To do the work you love, you’ve got to unlock a few doors. UNLOCKED Stories are honest conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who chose a path + made it happen.

A note from Ellen: I’m thrilled to spotlight Mason Robinson, Content Guru for Chubbies Shorts. Mason’s story is seriously bold — he walked away from a high-paying job in the health field and completely reinvented his life + career, all before age 30.

Today, he’s a professional video producer! (Check out some of his amazing videos, here!)

Mason took big risks and unlocked some mighty big doors along the way.

I’m proud of him and inspired by him. I know you will be, too!

Read on, and don’t miss the reflection questions at the very end of this interview.

What do you do?

[Mason]: I am the Content Guru for Chubbies Shorts. We make radical shorts for men who enjoy relaxing, looking cool and being awesome.

In other words: men of discerning taste… who hate the confines of pants and all that they stand for.

Chubbies is a super fun company to work for, because nobody here takes themselves too seriously. We like to laugh, crack jokes and have fun and we know our customers do, too!

We definitely make high-quality, American-made clothing — but there’s nothing uptight and formal about Chubbies.

As the Content Guru, my job is to produce videos for our website and social media channels. I write the scripts, oversee the shooting of each video, do the editing, packaging and sometimes even post the videos online. Basically, everything!

What’s your favorite part about your job?

[Mason]: I love my job because I get to take every video concept from “idea” to “finished product.” I like being part of the entire process, start to finish.

I also love knowing that I’m contributing to the growth of the company — building a fanbase and reaching new audiences. with every video we release.

Our fanbase continues to grow, which is so exciting to watch. Right now, we have almost a million followers on Facebook, 98,000 on Twitter, 92,000 on Instagram and 5,000 on YouTube.

To sum it up: I get to make awesome videos for an audience of awesome poeple. For me, it doesn’t get better than that.

How did you discover that you love making videos?

[Mason]: It’s something that I have always loved. My buddies and I have been making videos since we were 12 years old. As we got older, I continued making videos of all of us on snowboarding and surfing trips.

I guess it’s always been always been a passion of mine… but for a long time, I didn’t really believe that it could be my career.

And for a long time… it wasn’t! Tell us what you were doing before you started working at Chubbies.

After I graduated from Stanford in 2008, I thought my career choices were limited to banking, law or consulting. It never occurred to me that I could branch out and do anything I wanted. So I applied for a “safe” job and wound up working for a healthcare consulting firm. I was there for 4 ½ years.

But my job didn’t really have anything to do with “healthcare” or “helping people.”

Basically: I was a glorified bill collector.

My last 6 months on the job were literally painful. I hated going to work. I was making a great salary and only working 35 hours a week. But I was really unhappy.

Finally, I just had no choice but to leave. I couldn’t do it anymore, and I realized that I needed to be doing something more creative.

People thought I was crazy to leave my “solid” job, but my mom was totally understanding and supportive and told me to go for it. So I did.

Wow! A bold move. What was it like after you quit your job? And how did you transition from “bill collector” to “videographer”?

[Mason]: After quitting my job at the healthcare company, I was scraping by on unemployment and minimum wage — doing part-time work.

But even with a lot less money, I was so much happier in my life.

I started working with a startup company called The Getaway Club — a travel agency for people in their twenties. I also did freelance writing for a PR company and some modeling. I tested out lots of different things and tried to stay curious and open-minded. I definitely didn’t want to rush into another job… that I hated.

I got involved with Chubbies after I saw a Facebook post from one of the founders who was an old friend from school. It said: “Anyone out there good at creative writing?”

I had always liked creative writing, so I figured, “Why not?”

I contacted him, and that was how I landed my first gig with Chubbies.

You started working for Chubbies, but it was tough for you to turn that part-time gig into a full-time position. What happened next?

[Mason]: It was a twisting turn of events. Unfortunately while I was working part-time, Chubbies instituted a hiring freeze — which meant that nobody could get hired for a full-time position, period.

I didn’t want to give up because I Ioved the company and I loved making videos. I wanted to prove to them that I was worth hiring — freeze or no freeze!

I started working 60+ hours a week, even though I was told not to work over 30. I was working an insane amount and making substantially less than I’d grown accustomed to. But I kept going.

Finally, after many months, I had a tough conversation with my boss and said, “I love it here… but if you can’t offer me full-time employment, and a full-time salary, I’ve got to find another job somewhere else.”

Thankfully, my hard work paid off. They were able to offer me a fulltime job, and it has been everything I’d hoped for and more.

Hooray! Your perserverance and grit really paid off.

