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Kellie's Story: How Career Coaching Helped Kellie Start Her Own Business After Being Laid Off

What are you supposed to do when you’re laid off? Start applying for other jobs? Retire early? Start your own business?


When Kellie and I met in 2020, her administrative position at Walt Disney World had just been eliminated. She had worked for Disney for over 20 years (!!) Kellie found herself unemployed with a world of possibility ahead of her. She was ready for her next thing, but she didn’t want to jump into another full-time role.


Kellie Before Coaching


What’s the plan now? What’s next?”


As an ex-cast member myself (who had also recently been laid off), I offered career coaching to fellow Disney employees who were finding their footing. Kellie reached out for a session, and we instantly clicked. She’s bubbly, kind and light. And I could feel how impacted she was by the elimination of her position.


"There I was, 50 years old, and totally changing careers. Disney had been my whole thing. I was heartbroken my Disney career was over, but even though working for Disney was a dream, my career path was no longer fulfilling."

Kellie During Coaching


"Ali helped me put the pieces together and step out of my own way."

Processing Loss


Before we dreamed up Kellie’s next thing, we acknowledged the loss of being let go. Losing a job—even if it’s not your dream role—is a kind of grief. We made space for that.


“At first I was sad, and I went through the whole grieving process,” Kellie says. “Ali and I had a couple sessions where I got emotional that my Disney position was ‘not essential’ after 23 years.”


Following The Joy


There’s a funny thing about sitting with pain: it can make a path for joy. After we’d processed the loss of her job, Kellie had the space to think about the happiest times of her career. I call these “times of ecstatic engagement.” For Kellie, she knew the answer immediately: Her work as an animal keeper in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and at a Dude Ranch in college. 


"I knew I wanted to work with animals again. I  knew I liked caring for my chickens and my dogs. Animals were the goal—I just didn’t know what: Chickens? Goats? Miniature ponies? Pony rides? I was all over the place!”

Kellie had no shortage of ideas, so I helped her narrow down. 


Picking a Path


Making decisions comes up a lot in my work with clients. I love helping them choose a path that feels exciting and attainable. We always start with getting every idea on paper. With Kellie, we came up with all sorts of ways she could help animals and their humans: Boarding, grooming, swim lessons, and transportation. 


In her decision-making process, I was Kellie’s sounding board.


“Sometimes you need someone who can say, ‘Here’s what I hear you saying.'” Kellie says.


Then, it was up to Kellie: 


“I did a lot of soul-searching and journaling. Ali does a great job of helping you unpack it all. We’d clear up other clutter in my life to get to the clarity I needed to make decisions.”

Kellie decided to start with transporting animals. Sure, she could get a job with a transportation company. But another piece became clear: She wanted to start her own business


“I wanted the freedom to work with the people that I wanted to work with. I wanted to offer more than what other companies in the area were offering.”

Making it Happen


It was amazing how quickly Fetch Animal Services came together.  Kellie supplemented her income with other jobs while she got Fetch off the ground. She even bought a truck with her severance package and built the business debt-free. She created branding, logos, and signs. 

“Ali helped me set those small goals to get to the next step. It felt so cleansing to go through that process”.

When I took my puppy, Rosie, to “Sunnyside Mini Farm” to be boarded by Kellie, everything made sense. Kellie was born to work with dogs!


Kellie After Coaching



Activating Her Network


Kellie is super connected in the pet community. When she started Fetch, she was working part-time for a dog-training center and fostering dogs at home. People saw her truck in the parking lot and got curious. And the families who adopted the foster dogs or went to the dog training center quickly became her clients!


She also had great support. Her husband (who I also coached!) was loving and supportive in the transition. After working at Disney for another three years, he retired to help Kellie with Fetch. 


Scaling and Growing 


After a few years of being in business, Kellie reached out for more coaching. She wanted guidance to organize her systems, cast a new vision, and solidify priorities. I was thrilled to step in as an advisor to help her re-center. I was struck by how much she had accomplished since we had last worked together! 


Making a Difference


Now, Kellie helps seniors who live alone get their dogs to the groomer or the vet. She boards dogs on her gorgeous property where there’s lots of room for them to run and play. She provides grooming services.


And she’s found it all to be incredibly fulfilling. 


“I’m not just making a difference in dogs’ lives, but in people’s lives, too”. 

She’s living in her joy and doing meaningful work that fills her days with fun and purpose. And to think—it all started with her position being eliminated!


 


Certified Life & Career Coach in Central FL Ali Goodin

Ali Goodin Certified Career Coach in Central FL


I'm a former Disney employee, graphic designer turned career coach, and job transition expert. I created Ful Life Coaching to give professionals of all ages & stages a safe space to navigate career transition. My passion is equipping professionals with the tools and confidence they need to transition in their careers – from launch to retirement – so they can live happier, healthier lives.




 


Are you ready to do work you love so you can live a happier, healthier life?



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