We had the good fortune of connecting with Hailey Brontide and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Hailey, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk-taking is an essential part of everyday life, both from an evolutionary and self-development standpoint.
I may be so bold to say, risk-taking is one of the most significant determining factors in someone’s success and overall growth. The reason being, evolutionary as people, our survival is based on taking measured risks. This measured risk has allowed us to evolve and grow and continues to push us to make decisions to either stay comfortable or improve.
For someone to take a risk is the purest form of subconsciously believing in themselves, even if we doubt it on the surface, weighing out our pros and cons. You accept to start measuring the risk as soon as that little voice in your heart, not head, believes in yourself. Even if it’s just that tiny sliver of belief and knowing that you can do it.
Taking risk is walking into the unknown, knowing there will be challenges and bumps, but embracing the challenges that lie ahead with open arms and heart and being comforted by your own self-growth. Risk is knowing you will adapt to whatever change is before you and being willing to bend in ways you never have before at the complete mercy of life itself. Risk is believing in one’s self so much that the scariest thing for a human, the unknown, all of a sudden becomes exciting and filled with passion. Risk is what allows us to grow, and it is also self-belief. Beautiful things are created from the process of risk-taking.
Risk comes in different forms, like leaving an industry, moving across the country for a new life, or even as small as saying hello to a stranger. Risk is measured based on one’s comfortability with themselves. Therefore, there is no wrong answer in what risk is to you.
Risk is a sexy, bold, and daring sense of adventure we all seek. However, risk is also fear, self-doubt, and the unknown. Once you can see the negative quality of risk as part of the fun, as part of the challenge, as part of learning, there is nothing but beauty risk has to offer.
Don’t worry, and trust yourself and your abilities. Take risks that are just out of your comfort zone. Find ways to be comfortable with risk. You would not be offered such risks if you were not ready to learn from them. They would not present themselves as such possibilities before you.
I’ve always been seen as a risk-taker. Some of the risks I’ve taken I’ve overestimated my abilities. Some of the risks I’ve taken have changed my life in ways you would never believe! But, all these risks come from self-belief and knowing that whatever happens, I will be okay because I possess all the skills I need to achieve the outcome desired by whatever risk is presented in front of me. And if I don’t, oh well, lesson learned, so be it, I will be ready for the next one. Every risk presents itself as an opportunity to learn and grow.
I’ve moved many times, across provinces and across the country. I’ve seen almost all 50 states on a solo road trip camping in the bush that, to this day, will always be the best experience of my life. I’ve changed industries twice now. I’ve started my own business and can’t wait to continue to grow it. I’ve met the love of my life, all from taking risks.
I’ve also suffered from a deep depression and high anxiety from not knowing the knowen and fearing all the comes next. I’ve escaped attacks from cougars and wolves by being a solo nieve camper. I’ve been unemployed and rejected many times because no one wants to hire someone that is changing industries. I have taken two years to start making a livable income from my business. I have almost lost the love of my life more than once because of fear of the unknown and what it has to offer, all from taking risks.
But every risk is a learning curve. I’ve learned to embrace the unknown because there is so much opportunity that lies in it. I’ve learnt firsthand how to scare off cougars and wolves in the bush, and I am now the most outdoorsy and wildlife-savvy not-so-nieve solo camper you have ever met. Heck, I’m still unemployed and work for myself, and I couldn’t love it anymore than I do! The love of my life and I work hard every day to be the best partners we can be for each other, and we truly are.
The most important lesson I’ve learned from it is always to trust your abilities, know that whatever you are faced with, you will be okay, or life will not present such an opportunity to you. The unknown is just an adventure that no one has the answer to wear it leads or ends. So just embrace it, and as cheesy as it sounds, enjoy the journey; the risk your debating is always worth the growth.
What should our readers know about your business?
I have a few businesses. I have an online marketing agency for small businesses helping them with social media marketing and Google Ads. I also am a real estate investor who is pursuing my real estate licencing in January 2022.
It has taken me a long time to decide to pursue my current careers.
My career started off in food & beverage. I moved quickly through the restaurant rankings in fine dining, working my way to management. I loved being a manager and helping businesses problem solve to develop better and more efficient systems. However, the lustre of food and beverage quickly wore off. I was ready for what was next, something more; I was prepared for a risk, a new adventure.
Fresh out of college with a sales and marketing degree, I found myself in alcohol marketing for a craft cider company. I love the job. I ended up going on vacation and attended a food & wine festival, where I may have had a bit too much wine and was nerding out to vendors about what I do. I left that festival with three job offers. So I packed my bags and did a two-month road trip through the United States camping at all the national parks I’ve always dreamed of visiting. I put 60,000km on my Jeep. I learned lots about people, nature and did some really amazing things. I eventually made my way across the country to Vancouver Island but still working in food and beverage.
In December of 2020, I couldn’t do it anymore. I was in a deep depression, and I was working in an industry I wasn’t passionate about 16h a day, 7 days a week. My relationship with the love of my life was suffering, my social life no longer existed, and I didn’t have time for the things I loved. I also was not getting paid a livable wage either, so that didn’t help things. So I left food and beverage; I had had enough and seen what it was doing to my life. I took that scary risk and vowed to never return to that industry. It was hard. I often think about going back but then remember how unnecessary server/manager nightmares are. I laugh and remember how grateful I am for what I am doing now.
