Crafting Your Unique Entrepreneurial Journey

About ten years ago, I was working as the Communication Director at an investor relations firm. I enjoyed my work, but my boss was a bit unpredictable, having admitted to some troubling habits from the past that influenced his behavior. One day, he decided all employees should sign a noncompete agreement. While this isn’t uncommon, his version was so strict that it would prevent us from working in our field for five years, hindering our careers.

One of my coworkers chose not to sign it, even though he knew it meant he would get fired—and he did. I delayed as much as I could, but I knew I couldn’t sign it either. Eventually, when my boss asked for my signed agreement, I explained why I couldn’t comply. He was surprised but told me to reconsider.

Feeling overwhelmed, I called my then-husband during my lunch break and cried, unsure of what to do. He simply said, “Come home.” That was all I needed. I returned to the office, refused to sign the agreement, collected my things, said goodbye to my coworkers, and left for good.

After a few days of shock, I realized I needed an income quickly. Back in 2006, MySpace was popular and had a Classifieds section. I found someone who needed a press release written, which I knew how to do. This person became my first client, and we worked together for about a year. I soon realized that many small businesses needed marketing help but couldn’t afford full-time staff. I decided to fill that gap.

I established my business with a name, bank account, logo, and website. Just like that, I became a business owner! Looking back, I’m grateful for that unreasonable boss and the noncompete agreement because they pushed me to discover my true calling as an entrepreneur.