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.

Jackie Knoll

In 2015, I had the opportunity to take a travel position at a hospital in Washington DC. Before moving to DC, I was in the middle of training to run rim-to-rim-to-rim in the Grand Canyon and needed to find a way to keep up that training while in this new city. Moving to a new city always means finding new routes to run, and, as a woman, finding safe places to run. So, I set out in search of a running community that could guide me in the right direction. What I eventually found was November Project DC running the steps of the Lincoln Memorial every Wednesday morning at sunrise. Read more>>

Dr. David Berv

As a sports chiropractor with a specialty in golf performance, I spent my entire career helping people manage pain and perform better. Over a decade deep into practice I suffered a spinal injury that made me alter the way in which I practiced and played. One weekend after a very busy and particularly painful week I attended a food festival. Within the hours of being there, I experienced gradual and progressive numbness beginning with both feet and moving up my legs. Read more>>

Elizabeth O’Brien

In 2017 I was a woman who was juggling way too many things. I had a full time psychotherapy practice in maternal mental health, I was a founder of Postpartum Support International Georgia state board (serving mothers across the state) , I was raising my three children & I was developing a “modern housedress” fashion line. We just moved into a historic “fixer-upper” home, my relationship with my also “busy” husband was strained and I decided this was a good year to run a marathon. HUH? As you might imagine first and foremost my body took a hit, Read more>>\

Lisa Richmeier

There was a defining moment in my life that created my career. Ever since I was 16, I was inspiring and encouraging others to live their best life and reach for the stars. I have been told so often that I was the one that changed so many people’s lives, sometimes even after just one conversation, that I started taking notice of how often this was happening and how much I enjoyed it. It gave me so much satisfaction and I felt so good knowing that I had that effect on people. Read more>>

Roberto Jimenez

I have so many defining moments in my life. High School graduation, going away for college, all my college graduations, getting marry to the love of my life, the adoption of my four four-legs furry babies but the most importantly that day when I was just 18 years old I started believing in myself and I knew that I was a different breed. I started loving myself and therefore I was going to be OK no matter what. Read more>>

Gabriela Maldonado

It was 2007 when I was diagnosed with Lupus. At that time, I worked in corporate and my job required for me to travel abroad. It was stressful sometimes. When the doctor gave me my diagnosis, I was shocked. As far as I new, I had a good healthy life, maybe I needed a little more exercise but nothing that bad to justify having an autoimmune condition. I started taking medications and I got better before getting worse. Read more>>

Dr. Karen D. Lomax

My entrance into the Life Coaching field came on the brink o my divorce. I was bitter, broken, and depressed. couldn’t see past my trauma and just wanted nothing to do with nothing. How does a leader in ministry encourage others to believe in God, while they are experiencing His silence? I remember laying on my living room floor, screaming “What the hell do you want from me?” God’s response, “EVERYTHING!” I want your anger, your bitterness, those broken pieces, and your depression.” Read more>>

Tara Storch

Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career? 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. My defining moment was unexpected and heartbreaking. It was March of 2010 when we were on a family ski vacation in Colorado for Spring Break. Our oldest daughter Taylor, just 13 years old, had a tragic accident on the slopes and was immediately care-flighted to the nearest hospital. We were faced with a group of doctors who gave us the hard news that our sweet girl would not recover, and the shock immediately set in. Read more>>

Jason Leito

There was most certainly a moment in my life that changed the trajectory of my career. I was in my early twenties before I even really considered becoming a therapist. I was really trying to figure out who I was, and I felt very lost. I became depressed, I started experiencing panic attacks due to anxiety, and I had no idea what or why any of this was happening. I really did not know what to do, so I tried therapy. I won’t tell you that therapy was some magical antidote that cured my depression and anxiety, Read more>>

Gina DeRosa

The circuitous route to my profession of (now) 15 years started with a rejection letter. Like most 18 years old leaving high school, I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, My interests and avocations spanned environmental and human concerns. I was completely fascinated by the human body and the intricate ways in which it worked. I was a teenager who read anatomy books and watched medical documentaries for fun . Read more>>

Dr. Stephanie Mottola

I started my professional career at a naturopathic practice working under another doctor- learning the systems, administrative and business end of things as well as honing my clinical skills. It felt right- like what I needed as I transitioned from medical student to doctor. In the beginning and for the first few years it felt like a supportive relationship and/but over time a breakdown of communication, divergent visions for our practices and ultimately unacceptable boundary crossing led to what felt like, at the time, Read more>>