Six years ago, I made a complete 180° on my career…
And by 180°, I mean I literally went from wearing business attire in a corporate development role to… waitressing while studying to become a life coach.
People thought I’d lost my mind. (Maybe I had? 🤷🏻♀️) But that “crazy” decision led me to the most fulfilling career I could have ever imagined. And if you’re sitting there right now feeling stuck, uninspired, or like you’re living someone else’s idea of success… my hope is that this story will give you some support.
The “Should” Trap That Nearly Broke Me
Let me take you back to the beginning…
Eight years ago, I went to business school for the most ridiculous reason: I liked saving receipts.
I know, I KNOW. But seriously – I was into entrepreneurship and tracking expenses, so my 18-year-old brain was like, “Guess I should study business!”
(Can we talk about how we make these MASSIVE life decisions with basically zero real-world information? It’s wild.)
So there I was, fresh out of business school, walking into my first “grown-up” job in business development. The company was lovely, the people were nice, but…
I knew I was in the wrong plan.
Every morning, I’d wake up knowing something was wrong. I wasn’t using skills I was good at. I didn’t look forward to work. Worst of all? I felt bad at my job, which made me doubt EVERYTHING about myself.
You know that feeling when you’re trying to fit into a mold that just… isn’t you? That was me, every single day.
The Lightbulb Moment That Changed Everything
So I did what any confused 20-something does – I quit.
Without a plan. (Don’t try this at home, kids!)
While traveling home from Bulgaria (where I’d been working), I listened to a self-development audiobook. And that’s when I learned about this thing called “coaching.”
DING! 💡
“Wait… you can get PAID to help people figure out what they want to do and take action on it?!”
It was like someone had just told me there was a job where you get paid to eat chocolate and pet puppies. I was IN.
The Scary-But-Worth-It Journey
Now, here’s where it gets interesting (and terrifying)…
Nobody in my family had ever started a coaching business. I had zero idea how to make it happen. But I knew one thing: I had to follow this feeling.
So I:
- Reached out to actual coaches to learn what the job was really like
- Went back to school part-time for coaching certification
- Worked as a waitress and tour guide to pay the bills
- Dealt with people questioning my life choices (fun times!)
The hardest part? Watching people’s faces when I told them I’d left my “good” business job to waitress while studying coaching.
But you know what? I knew I wasn’t at home in the corporate world. And sometimes you have to trust that knowing, even when it’s scary.
Building Something From Nothing
After finishing coaching school, I realized coaches need their own businesses to make a living. So I thought, “How hard could it be?”
Spoiler alert: Pretty hard.
I created a career change method (testing it with six pro-bono clients first – it worked!), launched my business in 2020, and then… crickets.
Barely anyone reached out.
Here’s what I learned: The bigger your ambitions, the more challenges you’ll face. But you keep going anyway.
I found an amazing business coach who helped me build proper foundations, learn to charge viable rates, and actually support people effectively. Slowly, things started growing.
The Beautiful Evolution
Then something magical happened – I noticed 70% of my clients were neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, dyslexia). They had unique challenges and needed specialized support that I wasn’t fully equipped to provide.
So I specialized.
And it was the best decision I ever made.
Now I get to work with the most creative, passionate, brilliant neurodivergent women, helping them find careers they actually want to wake up to. It’s not just work – it’s pure joy.
The 4 Big Lessons That Changed My Life
Looking back on this wild journey, here’s what I learned:
1. Follow Your Joy (Seriously!)
I discovered coaching by following my passion for self-development books. If I hadn’t explored what energized me, I never would have found my calling. Your interests are breadcrumbs leading to your purpose.
2. Talk to Real People
Want to know if a career is right for you? Stop googling and start chatting with people who actually do the job. Their reality might be completely different from what you imagine.
3. Embrace the Messy Middle
Big dreams come with big challenges. You’ll doubt yourself, freak out, and wonder if you can do it. That’s not a sign you’re on the wrong path – it’s a sign you’re growing.
4. Your Career Will Evolve (And That’s Beautiful!)
I didn’t start as a coach specializing in neurodivergent women – I grew into it. Your career isn’t static. It’ll keep changing as YOU change, and that’s what makes it exciting.
The Sunday Scaries Don’t Have to Be Forever
Here’s what I want you to know: Under 50% of people now work in jobs directly related to their degrees. If you’re feeling stuck in the wrong career, you’re not alone – you’re NORMAL.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “But Mabel, I don’t know what I want to do!” – that’s okay too. Start by exploring what gives you energy. Follow your curiosity. Trust that the path will reveal itself.
You don’t have to have the Sunday scaries forever. You can wake up excited about Monday morning. I promise.
Ready to ditch those Sunday scaries and find a career that actually fits YOU? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with me. We’ll chat about exactly what you’re looking for and figure out what you need for your own successful career change.
Because life’s too short to spend it doing work that doesn’t light you up. You’ve got this, and I’m here to help! ✨
Keep being wonderfully weird, Mabel xoxo