I took a couple months to recover and found my way back into marketing, intending to go into real estate. When I thought of real estate, it was one of those “ahhhha” moments. You know the ones I’m talking about? Both soothing and kinda like, “you goof, why didn’t you think of that sooner?”. My mom was an interior designer, and we grew up flipping homes. So naturally, I was always curious about the real estate transaction. Even when I was a wee thing, I used to find it so incredible that you buy it for this much, put this much work into it, then sell it for this much.
I am so passionate about real estate and real estate investing. I love helping first-time home buyers enter the market and realize the potential of their buying opportunity and how they can make money at it. I love helping retired people invest in real estate to build an even bigger asset in 5 years than their bank accounts have been trying to develop for the last 50 years. I love helping people realize what they can do with real estate as an investment tool. Not a fear factor like the banks make it out to be. Real estate investing and helping others with it is my passion.
However, I still love marketing, and it is such a crucial and integral part of every business. And honestly, school does not set you up to be a good marketer. So the focus of my business at Aethra & Brontide Consulting is to give the minds of young marketers the training and hands-on experience they need right out of school before going to land whatever job they may be pursuing. My focus is to find out their focus and help them think and discover what it is they really want to do in this niche field. My goal is to give them the tools to start out and build an excellent foundation for their career ahead. I wish I had a mentor along the way. It would have fast-tracked my career. So why not be what I wished I had for our next round of young marketers?
As far as my brand and story go, all I have is advice. Life is too short to live without passion. The money is not worth your happiness. Whatever you are passionate about, no matter how crazy it may be, do it. I would tell someone to take the risk your faced with; just do it; I promise it’s not as scary as it seems, and you are equipped to handle all of it. If you are thinking of doing it, it means you already believe in yourself enough to imagine yourself doing it. So what are you waiting for? The clock will not stop ticking for you. Anyone reading this, I am no different from you. I’ve suffered my fair share of hardship. I’ve been told no many many many times. I’ve been in deep dark depressions. Some of the risks I’ve taken have been “too risky.” But it’s how I’ve learnt. I am motivated to help others realize their potential, like my support network has helped me realize mine. I am inspired to make a change. I am motivated to take the risk in front of me because I know that I am equipped for this next step of not knowing, and the results and lessons to be learned will be so amazing!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I spent some time in Colorado on my 50 states camping trip. I love Colorado, a lot. One of my favourite states by far.
If I had a friend visit, we would be ripping quads up the Rockies, horseback riding to see the continental divide, paragliding in Aspen, spend a day in Fort Collins, check out the Coors factory, go offroading, and check out Dinosaur National Monument.
When you go somewhere like Colorado, the great outdoors has all the adventure and more. The food scene is absolutely incredible and you can’t really go wrong anywhere you pick to dine. The shopping and small businesses in Boulder are so amazing. I am not a city girl by anymeans but would show anyone who visits the down-town scene of Boulder.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my strong support network. Since I was a child, I have been lucky enough to have a strong support network with my mom and grandparents. Since then, it has grown with my partner Justin.
Mom, your strength, passion, and love are why I am where I am today. Thank you for fighting the hard fight so we could all live the life that we live today. I would not be the person I am today without your love and encouragement. Thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do. You are truly an inspiring woman, and I am so lucky to be a part of your journey and have such a strong influential woman in my life. You are incredibly inspiring.
Granmo & Papa, thank you for always supporting us as a family. Thank you for always protecting us and being our second home. I always cherish our time on the farm together. Thank you for helping me get my first start and taking the risk at 86 years old to move across the country to be with us. That courage has me at a loss for words and amazes me every day.
Mom & Papa, I look forward to the creative future we are building together and the success we create as a family. I am inspired by both of you every day in different ways.
I am so grateful my whole family took the risk, and after a year of me moving across the country, they came with me. I am truly the luckiest girl in the world to have my entire support network and all my loved ones move across the country with me. Thank you, mom, Marcie, and Papa, for taking such a courageous step. Words can not describe how happy and blessed I am to have all my loved ones with me.
Justin, thank you for always being by my side and being my rock. Thank you for all your support, love, and dedication to continue to build a strong relationship together. I am so grateful to have met you and to have you as part of my family. You inspire me to be a better me every day through your passion for life and being the amazing soul you are. You are my hero in more ways than you know.
I look forward to the future we build together and the continued support to grow each other’s dreams.
I love you all more than words can express, and there is no way I would be where I am today without all your love, support, and encouragement. I couldn’t be more thankful to all of you.
Website: https://aethrabrontide.wixsite.com/aethrabrontide
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hailey.brontide/ & https://www.instagram.com/aethra.and.brontide.co/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hailey-brontide-bb6741115/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hailey.brontide/. &. https://www.facebook.com/aethra.and.brontide.co/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg8P0yOKlgJ8IsfAk4R9fqA
Image Credits
@alyssagaigaproductions