[Mason]: Since unlocking that door, lots of exciting things have been happening for you. Your video footage has attracted a huge following online, with many of your videos getting over 100,000 views, each. And your footage has been featured on major TV networks like ABC and CNBC!

What’s the absolute BEST thing that’s happened to you, since you wrangled your dream job at Chubbies?

The best thing that has happened to me is that I have absolutely fallen in love with visual storytelling.

I am learning an immense amount about a fascinating art form, working with people I really like, and getting free reign to be as creative as I can be.

The office culture is amazing. We spend hours each day brainstorming and coming up with creative ways to engage and impress Chubster Nation!

Back in my bill collector days, I had to drag myself to work and I felt like I was wasting away. But now, I cannot wait to go to work. I often work late into the night or happily on the weekends… not because I have to, but because I want to!

This career path has opened my world in ways I could not have imagined.

What’s the next big door that you need to unlock? (And what’s the plan?)

[Mason]: I would like to continue to evolve as a videographer.

Eventually, I may want to go to film school or write a screenplay.

But for now, I am committed to doing my part to attract an amazing (and amazingly big) audience for Chubbies shorts.

Last but not least: What’s your biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to stay motivated, do amazing work and unlock major doors?

[Mason]: I hate to seem cliché, but the usual advice that we all hear is so true:

Do what drives you.

Stay optimistic and avoid negative energy.

There are always trade-offs in life, but don’t settle for a job that just provides you with money or comfort. It’s not enough. At least it wasn’t enough for me.

There may be opportunities in the future that you are not seeing… yet.

Be open to possibilities.

And when you find something that you love to do… don’t give up!

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UNLOCK yourself

Three questions to think about, write about — or talk about with a friend.

1. After college, Mason took a “safe” job that paid the bills and stuck with it for years, even though the work was miserable.. Finally, he found the courage to walk away.

: Have you ever walked away from something that “seemed” like a good idea? How did you find the courage to do it?

2. Mason loves working at Chubbies Shorts because the workplace culture is laid back, offbeat and seriously fun — just like the products they create!

: What are three words that might sum up the “workplace culture” of your dream company?

3. Mason had to work double-time — literally — to prove to his employers that he was dedicated, passionate and highly valuable to the company. Finally, he landed the job of his dreams.

: Is there a task that you’d be willing to do for 60 hours a week… for several months… if it meant getting the job of your dreams? What would that “task” be?

 

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For more UNLOCKED interviews, click over here.

Know somebody that ought to be spotlighted? Write to me here.

See you next time for another inspiring conversation!

To do the work you love, you’ve got to unlock a few doors. UNLOCKED Stories are honest conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who chose a path + made it happen.

A note from Ellen: I’m thrilled to spotlight Angela Tafoya, the San Francisco-based editor for Refinery 29.

These days, Angela has a seriously cool + enviable job — but she had to survive 30 job interview rejections to get there! Her story is a lesson in bravery + persistence. I’m totally inspired by her — and I know you will be, too.

Read on, and don’t miss the powerful questions at the very end.

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What do you do?

[Angela]: I work as the San Francisco editor for a website called Refinery 29.

Refinery 29 is a website for people who love reading about fashion, beauty and lifestyle trends, and who love discovering the “best of” what their city has to offer. We have about 8 million readers a day — and our readers are mostly, but not exclusively, women.

My work varies from day to day. Right now I am covering just about everything in the San Francisco market. Producing the stories, writing the newsletters, finding freelance writers who can contribute additional articles, attending photo shoots, and of course, looking for the “next big thing” that’s happening in the Bay Area.

Basically: my job is to make sure that every article we publish is totally exciting + intriguing for our San Fran-based readers.

I love that I have a lot of creative freedom, and every day at work feels a little bit different!

Lots of people dream about working for super-hot websites and blogs. How did you get started in this line of work? And how did you land your dream job at Refinery 29?

[Angela]: I’ve always known that I wanted to work in publishing.

Even as a teenager, I was fascinated by how great magazine headlines + stories are crafted. I would study my favorite magazines from the perspective of a journalist, not necessarily as a casual reader.

After I graduated from college, I did a series of internships for small, local magazines… and then eventually worked my way up to a few bigger publications, like Angeleno Magazine.

While working at Angeleno, I got my first taste of what it felt like to create content for the web — not just for print magazines.

Online media was fairly “new” in those days, so “blogging” and writing “online articles” felt innovative and groundbreaking. I loved it, and realized quickly that I wanted to work in the world of online publishing.

