with cancer left an indelible mark on my life, inspiring me to embrace a new path and dedicate myself to helping others heal. Read more>>

Eric Flores

After living in Spain for 4 years, I moved back to the USA June 2, 2011. On October 1, 2011 I moved to Los Angeles, California with new dreams, hopes, and aspirations. I also wanted to start over professionally. To make one of my passions, health and fitness, the vehicle/means to make a living. Read more>>

Shiv Shakti

Mediation has been the founding pillar of my life. After working almost for a decade in the field of merchant shipping as an navigating officer, witnessing and experiencing storms and hardships, I gravitated to find inner calm and peace. The very idea of going within and sitting with myself with no goals to achieve was absolutely fascinating given how in the outer world it is all about achieving and being something. Read more>>

Carol Banens

I was a physical therapist for 36 years. My husband died in 2018 and I continued to practice for 3 more years until I realized something had to change. I no longer could cope helping people in their chronic pain, I was burned out from pretending to be ‘fine’ and so I took myself away for 5 days , journaled and thought about ‘what next?’ and decided to become and coach and leave my career. Read more>>

Chanya Middleton

Being a personal trainer is rewarding due to the fact that people are coming to you for change, and they believe in your capability. But my defining moment was when I had a client they lost 100 pounds within their personal training journey , because not only did it show me my capability, but it showed me the ambition of people. So having someone show me that they are strong enough and willing to change just as much as I am willing to help them change was a beautiful defining moment in my career. ChanyaForever Read more>>

Heather Bryant

After over 15 years as an Executive VP at a Fortune 100 bank, I was let go for standing up against racism, discrimination, and corruption. I turned down the 100k silence agreement/bribe offered (though I was terrified of how I would pay my bills at the time) in order to help the minority women being targeted get to safety. Less than 4 months later I was visited by 2 angels who spoke to me for over 3 1/2 hours and shared many things with me, including that part of my mission here was about to begin and the ending of my corporate career was a catalyst for what was coming next. Read more>>

Ashley Seal

There have been so many moments where life has halted my momentum. I would work, hustle, see things happening, and then…BOOM. Covid shutdowns. BOOM. Lyme disease. BOOM. Strike. Everything hit at pivotal moments in my acting career. I’m sure so many can relate to the discouragement when you’ve worked so hard for something, just to see it slip out of your reach once again. Read more>>

Jenn Trepeck

My health coaching practice was born from my own weight management struggle. Growing up a dancer then gaining weight between high school and college, I was the poster-child for the diet industry’s consumer. Trying everything out there, over and over, living on the yo-yo roller coaster. Read more>>

Libby Duffy

I had been teaching yoga in my own business for 2 years before I allowed myself to see it as more than just a hobby. I started my business during the pandemic while I was unemployed thinking that it would just be a fun way to earn a little extra money while I looked for a 9-5 job. I didn’t allow myself to see it as something that could be sustainable. Read more>>

Ricardo Miranda

I have been practicing Chinese medicine and acupuncture for almost 30 years. About 10 years ago I attended a lecture on epigenetics and learned how our DNA is not our destiny. I’ve always been interested in longevity and when I discovered that we can control the expressions of our genes I dove into the research of how to control our own destiny. Read more>>

Jamie Maitland

There was a defining moment in my professional career and it was when I sold my first fitness concept. How it happened was not exactly a smooth transition, to sum things up the business partners and I were not on the same page. At the time when I was going thru this “business divorce” I was extremely resistant, it literally felt like someone was taking away a piece of my heart but in hinds sight after I officially got bought out I started to see the upside of being free from a chapter that no longer served me. Read more>>

Linda Spellman

Eight years ago, I was a successful Marketing executive for a multi-billion-dollar organization. My family lived nearby and my life was just as I thought I wanted it to be. That life was permanently disrupted when I went out one night and was drugged and assaulted. I went to work the next day, trying to pretend it didn’t happen, I didn’t have time for distractions. Read more>>

Francesca Grazzi

After I graduated high school I went to community college. I quickly decided I wanted to study psychology and child development. I had grown to love both topics and completely immersed myself in my studies. I spent several years learning and discovering my career path options based off my academic interests. While I was still in school I got a job as an ABA therapist. ABA stands for applied behavioral analysis. Read more>>

Erika Bernardini

I didn’t realize this at the time, but the defining moment for my professional career was on my 18th birthday when I totalled my candy apple red Pontiac Grand Prix while on my way to trade it in. Read more>>