Nightmare to Founder: What it Really Takes to Build a Business

Summary:

In this post, burnout speaker and personal stylist, Kimberly Parry, shares the real story behind building Emergence Life Coaching from the ground floor. Literally. She recaps her recent conversation with Dr. DeShaun Williams on The Founders Table podcast, where they tackled resilience, vision, and the gap between having a dream and running a business that can actually sustain it. Enjoy!

Kimberly Parry, The Founder's Table Podcast Interview

Most conversations about entrepreneurship start with a dream.

Mine started with a crisis.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Dr. DeShaun Williams on his podcast, The Founders Table, for an honest conversation about what building a business actually looks like: not the highlight reel version, not the "I quit my job to follow my passion" version.

My Story of Entrepreneurship Isn't the One You Usually Hear

I didn’t start a business because I had a dream.

My path to entrepreneurship began because I was living a nightmare.

I didn't leave a career I was tired of. I lost one I loved. After a 16 year career in academia teaching religion courses, life came along and changed everything. My path to entrepreneurship was a bit like Jonah.

Jonah was called to something and he said, "Peace out."

I didn't become a business owner because I had a dream.

In fact, I dated a serial entrepreneur for about two weeks in college.

He had a little black book. Not for girls’ numbers (although, maybe that, too. I don't judge). But for business ideas.

Just the thought of starting a business made him light up.

It made me nauseated. I was risk adverse.

He rode a motorcycle.

It didn't last.

But the universe speaks my love language, which was snark.

Although I'd said multiple times that I'd never be an entrepreneur, that I was good working for the man and happy with a W-2, life had other plans.And I found myself a recently divorced, out-of-work religion teacher who had to figure out a way to take care of my three kids. From a bed in my living room.And, at the time, starting a business looked like my only option.And I was scared. I knew I had no clue what I was doing, but I had nowhere to go but up.

That’s What Dr. DeShaun and I Talked About.

We got into the real stuff: the fear and the transformation that goes along with entrepreneurship. We talked about decision-making, mentorship, and the discipline it takes to balance vision with execution.

One of the most important things we unpacked is the gap most entrepreneurs overlook: the difference between having a vision and what it takes to actually operate and run a business.

If You're New to the Entrepreneurial Grind, This Episode is For You.

If you're wearing all the hats, drowning in noise about "how to go from zero to a million in your sleep," and wondering if you're doing it wrong, you're not alone.

I did all of that too. From that bed in my living room.

And while I'm genuinely glad now (I truly love what I do) it was a journey to get here. 

A real one. 

The kind with setbacks, uncertainty, and moments where I had no idea what came next.

The good news? If I can do it, you absolutely can.

I'd love to know what resonates with you after you listen to the episode below. Drop a comment and let me know!

And, as always.Happy Thursday!

~Your Real Life Fairy Godmother™

About the Author

Kimberly Parry is a burnout speaker, Certified Personal Stylist, and the founder of Emergence Life Coaching. After a 16 year career as an academic religion teacher, Kimberly built her speaking, coaching, and styling business from the ground up after a life-altering health crisis. Today she’s a walking miracle, who her clients know as Your Real Life Fairy Godmother™. She takes the hard earned lessons she learned navigating her own burnout crisis to help individuals and organizations Succeed with Style™ in business, and in the business of life.

As a Utah-based business owner, mother of three, and living example of resilience, Kimberly brings the magic of style and burnout transformation to forward-thinking organizations committed to building resilient leaders, engaged teams, and sustainable success.

Book Kimberly to Speak

If you need Your Real Life Fairy Godmother™ to help your audience channel their inner B.A.D. A.™ so they can lead and Succeed with Style™, book Kimberly for your next keynote, workshop, or retreat.FAQS

FAQs:

Who is Kimberly Parry?

Kimberly Parry is a Burnout Transformation Expert and Style-Driven Success Strategist and the founder of Emergence Life Coaching. Known to her clients as Your Real Life Fairy Godmother™ she combines principles of fashion styling with powerful personal and professional development to help individuals and organizations transform burnout and Succeed with Style™.What services does Kimberly offer?Kimberly is a professional speaker whose keynotes and workshops are built on her Succeed with Style™ Framework, a diagnostic tool that helps individuals and organizations identify the root cause of burnout and develop a custom-tailored, style-driven action plan for sustainable success.

She also offers one-on-one styling services for ambitious women ready to take their life, and their look, to the next level.

What makes Kimberly different?

Most people take a one-size-fits-all approach to burnout and success. Kimberly learned the hard way that they’re opposite ends of the same stick—and style is the link between them. She distilled those lessons into simple, actionable frameworks that help individuals and organizations identify the root cause of burnout and use it as a launchpad to their next level of growth.

What topics does Kimberly speak on? Burnout, resilience, leadership, culture, and style-driven success.