A couple years down the line, I got a job as a freelance writer for Refinery 29. That freelance gig eventually turned into a more permanent position as the Editorial Assistant. And after three months, I was promoted to the Editor.

The leaning curve was very steep, but in many ways, it was a great experience to have it all happen so fast! It forced me to grow as a writer, editor and curator, very quickly.

Your current job rocks, but there was a time when you felt really frustrated because you couldn’t land the kind of job that you wanted. Tell us more about that experience — and how you got through it.

[Angela]: After graduating from college, there was a period of time where I applied for so many jobs, I practically lost count. I must have gone on 20 or 30 job interviews, and nothing was panning out.

At one point I thought my dream of working in publishing — as a paid employee, not just an unpaid intern — was never going to happen.

But… I was persistent. I refused to take “no” for an answer.

Even if someone turned me down for a position, I would follow up and politely ask “why?” I kept the conversation going because I wanted to show people I was serious — and also because I wanted to stay on their radar for future positions.

I knew that if I just kept at it — reaching out, following up, keeping the lines of communication open — one day, a door would finally open.

It took time, but my persistence paid off.

What are some of the most exciting things that have been happening for you, lately?

[Angela]: So many awesome things!

Since becoming the San Francisco Editor for Refinery 29, I’ve been able to meet so many local people doing incredible things — folks that I find so inspiring and who are role models for women and entrepreneurs, everywhere.

I got to interview the designer Zac Posen… and I just had an amazing conversation with Kimberly Bryant, the founder of Black Girls Code.

These kinds of conversations have given me a fresh perspective on how to approach my writing, my work… and my life.

You’ve already unlocked so many doors for yourself — and your hard work has led to great success. What’s next for you?

[Angela]: Back when I was fiercely hunting for my dream job, the job-hunting process took up a lot of my time and energy.

But now that I’ve landed a job that I love, I have a lot more energy to pour in other directions — like wellness and fitness.

For example, last year I was invited to run half marathon. At first I said “no.” But then I realized I spend so much time at my computer and I had not worked out in a year. So I went for it. It was life changing.

Up next? More physical challenges — like that!

It’s been awesome to be able to bring my “non-work” passions into my work — writing articles on health and exercise, based on experiences I’m having in my own life.

It’s pretty fantastic when “life” and “work” can blend together — each side enhancing the other.

Last but not least: What’s your biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to stay motivated, do amazing work and unlock major doors?

[Angela]: Be persistent.

Don’t be afraid to follow up and keep a conversation going — even after someone has said, “No.”

Be brave.

Always introduce yourself at parties and gatherings. Put yourself out there. Be open and talk to lots of people. Share what you’re up to — and what you love.

Ask questions.

When you see someone living your dream — or working at your dream job — say to them, “I like what you do. How did you get there?”

Most of all:

Pay close attention to the things that you love doing — whether it’s reading, running, photography or exploring your city. Whatever you love to do, there’s always a way to turn it into a career.

Believe the expression: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!”

UNLOCK yourself

Three questions to think about, write about — or talk about with a friend.

1. Even as a kid + teenager, Angela was obsessed with magazines and loved studying great headlines to try to understand why they worked. That was her first clue that she wanted to work in publishing.

: What’s one of your personal obsessions? (Get specific: Not just “watching TV” but “watching TV because of the amazing set designs and costumes.”) What kind of career would allow you to indulge in that obsession, every day?

2. Angela loves the fact that her job feels a little bit different, every day. She’s rarely doing the exact same task, all day long.

: Do you crave a job that’s consistent, where you know exactly what to expect each day? Or would you prefer something with tons of variety? Or something in the middle?

3. After college, Angela felt frustrated after going on 30 job interviews — and getting rejected for each one. But she was persistent and refused to give up.

: Have you ever experienced a “dry spell” where the world just felt like one, big locked door? What did you tell yourself to get through it?

 

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For more UNLOCKED interviews, click over here.

Know somebody that ought to be spotlighted? Write to me here.

See you next time for another inspiring conversation!

Photo: Refinery29 | Maria del Rio.

To do the work you love, you’ve got to unlock a few doors. UNLOCKED Stories are honest conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who chose a path + made it happen.

A note from Ellen: I’m thrilled to spotlight Anna and Lenore of Three Babes Bakeshop in today’s installment of UNLOCKED Stories.

These two women have overcome incredible challenges, together ― they’re a perfect example of what real friendship + partnership is all about.

Read on, and don’t miss the powerful reflection questions at the very end.

And if you happen to live in the Bay area, visit these gals at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market, every Saturday ― their pies are simply amazing!

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What do you do?

