Stefanie Frank, Copy Writer & Content Strategist

1.) Who are you? 
I’m Stefanie Frank, entrepreneur, triathlete, wife, mom to one dog, two cats and a bunny. I’m 44.

2.) What’s your business?  
Initiative Based Writing – we provide copywriting and content marketing strategy services for small to medium-sized service based businesses.

3.) When did you decide to take the plunge and “create the life you want”? 
I was a full-time litigation attorney in Las Vegas for 11 years, and the stress was eating me alive. In 2005 my husband gently let me know that he could no longer stand the whining and complaining that came with being in a job I had grown to hate.

We decided I could make the bold move to quit my job and become a personal fitness trainer. That business lasted nine months, because I didn’t have the confidence to pull it off. That business also led me to triathlon. Which is funny seeing as how I had no background or experience in swimming, biking or running!

The moment I “knew” I would pursue triathlon happened on November 12, 2006. I volunteered for a local “iron” distance race (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26 mile run). My volunteer post was on a desolate, isolated portion of the run course. I’m not sure what I expected to see. Super human beings flying by perhaps? What I saw was both inspiring and mortifying. I saw men and women, just like me. Running and walking that course, doing whatever it took to get it done at the end of a very long day.

Watching from the sideline, I silently whined and complained about everything going wrong in my own life, what a loser I was. Until something snapped and I received an intuitive hit so powerful I still feel it. I heard, clear as day, inside my head: “Do this race. Do the half.”

Preposterous though it was, I decided to complete the half iron distance: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.

Two years later, on November 9, 2008, I crossed the finish line.

In January 2009 I started a writing business for REAL. That business grew into Initiative Based Writing.

4.) Why do you love it?
When I’m interviewing clients and writing for them it feels easy, effortless and fun. Writing has always been that way with me and I always discounted my talent for it because it came so easily.

When I write for clients it feels like I’m contributing to building something great while helping them increase profits and making their lives easier. “Thank you for making this so easy” is something I hear often from clients.

It now makes sense why I’ve always been obsessed with reading, with writing and clear, persuasive communication!

5.) What’s one piece of advice you have for anyone thinking of taking the leap?
Listen to your intuition, even when it may not make sense at the time! Had I not listened to that “voice” that told me “do this race” I would not have a business today, nor would I be in the best shape of my life!

-Contributed by Stefanie Frank. Learn more about Stef. 

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Like 5Q Friday? Want to be featured? Send an email to sixmonthsoff@gmail.com that answers the question: “When did you decide to take the plunge and “create the life you want”?” We will review each submission and let you know next steps if your selected. Check out all our past 5Q Friday posts here. 

Maura Manzo, Yoga Teacher & Coach

1.) Who are you?
My name is Maura Manzo and I’m 31 years old. I currently live outside of Philadelphia.

2.) What’s your business?
I’m a yoga teacher and health coach. I write a popular column for Philadelphia Magazine blog, “Be Well Philly“; I’m proud to be a lululemon athetica ambassador and a community builder for the organization Off the Mat, Into the World. I lead yoga retreats and trainings locally and globally,and at the same time, am deeply invested in my own community at home.

3.) When did you decide to take the plunge and “create the life you want”?
About six years ago, I found myself in a very big rut — unhappy and unhealthy in quite a few areas of my life. I knew it was time for a change and I knew I wanted more, much more out of life. I quit my job, went back to school for holistic health (Institute of Integrative Nutrition) and got a job a local wellness center. About four months after taking this huge leap, the unimaginable happened and my life was, for sure, forever altered.

My apartment caught on fire and I lost everything….everything. All that was left were the clothes on my back. Even my car was destroyed in the fire. On one hand, I was devastated — I had just made huge changes in my life, and now this? What had I done to deserve it? How was I going to start all over when I was already starting all over? On the other hand, there was a part of me that was relieved. I had been praying for a fresh start, and boy did I get one.

Needless to say, it was the best thing that ever happened to me — three days after the fire, I walked into my first yoga class. Nobody will ever convince me otherwise that divine intervention wasn’t at play that day. Long story short, over the course of the next five years, I went on the fall in love with the practice of yoga. I also became the director of the same wellness center and lead it to award-winning success. In 2010, I raised $20,000 for Off the Mat, Into the World and traveled to South Africa for humanitarian work with HIV/AIDS populations. And most recently, in March 2011, I took the plunge to finally become 100% self-employed.

