Meet Brittany McDonald | Entrepreneur & Hiker
We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittany McDonald and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Brittany, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am a free spirit and I was looking to be able to adventure more. That wasn’t possible with a 9 to 5 and chasing the weekends. I wanted more freedom and to be able to decide to my schedule. I wanted something that I could take anywhere and not necessarily be stuck in one area or place
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my online business in April 2021. This was not easy getting started as I was leading a team at the financial institution full time. I was bartending, working at my gym, trying to maintain my relationship and caring for my sick elderly dog
My online business runs very different- I work with high ticket medical grade water ionizers combined with affiliate marketing. I mentor a team to teach them how to automate their business using ads and platforms. We focus on mental health, self healing and becoming that best version of ourselves while gaining that life of freedom
I stayed dedicated and time managed. Taking on the role as an entrepreneur after being an employee was difficult- learning how to create my own schedule and show up authenticity online
September 2021 I quit my 9 to 5 and Thanksgiving 2021 my sweet dog Milo, age of 16 passed away and I felt so overwhelmed with grief and lost which transformed into my relationship where we decided to part ways after 5 years. This pushed me to start a new season and chapter and I had no direction of what I wanted to go or do
April 2022 I packed up and began hiking the Appalachian trail after only one experience of a backpacking. I ran my online business from trail- working from my tent and town stops
I realized my passion for hiking and the self healing and leadership it was bringing- I extended my hike from Canadian border to keywest florida in 11 months- hiking 4400 miles
I celebrated my hike my going on a road trip with a friend to Arizona where I hiked in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico- I worked my business from his van
Then I visited family in Alabama where I hiked the Pinhoti trail- 700 miles and continued to work from town stops and my tent
Then I flew to Montana where I hiked from the Canadian border to New Mexico and Mexico border. The CDT was more difficult it to work from seeming my business was growing and it was such a more remote trail. This is when I outsourced my business so I hired a manager to complete my lead generation and sales calls. This took some pressure off me seeming the towns were more of a stop. I finished up the CDT- December 2 2023, 3100 miles
Totaling approximately 8500 miles in 20 months of hiking
I mostly learned personal development and gaining leadership never ends. You just receive more obstacles. It’s the valleys that take you up to the mountain tops. Giving up on myself wasn’t as option.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Telluride Colorado was one of my favorite spots. I would recommend camping at public land spots- I used the app free roam where you can find the best remote awesome camp spots
I participated in my first cross country road trip in 2018 and fell in love with Colorado mountains.
I would recommend hiking trails along the Colorado trails. My favorite spots are finding the spots that not people are aware of. Away from the city where the stars are bright
Salida Colorado and Leadville was another cute memorable spot.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my mentor Natasha labonte. I found her on social media and she opened my world to the online world and pushed me to take the leap and chase my dreams. The online community I work was so encouraging and encouraging when I was long distance hiking.
My friend Kristina that I also met through this online community- I was able to outsource most of my work while hiking and she took on my role as an assistant and kept my business alive while living out of a backpacking
My boyfriend Harley for never giving up on me and reminding me to hang in there
My family showered me with so much love and encouragement
The amazing trail angles and humans I met while hiking
Website: https://www.brittanysayingyestochange.com/afc-landing-page
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hikingwithpuddin?igsh=MWx6dzR3aHJmYnp4bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmcdonald410?mibextid=2JQ9oc
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hikingwithpuddin?si=A3-Xj8E9EIQ9o0-c
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