[Lenore / Anna]: We own Three Babes Bakeshop ― a pie shop in San Francisco.

(The name is a bit of a misnomer ― there are actually only 2 of us! But that’s a story for another interview…)

We bake seasonal pies using local, organic, sustainably grown ingredients.

We’ve been super lucky with press and have been honored as one of America’s best pie-makers in a whole bunch of magazines, including Food+Wine, The Huffington Post, Saveur, Travel+Leisure, Bon Appetit, Rachael Ray Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Esquire, as well as on The Cooking Channel and The Today Show.

Where did the original idea for your pie shop come from?

Lenore: We have been best friends since childhood, and we used to bake together all the time, just for fun.

We both went away to different colleges, but kept in touch … and we always talked about starting a food business together.

A few years after college, after a few career twists + turns, I moved back to San Francisco to start a business. I picked San Francisco so I could be close to my mother, who was battling cancer.

Anna was already living in San Francisco ― so, for the first time since high school, we were both living in the same place. Anna decided to start a business with me- which was wonderful on so many levels.

After shuffling through LOTS of ideas, we decided on pies because they’re one of the foods that we loved making with our families when we were younger (who doesn’t love pies, right?) and we believed that pies would give us a way to create a business that reflected our values. We decided to keep that first summer low-commitment and just do a pop-up pie shop for a few months and see how it went.

What were you doing before you founded Three Babes?

Anna: After college, I worked for a small chain of organic grocery stores. Then I went to culinary school. And after that, I tried to start my own Mexican restaurant. It didn’t get off the ground, so I moved back to San Francisco and started working for a natural foods co-op. And then … it was pies!

Lenore: I had a much more eclectic career path than Anna. I worked as a luxury wedding planner in New York, in solar sales and marketing at Chevron, as a substitute Spanish teacher … at one point, I even had a job at Google!

After bouncing around for several years, I realized that I was unhappy working at corporate jobs. I really wanted to become my own boss. I wanted to find work that gave me a sense of purpose, and entrepreneurship turned out to be the right fit.

What was your biggest “locked door” moment?

Lenore: Opening a bakery is not cheap ― or easy.

It takes a lot of money and an incredible amount of energy + persistence to get things going.

For a long time, it was really hard to make enough money to pay ourselves a decent salary. And then, right at the end of our first year in business, my father died. Then my mother ― who was dying of cancer ― lost her home.

No matter what kind of career you choose, that kind of grief + loss can seriously knock you off course.

I’m so grateful that I had my best friend + business partner, Anna, right by my side. We cared for my mother as she died, and somehow, we kept the business going. It was exhausting. There were many, many moments where we considered calling it quits.

But you didn’t quit. How did you get through that dark time … and find the courage to keep going?

Lenore: After my mom died, we closed up the pie shop for a few weeks and I took a trip back to the East Coast to meet with some friends and mentors.

During that break, Anna and I both realized that even though our pie shop wasn’t where we wanted it to be yet, we had built something really beautiful. We’d worked so hard, and we had every reason to be proud.

So, we decided to stick with it and get back to business.

Running the shop is still an incredible amount of work, for not-too-much money, but we love it.

Every day, we just roll up our sleeves + keep baking those pies!

You’ve already overcome so many challenges, together. What’s the next big door that you need to unlock?

[Lenore / Anna]: Our next big step is opening up our first brick + mortar pie shop here in San Francisco.

Up until this point, we’ve been working out of a rented commercial kitchen space, baking pies and then selling them at farmer’s martkets, or delivering them to local businesses. But there wasn’t anywhere for our customers to gather + hang out!

We’re looking forward to finally having a “coffee shop”-style community space where people can get together and enjoy our pies, seven days a week!

Getting our own space requires a significant amount of money, so lately, a lot of our work has been figuring out how to fund our growth.

This will completely change our business model ― but we’re so ready!

Last but not least: what’s your biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to stay motivated, do amazing work and unlock major doors?

[Lenore / Anna]: For us, running a successful business is all about relationships.

Relationships with friends, mentors, people in your community, and of course, with your customers.

When you surround yourself with positive, encouraging people, it will absolutely impact the work that you do ― and help you get through hard times, too.

Seek out people who are already on their path, doing great work.

You’ll get inspired … and eventually? You will find your own way.

UNLOCK yourself

Three questions to think about, write about — or talk about with a friend.

1. Anna and Lenore have been friends since childhood, and they loved baking treats together … even way back in high school.

: What’s something you loved to do when you were younger? Have you ever dreamed about turning that passion into a business, or a side-business?

