Imagine feeling burnt out and wanting to break free from the confines of a stable job. That can seem crazy to many, especially in this economy. The cost of goods is high and many have been laid off. Yet, Lindsay Barrientos chose to leave it all behind and venture out on her own. She is preparing to transition from her nursing career to opening her own practice. However, it isn’t an easy journey. In this episode, she shares the struggles, mindset shifts, and the meticulous planning that fuels her leap into entrepreneurship.
The need to get her time back
Lynn reflects on her journey, stating, “I never thought I was going to be an entrepreneur… I was just following the traditional path — go to school, get a job, and work until retirement.” However, she realized that in order to continue growing and increasing her income, she had to job hop. Why? Because loyalty and seniority does not guarantee a significant salary increase. Not to mention the increase in workload. Her current job required driving over an hour each way, then working a long shift. This slowly started to take its toll until she finally realized she needed an out.
When she learned about real estate investing, she jumped right into it and grew her portfolio to twelve properties, including converting her garage into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). All of these created sources of income. She realized that she was already building a business. Her rental property business allowed her to build the cushion to decide to leave her job and open her own practice.
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It took some preparation
From the outside looking in, Lynn seems like she just made this decision on a whim. However, she had been planning and preparing for over a year. She ensured that she built herself a safety net. Lynn took a strategic approach. She states how “I’ve set myself up for like one year of expenses… I also have a 401k and a HELOC that I can dip into if necessary.” This foresight is crucial, especially in the unpredictable world of business. Lynn’s meticulous planning includes creating safety nets to cushion any potential falls, ensuring that her confidence remains intact even in challenging times.
Entrepreneurship and its hidden surprises
When you start investing in real estate, it can be overwhelming at first. There is a learning curve. Similarly, opening her own practice comes with a learning curve. Not to mention its own hurdles. From determining what type of business entity to create to ensuring you fulfill all legal requirements, it was all new to Lynn.
Lynn had to make some mindset shifts and deal with new fears. Lynn shares, “I feel more anxious than excited, but I think it’s going to be a good rest of my comfort zone.” Fear naturally arises. As a first gen Latina, stepping away from a steady paycheck, goes against everything she was taught by her family.
In addition, Lynn had to step into her new business owner role. She shares how learning to network and sell her services has been difficult. From building a website to selling and marketing is foreign to her. This is common for many first gen Latinas. However, it is all part of owning and growing a business.
Final Thoughts
Lynn’s decision to leave her secure paycheck and stability may seem impulsive. Especially, when our cultural upbringing promotes stability and not taking big risks. However, it actually took careful preparation, building safety nets and some mindset shift. As she steps into this new chapter, she reminds us that it’s okay to feel anxious and uncertain. What matters is the the willingness and courage to take calculated risks.
If you’re feeling burnt out or contemplating a career change, remember that planning and preparation can ease the transition. For those interested in Lynn’s full story and insights into her entrepreneurial journey, be sure to check out the full episode.
