From Beauty School to Website Designer: My Unexpected Journey to Working from Home
If you had told me years ago that I'd be running my own website design business from home, I probably would have laughed. But sometimes life has the most beautiful way of surprising us, and today I want to share how I went from feeling "not smart enough" to building a career I absolutely love.
The Creative Kid Who Struggled in School
I've always been a creative person. Growing up, I thrived in art classes but struggled with everything else. I genuinely believed I wasn't one of the "smart kids" and was destined to have a hard time academically. Sound familiar?
That all changed when I discovered beauty school. Finally – something that made sense! I found my groove working with my hands, creating beautiful transformations, and connecting with clients. For 14 wonderful years, I built a successful career in the beauty industry.
When Everything Changed: Becoming a Mom
After years of being told we couldn't have children, we received the miracle of our lives – our son Owen. The moment I held him, I knew I wanted to be home with him full time. But like so many new moms, I faced the challenge of finding legitimate work-from-home opportunities.
I landed a remote position in the medical field doing tech work, and while I was grateful for the flexibility, something was missing. There was zero creative outlet. After three years of feeling drained and unfulfilled, I knew I needed a change.
Discovering Virtual Assistant Work (And Having No Idea What That Meant!)
During my medical tech days, I stumbled across something called "The Live Free Academy" by Micala Quinn (affiliate link) It focused on virtual assistant work – which, I'll be totally honest, I had no clue what that even meant.
But after listening to one free training, something clicked. I went all in.
Here's the thing: I had zero administrative experience. But I had tons of customer service experience and wasn't afraid to learn. My motto became "fake it 'til you make it," and with Micala's training, I figured it all out step by step.
The Moment I Found My True Calling
Then came the game-changer. A client asked if I could update their website. I remembered taking a pretty extensive marketing course during my cosmetology days that included website design training, so I felt confident I could figure this out for her.
That's when it hit me: This is fun. This sparked that creative fire I'd been missing for years.
I realized I'd found my calling, so I decided to go all in on website design. While still working my medical tech job, doing virtual assistant work, AND raising my growing family (we now had two miracle babies!), I invested in multiple courses covering:
Website design fundamentals
Branding and color theory
SEO optimization
User experience design
And so much more
I spent countless late nights learning everything I could, knowing that with each project, I was getting better and more confident.
The Leap That Changed Everything
Last year, I was laid off from my main job. I won't lie – I was terrified. How would I make this work? Would I have to find a job outside the home, away from my kids?
But instead of panicking, I made a decision: I WILL make this work.
That layoff turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me. It pushed me to go full-time with my website design and virtual assistant business, and I've never looked back.
Why I Love What I Do Now
Today, I'm living proof that you can build a successful business around your lifestyle, not the other way around. As a full-time website designer and virtual assistant, I get to:
Choose the projects that excite me
Work with clients who bring me joy
Be present for my children's daily lives
Use my creativity every single day
Help other business owners succeed online
The Lesson I Want You to Take Away
If you're reading this feeling inspired, I want you to know something: you can find something that brings you joy. You will find your passion, even if it feels like you never will. (I'm 38 at the time of writing this blog post, so trust me – it's never too late!)
The truth is, you don't need to have it all figured out before you start. Here's something I tell new business owners all the time: no one will ever buy from you if you don't let them know you exist. Launch that website, show up on social media, and tell the world about what you're doing. You can always tweak and make things "perfect" later, but putting yourself out there is the crucial first step. I'm still learning something new with every project, and that's what keeps life exciting.
Whether you're feeling stuck in your current job, questioning if you're on the right path, or wondering if there's something better out there for you, remember this: your background doesn't define your future potential.
Sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most rewarding destinations.
I'd love to learn more about you and where you are in your business journey. If you're looking for help with your website or need support with your business operations, reach out for a free consultation call to discuss how I could help you reach your goals.