2. After Lenore’s mom passed away, Anna and Lenore closed up their shop for a few weeks and took a break, to see if staying in business was really what they both wanted. Soon, they found clarity ― and got back to work.

: Are you long overdue for a break? How could you give yourself a little extra “down time” to rest, breathe and get clarity, this week?

3. The gals from Three Babes Bakeshop believe that surrounding yourself with positive, encouraging people is THE secret to success.

: Who are three people who love you ― and support you unconditionally ― no matter what? (Maybe it’s time to say “thank you” for all the support!)

 

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For more UNLOCKED interviews, click over here.

Know somebody that ought to be spotlighted? Write to me here.

See you next time for another inspiring conversation!

To do the work you love, you’ve got to unlock a few doors. UNLOCKED Stories are honest conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who chose a path + made it happen.

A note from Ellen: I’m thrilled to spotlight Sarah in this week’s installment of UNLOCKED STORIES. She’s a woman who gets paid to travel the world and blog about it … and she has circled the globe five times! (How cool is that?)

Even if your career has nothing to do with travel, writing or blogging, I know you’re going to be inspired by Sarah’s story. Read on, and don’t miss the powerful questions at the very end…

: So many Millennials fantasize about traveling the world and getting paid to do it. You actually made it happen. How did this all begin?

The short answer is: I made it happen through one metric ton of hard work, making lots of tradeoffs (like making my homebase a super-frugal 1-bedroom apartment in Saint Paul, Minnesota, instead of a penthouse in NYC), and a big dose of good luck. I was lucky to be born into a family where travel was a very “normal” part of life. We’d go on long road trips every summer, camping, picking raspberries and cooking together using ingredients we picked up at country marts + roadside stands.

My childhood experiences taught me that travel doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated — and that most of the people you meet “on the road” are kind and trustworthy.

: It sounds like your parents passed along a spirit of adventure! How did those childhood experiences guide you into your current career?

My parents taught me that travel is fundamentally about connecting with your fellow human beings — not necessarily fancy meals or swanky hotels.

I carried that attitude into my twenties and early thirties, and spent seven years traveling the world as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, which eventually led me to get a Masters degree in Linguistics.

So many countries are desperate for qualified ESL teachers, and I taught my way through Brazil, Taiwan, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, India and Nepal. The living conditions were rarely “glamorous,” but there was never a shortage of teaching opportunities!

Throughout my ESL adventure, I ran my travel + lifestyle blog — YesAndYes.org — on the side, and slowly built up an audience there.

And these days, I’m a full-time blogger, travel writer and small business consultant.

I travel for work and for pleasure — meeting with clients in different cities, doing research for new travel guidebooks, and sometimes, as part of a collaboration with a cool brand that’s sponsoring a post on my blog.

I still pinch myself on an almost-daily basis, that this is really my life!

: Your blog, YesAndYes.org, is tremendously successful — with nearly a quarter-million page-views per month. How did THAT happen?

I’m the kind of woman who loves talking about big, global issues (like poverty and women’s rights) … but who also loves going “ooh!” over an amazingly cute + cheap pair of boots.

I wanted to read a women’s blog that had a little bit of everything — deep stuff, light stuff, and everything in between. You know, from climate change to cat photos.

I couldn’t find a blog like that. So I started one! 
I completely fell in love with blogging and was pretty much unstoppable. For the first several years, I posted seven days a week and spent every lunch break (for a year and a half!) leaving comments on other blogs, to build friendships + connections.

Eventually, I started to gain a readership and people started to take notice. Slowly but surely, people started asking for my help taking their own blogs to the next level, and my consulting business was born.

: You’ve worked hard to build an audience + make your blog a success. But how do you actually make money, as a blogger + travel writer?

Like most professional writers, I have several different sources of income.

Right now, I make money in four different ways:

: Consulting work. I work with small business owners who want to start their own blogs, or make their blogs better. Many of the businesses I work with are in the lifestyle / beauty / travel realm, which is awesome.

: Ads + sponsors. Small business owners pay to advertise their stuff on my blog. Sometimes, bigger companies pay me to attend their shows, visit their hotels, or do a tour of their city, and then write an article about it, create a social media contest, or some other kind of collaboration. (In the blog biz, that’s called a “sponsored post.”)

: Product sales. I create workbooks, calendars and other products, and sell them online. (Smart, Sassy + Solo: Adventures in Lady Travel is one of my favorites!)

: Speaking gigs. From time to time, I get paid to speak about travel, professional blogging and “content strategy” (which is a fancy word for “writing + making cool stuff on the Internet, so that customers fall in love with your business.”)

