They say the right message gets delivered to you at the right time—and that’s what happened to me.

A book, The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukov, that had been sitting on my shelf for over a decade was rediscovered—and one small quote changed how I would do things. Permanently.

Searching for Purpose 

For a long time, I felt lost and always searching for the next best “thing” to make me happy and lead me to my purpose. Getting divorced and laid off (fill in any life event) were all my problems due to other people’s actions. I chose to blame others (the “why me” syndrome), not realizing I could “choose” how I felt and how I reacted to things. 

Who knows which day it was, but eventually, I felt compelled to pick up The Seat of the Soul. It was a simple quote that led to the proverbial aha moment for me: Take a look around you—every single choice, every decision you made got you to where you are now.

That did it for me. I realized I had the power to create the life I wanted and was ready to make a change.

Purpose Meets Passion

In a feverish frenzy, I started reading books about spiritual growth and conscious living. I listened to podcasts and online courses. I paired with a mentor and seriously began considering my lifelong passion for photography as my career. In short, it was the biggest creative explosion of my life. 

Now, just turning 50, I am convinced that each day should be spent doing what we love. That’s why I’ve decided to pursue photography with unrelenting fervor. Clients know and can sense my genuine passion for the craft, and it’s communicated through every word and gesture of mine.

My new mantra, which I celebrate with others, is to find your passion and do what lights you up. Take the risk. Start the business because it is never, ever too late.

When you invest in your personal brand, you are essentially investing in yourself because you need to go deep to know who you are and what you value. And, when all is said and done, there is no better place to be than standing in the truth of knowing your authentic power.