Deciding to work for yourself is often cited as the best decision folks in our community have made. Hearing the same response over and over led us to ask them about the next best decision folks have made and we’ve shared their responses with you below.

Joy Frazer | Midwife and Naturopathic Doctor

The most important decision I made to contribute to my career success was to follow my passion. I knew as a senior in nursing school that I could not train to be a midwife in a hospital setting. I wanted to be a life long advocate for natural and empowering births whenever possible. This I could not learn in a hospital setting with the high rates of intervention and the lack of support for natural childbirth. I decided in that moment to follow my passion and attend my dream school, Bastyr University. There I studied to become a Naturopathic Doctor while concurrently studying to become a midwife. All of my midwifery training was done outside of the hospital. I attended community births at home or in free standing birth centers. This is where I began my true calling attending women and families through the birth process. This is where I could protect and honor their choices and their rights and their privacy through the journey of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum and newborn period. Read more>>

Jacob Konold | Entrepreneur

Not listening to anyone’s opinion, even your family’s and friends’. Trusting your instincts is the most important thing one can do, even if you were led astray and fail, it’s a learning experience. Read more>>

Mandy Hailpern | Personal Chef & Caterer

Aligning with a community that supports me doing what I do best. COOKING CATERING & CONNECTING. Read more>>

Julie Loar | Astrologer

Having my own consulting work has enabled me to work with many people one-on-one and go deeply into their astrological cycles. Working for a company, or others, made that impossible. Most of my clients are referrals so I believe my decision to work for myself was right. Read more>>