What’s your biggest piece of advice for someone who is struggling to take the first step towards the career of his (or her) dreams?

This might sound really depressing, but I mean this in the most loving, freeing way imaginable:

Just start.

Even if it seems like “nobody cares” about what you’re doing, at first.

Because no matter what you’re doing — whether it’s blogging, or music, or leading workshops, or whatever — the reality is that very few people are going to notice you…at first.

So many people lose their excitement about blogging, in particular, because “nobody’s reading.”

Hint: for the first six months, almost no one will read your blog. So you might as well start now and work out the bugs. 

Look at blogging as an adventure — you’ll always be trying new things, tweaking, refining, and growing into your voice. And if you make a mistake … guess what? 99% of the time, nobody minds. Except you.

If it’s really what you want to do, then roll up your sleeves and do it.

The rewards are totally worth it.

UNLOCK yourself

Three questions to think about, write about — or talk about with a friend.

1. Sarah’s parents taught her that traveling can be simple and affordable — and that ultimately, it’s about connecting with fellow human beings. This philosophy eventually led to become a professional travel writer.

: What’s a positive lesson that your parents taught you? How is that lesson influencing your current career (or not)?

2. A turning point in Sarah’s career was when she started her own blog — and kept blogging, even though at first, nobody was reading.

: Have you ever started something, and then felt disappointed because nobody seemed to “care”? What will you do to motivate yourself, next time?

3. As a self-employed writer, Sarah makes money in several different ways.

: What are some of the different ways that you could make money (or make more money!) in your line of work? Brainstorm and make a big, creative list … dream wild!

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For more UNLOCKED interviews, click over here.

Know somebody that ought to be spotlighted? Write to me here.

Photos: Meredith Westin.

See you next time for another inspiring conversation!

To do the work you love, you’ve got to unlock a few doors. UNLOCKED Stories are honest conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who chose a path + made it happen.

A note from Ellen: I’m thrilled to spotlight Marea in this week’s installment of UNLOCKED Stories. She’s a woman who never intended to become a childbirth specialist — but after an unexpected request from a friend, she found herself deep in the world of birthing and wellness education.

Marea is an example of someone who didn’t really “choose” her career — it chose her. She trusted her heart every step of the way, and it never led her astray.

Even if your career has nothing to do with birthing babies, I know you’re going to be inspired by Marea’s story. I know I am. Read on, and don’t miss the powerful questions at the very end…

: What do you do?

I am training to be a licensed midwife at the National Midwifery Institute.

Right now, I’m working as an apprentice under the guidance of two fully-licensed midwives.

We are on call for births, 24/7. Some weeks we get called for three or four births. Other weeks, none at all. When it rains, it pours!

I just attended my 55th birth and I have delivered 10 babies all on my own.

 

 

: Where did the original idea for your work come from?

Several years ago, a friend of mine got pregnant and asked me to be her doula.

A “doula” is someone who supports you before, during and after the birthing experience. It’s not a medical position, like a nurse. It’s more like a “birth coach.” I enrolled in a six-week training course to become a doula — with no intention of making it my profession. Initially, I was just doing it to support my friend.

My friend’s birth was an amazing experience, and I was surprised at how comfortable I felt in my role as a doula. After coaching my friend, I began working with other clients as well.

And then, there was a beautiful moment of synchronicity.

About one and a half years later, the midwife who oversaw my friend’s birth called me out of the blue and told me her apprentice had quit. She asked if I was interested in becoming her new apprentice.

I knew right then and there that I wanted to do it — so I said YES!

Her invitation came at the perfect time. I applied to Midwifery school, got in, and began my formal training right away!

 

 

: What were you doing before you did Midwifery?

I studied Spanish and Portuguese in college. I love languages and I love exploring how people communicate, across cultures — the fact that I am tri-lingual has definitely come in handy in my work as a midwife!

After graduating from college, I co-wrote a vegan cookbook with my mom called Straight From The Earth. My parents started Earthbound Farm, the largest organic produce company in the world, and working on the book was a beautiful way to honor my upbringing and my parents’ legacy in the world. Nourishing and caring for people definitely runs in my blood.

A week before we sent the book to the publisher, I got that fateful phone call, asking if I’d like to become a midwife’s apprentice. And that was that!

 

What was you biggest “LOCKED DOOR” moment? Did you almost give up on your dream?

When you’re a midwife, going to work can feel like running a marathon.

You’re on call 24/7. You never know exactly when the baby is going to arrive. And when your client goes into labor, you might be by her side for up to 25 hours, straight.