4.) Why do you love it?
I love what I do, every single day. Even in the frustrating, challenging moments. Why? Because I truly believe I am living on purpose. I know I was born to do this work. And I think my quick success is a testimony to the power of living and breathing your passion. I am blessed to be creative every day — everything I do in my life was at once only alive in my imagination. This brings me an enormous amount of pleasure, pride and fulfillment. I am also continually inspired by the people who I work with. I love being able to empower and inspire others to find the greatness that lives inside of them. We all have unique, individual talents and gifts and it my absolute pleasure to support others in tapping into their own possibilities.

5.) What’s one piece of advice you have for anyone thinking of taking the leap?
Faith. Six years ago, when my home burnt down, I was scared. But deep down, I knew everything was going to be ok. I could feel it in my heart. I had to trust that there were a reason for all the things that happened in my life up until that point, that they were lessons and gifts that would later help me. Support is also crucial. Together, we are all better and stronger and more capable. So find a community that supports your growth and helps you take care of you! And finally, follow your heart. Always. It will never let you down.

-Contributed by Maura Manzo. Learn more about Maura. 

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Like 5Q Friday? Want to be featured? Send an email to sixmonthsoff@gmail.com that answers the question: “When did you decide to take the plunge and “create the life you want”?” We will review each submission and let you know next steps if your selected. Check out all our past 5Q Friday posts here. 

Kerstin Krall Walz of Stark Thirst

1.) Who are you? 
Professionally, I am brand builder, entrepreneur, and hold a Diploma in Wine Studies (DWS) from London’s Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

I grew up in West Texas and always dreamed of working on Madison Avenue. I moved to NYC with my dream and lots of energy. Over the next 14 years, I worked my way up in account management from admin to account director at several agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi and Young & Rubicam across a range of brands.

At 40, I’m loving launching and learning a new wine business!

2.) What’s your business?  
My business is being the founder of a new wine brand, Stark Thirst. It’s a wine brand I created to deliver a great-tasting wine and give back at the same time.

I partnered with winemaker Christian Stark to make Stark Thirst. Stark Thirst is 100% Sonoma County Chardonnay that is unoaked and dry. Snooth’s editor-in-chief Gregory Dal Piaz wrote a vivid review: “lovely green apple peel, light citrus tang, gently acid-driven mineral snap…just a lovely expression of grape and place”.

Plus, Stark Thirst gives back through a partnership with WaterAid where 10% of profits are donated to help bring the world’s poorest communities access to safe water. This year alone, thanks to Stark Thirst’s efforts, 200 more people will have access to clean water for life.

Stark Thirst is exclusively distributed through Chelsea Wine Vault (CWV) inside The Chelsea Market in Manhattan. CWV featured Stark Thirst in April and hosted a rocking launch event! They generously donated a 10% of sales from the launch event to WaterAid. Another 40 people will receive water for life!

3.) When did you decide to take the plunge and “create the life you want”? 
My plunge has turned out to be more like a long-distance swim!

January 2010, I found a goofy (but inspiring) fridge magnet that said “Leap Fearlessly”. These words motivated me to get enough courage to resign from my job in October 2011!

I needed time to complete my Diploma in Wine Studies and focus on my business ideas.

After five years, I earned my Diploma in Wine Studies in December 2011. It’s a rigorous program that literally spans every aspect of wine: viticulture (growing); viniculture (making); 100s of grapes varieties; sustainability; business; laws and blind tastings.

And then, in summer of 2011, I conducted focus groups with wine drinkers to test my ideas. I had the most heart for a charitable wine brand. Luckily, wine drinkers liked the idea, too, as long as the wine tastes good and the charitable component is a ‘cherry on top’.

Another big milestone was when I pulled the trigger to purchase the 5 tons of grapes in September of 2011. At this point, I felt there was no going back! Stark Thirst hit the shelves in April of 2012!

4.) Why do you love it?
Starting my own business is the best! It is extremely satisfying, rewarding, and challenging.

• Satisfying because I’ve created a wine that I am excited to drink myself and proud to serve others.
• Rewarding because I’m giving back through the WaterAid partnership.
• Challenging because starting a new business in a new category is the ultimate entrepreneur adventure. Sure, some days are discouraging. But most days, I’m happy.

5.) What’s one piece of advice you have for anyone thinking of taking the leap?
Start with a plan but be able to adapt as you go!

I used to have confidence that I had the experience to manage most advertising challenges. Today, while I may not know the wine business that well, I now embrace the “not knowing” and figure it out as I go.

-Contributed by Kerstin Krall Walz. Learn more about Stark Thirst.

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Like 5Q Friday? Want to be featured? Send an email to sixmonthsoff@gmail.com that answers the question: “When did you decide to take the plunge and “create the life you want”?” We will review each submission and let you know next steps if your selected. Check out all our past 5Q Friday posts here.