In school I was always taught that “entrepreneurs take risks.”

Yep. That’s about it as far as entrepreneurship schooling for me! My parents weren’t business owners (though I appreciate them greatly), so I didn’t have a frame of reference for anything business as a kid.

The older I became the more I realized I didn’t fit the “technician” role of  just mindlessly doing what I was told. I thought to myself, “Hummm. I know I’m not lazy or difficult to get along with, so what’s wrong with me!”

I kept searching for answers to my “problem” of not feeling “normal” & one day found myself at a bookstore. I perused the sections & eventually discovered business books. I picked one up & began reading.

After researching business concepts, types of business, and the entrepreneurial-minded spirit (which went well-beyond being only a risk taker), I soon found some answers. I realized that maybe I wasn’t the problem & perhaps I was instead, an innovative solution maker in the wrong role at work!

I then began thinking back on my school & college years. I noted that in some sense I had my own business – a tutoring business. Parents who knew me or fellow classmates (aka clients) would regularly schedule time to meet with me to go over course work. In fact, some were paying clients! In fact, this is how I earned money when I was enrolled in nursing school. I had a tutoring business that spread via word-of-mouth. I met with some clients at least every 2 weeks & occasionally worked on special short-term projects. All of these were paid! I realized I needed to give myself some credit. I did have some natural business savvy after all.

When I graduated nursing school & began working as an RN, I desired to meet other similarly-minded individuals. After some internet research, I decided to become a consultant with a home-based jewelry company.  Anytime I went anywhere, I arrived eagerly armed with my jewelry catalogs. Once, on a church trip to Florida, I  passed my catalog around the bus. I couldn’t believe it! In no time (while I was technically on vacation) I had earned hours worth of pay when compared to my hourly pay as an RN! I was beyond shocked (in a mega good way)!

While enrolled in graduate school, I continued tutoring undergraduate nursing students & growing my skills in my product-based jewelry business. I learned about taxes, inventory, customer service & more. As I met more & more undergraduate nursing students, I soon had a bright idea. I could create products for nursing students! I had ready-made templates I used at work for shift report & knew how to teach nursing content. All I had to do was package it! My first idea was to create a physical audio CD entitled Heartbeats for Nursing Students“, all about nursing student success. I would also speak on stage for various nursing events about this same topic.

With the success of my resources among nursing students I then developed my nursing education company, Nurse in the Works, LLC (more info here). This business continues today & has the mission to create resources for nursing students along their journey. In fact, I eventually expanded to include practicing nurses as well at our sister site, The Nurse at Work (more info here).

Over the last few years I’ve had the opportunity to share information with others about business building, technology, legal affairs (note: I am NOT a lawyer), mindset, integrity & more! I love to teach & see others fulfill their God-given purposes!

As I always say, “talent looks good on my fellow man (or woman)”!

I believe in authenticity, keeping things as simple as possible, being real & being accountable to a higher power (in my case, God).

I am married, live in Georgia, & have several fluffy huskies (inside pups). Yes, they have their own instagram page (more info here).