Erin Kelly McGee

Honestly? Hardship. I've been through some pretty significant challenges in my life, and they've given me a deep appreciation for what I have and a clear-eyed view of what matters.

When my parents died unexpectedly, seventeen days apart and unrelated, it was a lot. And it forced me to really look at how I was living my life. Over time, that loss led me to the realization that I have one life. So when my friend asked me what I wanted and I couldn't answer him, it was like a splash of cold water. I thought: this is not who I am. I'm not someone who sits and complains. I've gotten out of hard situations before. It was time to get out of this one.

When I told my network, my friends and family, that I was leaving my corporate job, relocating to the Pacific Northwest, and starting over in my 50s, not one person told me I was crazy. I have a record of doing hard things and making them work. And honestly, at that point, staying where I was wasn't an option. So I moved forward.

A big part of my drive is my daughters. I want them to see that you aren't stuck. That you don't have to have it all figured out in your 20s. That you can shift. That there are always possibilities and there is always hope.

And what actually gets you through? Discipline, focus, and knowing your why. If your why is strong enough, you don't give up when motivation dips or things get hard. You power through. That's true for me, and it's true for the women I coach.

It came from a recruiter at a point when I was questioning how to show up professionally. I had a pixie cut and blue hair, and I was genuinely wondering if I should make my photo black and white in order to be taken seriously. His response was direct. "Why would you ever want to work for a company that doesn't accept you for who you are?"

That stuck with me. And eventually, it became personal in a way I didn't expect. The company I was with reached a point where who I was no longer seemed to fit, and I felt that every day. I left on good terms, but I knew it was time to go.

Here's what I want women to take from that: you shouldn't have to change who you are to succeed in your career. If you're jumping through hoops to be someone you don't recognize, if you don't like the person you're having to be to stay in the room, that's information. And making the decision to stop contorting yourself can be one of the most empowering things you'll ever do.

Two things.

First: believe in yourself. And for the days you don't, that's what your crew is for. Build a network of people who genuinely believe in you, whether that's colleagues, friends, or mentors. Because hard days will come, and you need people in your corner who can hold the belief for you until you can hold it yourself.

Second: know your why. And make sure it's big enough. A strong why is what carries you through the difficult stretches, the slow seasons, the moments when motivation disappears. Without it, the first real obstacle can feel like a reason to quit. With it, obstacles become something you move through, not something that stops you.

For me, the biggest challenge has been the one that comes with betting on yourself: there's no roadmap.

I left my corporate job, relocated from California to the Pacific Northwest, and started over. And when you make a move like that as an entrepreneur, it can be lonely. There's no team to bounce ideas off of, no built-in structure, no one telling you you're on the right track. The temptation is to fill that uncertainty by throwing money at more courses, chasing the next certification, looking for the perfect fix. I've had to resist that and instead build faith in myself that I am on the right path.

The other piece, and this has been huge, is building a real network. Not followers, not an audience. Actual colleagues who are in it too, women who are building something of their own and will tell you the truth, celebrate your wins, and talk you off the ledge when you need it. I have an 8am accountability call and a 4pm colleague check-in today, and that kind of consistent connection has been essential to staying grounded and moving forward.

The opportunity in this field is real and growing. Women are waking up to the fact that external success doesn't automatically equal internal fulfillment, and they're actively looking for support to close that gap. That's exactly what I do.

I actually have mine written on my wall, so let me give you the real list.

Integrity is the foundation. Doing what you say you're going to do, following through, being someone people can count on. That one's non-negotiable in my work and my life.

Growth matters deeply to me, and not just personal growth. Growth also means staying open to other perspectives, being willing to be wrong, and genuinely considering viewpoints that aren't your own.

Courage. Doing the hard things even when it's uncomfortable. That one shows up everywhere, from the conversations I have with clients to the decisions I've made in my own life.

But my two favorites are curiosity and joy.

Curiosity is everything to me as a coach. When you're truly curious, you stop assuming. You ask questions instead of projecting. You stay open. One of the core principles I work from is that every client is whole, resourceful, and complete. My job is not to put my values on them or tell them what they should want. It's to ask the right questions and trust that they have the answers. Curiosity makes that possible.

And joy. Life is too short to move through it without it. If you're not finding joy in your days, that's not a small thing. That's the signal. Figure out where it went and go get it back.