It’s a very intense profession, and there have been many, many moments where I’ve thought to myself: Why am I doing this? There has got to be a better career choice!

But then, finally … the baby arrives. It’s a magical experience, every single time. And afterwards, I’ll get some sleep. Eat a good meal. Take a long bath. Hang out with friends. Have a good cry. Go on a long walk and just forget about midwifery for a while.

After I’ve taken some time to tend to my own wellbeing, I always feel better. And then I remember why I do this work: to bring new life into the world, and to give mothers the best possible birthing experience they can have — at home, in a space they love, surrounded by people they know + trust.

 

 

: What is the BEST thing that has happened since you UNLOCKED that door?

At a recent birth, the dad came over to me and said, “You did a really great job.” Compliments like that always feel good.

But the best part about this profession is the way that it pushes my boundaries — no two days at work are alike, and I’m constantly being challenged to grow, both as a midwife, and as a woman.

I don’t want my life to be easy. I didn’t sign up for that. I’m here to guide women through the most intense process of their lives, and watch people become families.

 

: What’s the next door you need to unlock? (And what’s the plan?)

After I graduate + pass my final licensing exams, I want to deliver as many babies as I possibly can!

I also want to become a speaker + educator. There are so many misconceptions about what midwifery is (and isn’t) and I’d love to help women make informed choices about where + how they choose to give birth.

Eventually, I’d love to have a thriving practice as an independent midwife, specializing in home births. Maybe even starting a Midwifery School — which is greatly needed in the Bay area. And later, starting a family of my own.

I love what I do, and I want to do it for as long as I can.

 

: Last but not least:

What’s your biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to stay motivated, do amazing work and unlock major doors?

Say YES to opportunities that excite you, even if they’re completely unexpected.

Don’t be depressed if your original plans don’t pan out.

Remember that you can always change your mind.

But once you do choose a path, be devoted. Put both feet in.

 

UNLOCK yourself

Three questions to think about, write about — or talk about with a friend.

1. Marea’s career began when a friend made an surprising request: “Will you be my birth coach?” Marea was surprised to discover how much she enjoyed birth coaching, which ultimately led to her decision to choose midwifery as a career.

: Has someone ever asked you to do them a favor, that left you thinking, “Hey! That was a lot more fun than I thought!”

2. A turning point in Marea’s career was when she received an unexpected phone call inviting her to become a midwife’s apprentice.

: When unexpected opportunities come your way, do you tend to say “yes” or “no?” Have you ever said “no” and then regretted it, later?

3. Marea’s work as a midwife is physically + emotionally draining — with long births that sometimes last up to 25 hours. She’s learned that by taking care of herself, first, she has more love + energy to give to others.

: How do you care for your mind, body and spirit, right now? Is there a part of your life that could use a little more nourishment?

 

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For more UNLOCKED interviews, click over here.

Know somebody that ought to be spotlighted? Write to me here.

See you next time for another inspiring conversation!

To do the work you love, you’ve got to unlock a few doors. UNLOCKED Stories are honest conversations with 20 and 30-somethings who chose a path + made it happen.

A note from Ellen: I’m thrilled to spotlight Morgan in this week’s installment of UNLOCKED STORIES, because he is a perfect example of somebody who saw a problem — college students trying to find affordable places to live — and created a start-up to provide the solution. Even if your career has nothing to do with real estate or start-ups, I know you’re going to be inspired by Morgan’s story. Read on, and don’t miss the powerful questions at the very end…

: What do you do?

I started a company called ON MY BLOCK that helps college students find affordable places to live, off-campus.

As CEO, my job is to guide the company in the right direction. I work with our advisors and investors — making sure we don’t run out of money, recruiting new team members, and basically, making sure things get done!

 

: Where did the original idea for your work come from?

The idea for ON MY BLOCK came to me during my freshman year of college.

Like many students, I didn’t really like living in the dorms on-campus. I wanted more peace and quiet — a place of my own! So I started looking for other options on big websites like Craigslist.

It was a frustrating experience. I encountered a lot of landlords who were flaky, unreliable, wanted to charge astronomical rental rates, or simply didn’t want to rent their apartments to students, for whatever reason. I wasted a lot of time trying to “follow up” with landlords who weren’t an ideal match.

And finally, I thought, “There’s got to be an easier way to find a place to live!”

ON MY BLOCK actually started as a simple Google spreadsheet – my personal record of which landlords + properties were worth checking out, the amenities they included, monthly rent, and so forth.

Pretty soon, friends at school starting asking, “Hey, can I see that spreadsheet? I’m having trouble finding a place to live, too.”

