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.

AIMEE MONTERROSA

I was working in a domestic violence shelter, the overnight shift, I was sitting in the office, it was around 2am and a client knocked on the door saying she couldn’t sleep. I had her come in and offered to chat with her a little bit to help ease any anxiety she was feeling. This was before I even went to graduate school, my first job in the field. We spoke for about 45 minutes and she stated she felt better. Read more>>

Michele Lynch

I was a professional dancer and choreographer and I lived in NYC for over 20 years. I absolutely loved creating dances and telling stories through movement. Although I spent a lot of time on the road traveling—I was very fortunate to come home to my Upper West Side brownstone apartment—with my own washer/dryer and affordable rent. Read more>>

Candace Oates

There was a time in life when I was very overweight and unhealthy. I had high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and weighed over 325lbs. It wasn’t until I found out I was 6 months pregnant with my now 18 year old son that I decided to take my health more seriously. Read more>>

Naomi Cladovan

A defining moment in my career happens very often. Working with all sorts of skin concerns, everyone’s main goal is always to see results. As a professional that is my goal as well and when me and my client finally get to the point where we see them it’s so worth it. That’s what makes my job so amazing, having those moments often with your clients and giving them the results/confidence they’ve been striving for. Read more>>

Verenice Hernandez

Defining Moment: Read more>>

Nineveh Cannavino

Absolutely, I have a very interesting and eye-opening experience that had me change careers from technology sales to Psychic Medium. First of all, when I graduated in Chicago with my undergraduate degree, I was already accepted into John Marshall Law School and I was very ready to be a corporate lawyer. However, family issues prevented me from attending and so I decided to go work for a B2B technology company that sold end-to-end encrypted solutions on their own private network. Read more>>

Kristen Cooper

Everyone has undesired patterns they need to be mindful of to create the future they dream of instead of living in auto-pilot and just hoping life changes. Unfortunately, we all learn through adversities like losing a loved one or job, being betrayed by someone you loved, illness, money concerns, and more. Going through loss and pain can be one of our best teachers once we heal and start becoming mindful of what we can control: our responses. Read more>>

Jenna Hardcastle

What is life, but a bunch of defining moments strung together. I have been in the career of health care for over a decade with * of those years being a registered nurse. Read more>>

Summer Lall

When I was a freshman at Berklee College of Music in Boston, I asked a graduating senior if she recommended any courses. She told me to take Intro to Music Therapy and said had she known about it years ago, she would have gone into the field. I took her advice. From the very first class, I was moved to tears by how they were able to put into words everything I felt about music but struggled to articulate. Read more>>

Chuck Slonim

With just 3 days of advanced notice, I was asked to replace an oculofacial plastic surgeon, who had just returned from Haiti a few days after their devastating 2010 earthquake. I was excited to have the opportunity to serve the Haitian people through the University of Miami/Medishare Haitian relief project. Numerous traumatic eye and orbital trauma surgeries had been prearranged for me upon my arrival. Read more>>

Kelsey Mizell

Thanks for having me! I’d say there have been lots of small moments that have pointed me in the general direction of supporting parents and families, though there is definitely a defining moment that led me to my specialty in perinatal & maternal mental health. It was when my son was born. I wouldn’t say the trajectory of my career changed in that exact moment, though in becoming a mother, there were many unanticipated challenges and feelings that started to shift my focus. Read more>>

Irena Cora Stathis

Before I decided to attend an intensive herbal program, I was working in physical therapy in Marina Del Rey. I had been taking the prerequisite classes and preparing myself to apply for PT school. I had an interest in healing and the body for a while, yet, even though I had already been introduced to herbalism, I didn’t consider it a career option at the time. Read more>>

Jill Kornowski

I had this series of moments working for a major spa where I just felt like I wasn’t able to connect with the clients as much as I would like. This ranged from the limited time I was able to spend with each client, to the fact that is was a bit more high scale and touristy and there were not a ton of local repeat clients. I felt like if I was able connect further with my clients that we would ultimately be able to work better together and achieve the wellness they were seeking. Read more>>

Lindsey Kaszuba

I’ve been passionate about health and wellness for as long as I can remember – constantly researching, testing new theories, and following my curiosity. I grew up wanting to help people, though I wasn’t quite sure how. Read more>>

