It’s Never Too Late to Reinvent Yourself.

It’s never too late to reinvent yourself: My leap from corporate life to coaching.

Read about my journey of challenging the status quo and stepping into a life of purpose and possibility. 

Since this is my very first blog, I’ll be honest — I feel vulnerable sharing my personal story. But I also believe that vulnerability is where connection begins. If even one person reads this and feels less alone, then sharing will have been worth it.

How I Took My First Step Outside my Comfort Zone

Never in my life did I imagine I would one day become an entrepreneur. I’ve always followed a structured, organized path — especially when it came to academics and my career. For the last 20 years, I worked in a large corporation. I was used to having a boss, a team, deadlines, systems, daily routines, and structure — lots of structure. That also meant constant meetings, juggling multiple projects, and a relentless pace that often left little room to pause.

So leaving the corporate world? That was a major step outside my comfort zone.

Questions filled my mind. What would this next chapter bring? Would I miss my job? My colleagues? The stability? Would I have regrets?

But the more I reflected, the more I realized: any regrets I’d carry wouldn’t be about trying — they’d be about not trying.

Because when you step outside your comfort zone, when you try something new — even when it hurts — that’s when you grow. That’s when you feel truly alive.

Taking the leap

So, after two decades in the corporate world, I took the leap. I didn’t have a perfectly crafted plan. I didn’t know if I’d join another company or start something on my own. What I did know was that I needed a pause — a real one. A chance to rest, to reflect, to come back to myself. A chance to build a life aligned with my purpose and my core personal values. 

Taking time to pause created space for the real questions — and for answers to slowly emerge. It opened up room for creativity, curiosity, and clarity. Had I jumped right into something “new and shiny,” I would’ve hopped back onto a train speeding 300 km/hour, letting life pass me by.

But life is too precious not to pause:

• Pausing creates space.

• Pausing creates opportunities.

• Pausing allows you to rediscover yourself.

Starting a new chapter

After months of reflection, I decided to invest in myself and pursue training to become a Certified Coach. Five months later — after intense learning, inner work, and countless “aha” moments — I launched my own coaching practice.

Stepping into this new path has been both thrilling and terrifying. The uncertainty, the highs and lows, the quiet moments of doubt — they can be overwhelming and, at times, lonely. But here’s what I’ve learned: discomfort is part of the process. And it’s often in those uncomfortable, messy middle moments that real transformation begins.

As Brené Brown — someone who continues to inspire me — writes in Rising Strong:
“The middle is messy, but it's also where the magic happens.”

This quote deeply resonates with me. Things feeling “ messy” doesn’t mean we’re failing. It means we are growing.

5 Essential Lessons for Navigating Change

Every day brings new lessons. Here are five things I’ve learned so far, and I hope they serve anyone walking a similar path:

• Surround yourself with like-minded people.
  Energy is contagious — for better or worse. For me, being part of a supportive community of mentors, coaches, and aspiring coaches has been both grounding and uplifting.

• Listen to advice, but trust your gut.
  There are moments when something feels off, even if you can’t quite explain it. Or you may feel an unshakable pull toward a path that defies logic. That quiet inner voice? It’s not just background noise — it’s your intuition, and it usually sees the picture before your mind does.

• When learning something new, persevere and practice.
  Practice doesn’t make perfect — but it builds confidence, and confidence builds momentum.

• Just do it.
  You don’t need all the answers to take the first step. Take action, learn, and keep moving.

• Trust who shows up on your path — and keep your heart open.
  The right people often appear when you’re open to receiving them.

This road of transition hasn’t been easy. But this — this space of growth and discovery — is where I’m finding my way.

A few words to conclude

Change is hard—and it rarely feels comfortable. But it’s a necessary part of growth. It asks us to step outside our comfort zones and face the unknown with courage. When things feel messy, uncertain, or even a little overwhelming, know that it's completely normal. Most importantly, remember this: others have walked this path, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.

You’re not alone in this—one step, together.

Keep shining,

Laura