After the third or fourth person asked to peek at my spreadsheet, I realized that there was a business opportunity, here.

So, I started a company called Student Realty-San Diego. I was, in essence, a matchmaker between students and landlords. In about 2 ½ months, I helped about 80 students secure leases. I charged students $50 to help them find a great place to live, and I charged landlords $200 – $300 a pop.

The more I got into it, the more I realized that a LOT of students struggle to find affordable off-campus housing. In order to help thousands of students — not just a couple hundred — I needed to expand my vision.

With that realization, ON MY BLOCK was born.

Eventually, we built our housing-match website and developed a smartphone app. We are now in two locations — San Diego and San Luis Obispo — with plans to expand across California, and eventually, the world!

 

: What were you doing before On My Block?

I graduated from the University of San Diego, where I majored in Interdisciplinary Humanities.

After I returned from my junior year abroad in Madrid, I ran for a new role in student government and became the President of Associated Students. That was a very exciting time — it was empowering to have a big impact on campus policy. To have an idea, and see it come to life.

Most people are surprised to learn that I was always very shy. One of the goals I had in college was to move past that. I took a public speaking class during my sophomore year, which helped me to come out of my shell. A few years later, I was speaking in front of the entire student body at graduation — and I realized that I loved it!

 

: What was you biggest “LOCKED DOOR” moment? Did you almost give up on your dream? How did you feel in that moment?

I almost didn’t get into the University of San Diego.

I applied, and they put me on a waitlist.

At the urging of a family friend, I walked onto the campus, marched into the Admissions Department, spoke to one of the staff members there…and got in!

A few years later, I had another “locked door” moment. I was running out of money, and was thinking about transferring to a less expensive college, just to finish up my degree. I applied to couple of other schools, and they offered me scholarships.

I really wanted to stay at USD, so I met with the administrators to see if they could match the scholarships I’d been offered at other schools — which they did.

Because of that, I wanted to give back to my school and fellow students. That’s what inspired me to run for student government, and also to develop ON MY BLOCK.

When I encounter a “locked door,” my initial reaction is to be anxious. But once I take a step back and break the problem down into smaller steps, it becomes less scary.

I also say to myself, “The worst thing they can say is NO.” It never hurts to ask for what you want, even if it’s a little unorthodox. If you make a strong case, you’ll be surprised at how often people say “Yes!”

: What is the BEST thing that has happened since you UNLOCKED that door?

There was a moment where ON MY BLOCK was running low on funds, and we thought it was all over.

But then we won a couple of business plan competitions — $10,000 from the University of San Diego, then $25,000 from a San Diego Venture group competition, where we were selected out of 90 companies. Those awards helped us to stay afloat.

And then, we had another BIG win.

I pitched ON MY BLOCK to several investors in Silicon Valley. One of them got excited about our vision, and helped us raise $800,000 in seed money. He even found a house for me + my team to live in for a year, for free.

When that investor said “YES” to our vision, it took everything to the next level. We’re so grateful for his guidance + support!

 

: What’s the next door you need to unlock? (And what’s the plan?)

Our expansion model is similar to that of Uber and Lyft.

We want to make sure we provide great value at each school, in each region, before we move on to a new one.

The next door we want to unlock is all about customer service and sales. Basically: we want the ON MY BLOCK experience to be top-notch and totally consistent, on every site, in every city.

Our plan is to stay as small as we can, for as long as we can. Working lean + efficiently, before we seek out more money from investors.

 

: Last but not least: What’s your biggest piece of advice for anyone who wants to stay motivated, do amazing work and unlock major doors?

Always find something that makes you hungry and that makes you curious to learn more.

Remember that business is definitely about money, but it’s not just about the money.

Do things for the right reason.

Believe in what you are doing.

UNLOCK yourself

Three questions to think about, write about — or talk about with a friend.

1. While in college, Morgan had an experience that was frustrating and annoying – trying to find affordable off-campus housing.

: What’s one experience you’ve had that made you say, “There’s got to be a better way to do this!”

2. A turning point in Morgan’s career was when he overcame his fear of public speaking. Eventually, he addressed the entire student body at graduation!

: What’s one of your biggest fears, right now? What’s one thing you could do to move through it?

3. Another turning point in Morgan’s career was when he pitched investors in Silicon Valley, inspiring one amazing investor to back his project.

: If you were asking for $800,000 to fund a project that you’re passionate about, what would that project be? How will it help people around you?

 

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For more UNLOCKED interviews, click over here.

Know somebody that ought to be spotlighted? Write to me here.

See you next time for another inspiring conversation!