Elle Ebizadeh

After two decades of entrepreneurship, building and ultimately selling several companies, a pivotal moment arrived seven years ago when I divested from my recycling venture to transition into commercial real estate. It was during this shift that I had a profound realization about my decade-long relationship. Contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t evolving as I had envisioned, prompting a deep reflection on my patterns of success in business versus my experiences in love. Read more>>

Tara Faithful

I had been working for a company for about 2 years and I finally had all the things I had previously been looking for. I was able to work from home, my schedule was flexible, I had an amazing manager, a wonderful team, I worked with intelligent and supportive people, and I was being paid well, and yet, something still just did not feel right. Read more>>

Nagmeh Hamidian

Growing up in diverse cultures around the world, I developed a deep appreciation for different skin, beauty concerns and well-being. I learned the importance of innovative, effective methods to deliver results. My international experiences instilled in my passion for helping people feel and look their best. But I wanted to be “different” and bring a different approach to my assessments and client evaluation. Read more>>

Michelle Gilbert

In 2007 exploding squash badly burned my face. I had just found out that I was pregnant, and was trying to eat health. I cut a bunch of squashes in half and cooked them all on one tray in the oven. When I removed the pan and set it down, the squash exploded all over my face and chest. Read more>>

Tim Flynn

In March of 2022, I was in Los Angeles visiting a good friend of mine named Eric, and while we were discussing my teaching philosophies when it came to teaching Martial Arts to kids, we also discussed my history of being bullied all throughout elementary through High school. Read more>>

Lauren Makler

In 2017, I was in the midst of launching Uber Health at Uber, and felt a pain in my side that wouldn’t go away. After pushing doctors for testing, I underwent a diagnostic surgery that revealed an incredibly rare abdominal disease and was told I may not be able to have a biological child. Read more>>

Julie Economos

I worked as a primary care physician at a wonderful hospital in Atlanta for 12 years. I adored my patients and staff and never planned on leaving. However, when three out of our four kids were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and my husband acquired a business across the country that required a heavier travel schedule, I knew something had to give. Read more>>

Tessa Arnold

I had been in global commercial banking for 12 years, until this year when I decided to pivot and put all my attention, focus, and energy into what truly fulfills me: SnapBack, and now in addition to that Yoga Teacher Training, and Ayurveda Health Coaching. I knew I had to follow my passions and purpose in helping myself and serving others. Read more>>

Shannon Dias, CPC

Life is a series of experiences and your career is just one of them. I think it is easy to get caught up in all of the things that we need to do in order to just live in this world. It’s also easy to just continue on the train down the same track everyday and do the things we know. Read more>>

Usman Khan

A defining moment in my life and career is experiencing a life threatening incident where I became engulfed in a riptide at Venice Beach. I found myself grappling with the waves in the ocean and saw my life flashing right in front of me. This experience brought me to my knees and humbled me in ways I had never imagined before. Read more>>

Stacey Bosworth

I have been teaching movement and fitness for 23 years. I have taught many group classes, and years ago at a particular fitness place I taught, I started each class with a positive quote or phrase. It always felt inspiring to me, and after awhile, people began to remember me as the teacher who was always smiling and sharing positivity. I realized people appreciated the quotes, and many students would share with me how I inspired them. Read more>>

Charmian Redwood

I had a Near Death Experience where I connected with my Soul and that experience changed my life forever. When I came back into my body I was not the same person that I was when I left it. Read more>>

Dr Christy Wise

childhood neglect and trauma was the gateway to her ultimate choice to fall in love with a true sociopath. As a dedicated bubbly wife and mom for 23 years, a highly successful and well-respected Sex Therapist, to the horror of suddenly getting arrested and instantly becoming an inmate, felon and now single mom. He had been plotting and setting her up for years, and she never would have believed it or have seen it coming! Read more>>

Angie Barnett

Hello, I am Angie Barnett aka Cocah AngieBe. I am a wellness coach and transformation life coach I help people rediscscover their power threw personal wellness. I got out of a high-control religion, by using fitness to rediscover my strength. My book is coming out later this year. My chapter is called Read more>>