Life and Work with Arielle Shipe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Arielle Shipe.

So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve never been one to follow the conventional path but I had no idea that my choices along the way would lead me to a successful online health business or thriving career in content creation. I got my first “real” job out of college working as the director of operations for a small business. I worked Mon-Fri 9-5 and as soon as the “first real job” luster wore off… I hated it. I decided to pursue my love of yoga and do my very first teacher training on nights and weekends and within six months, I had quit that job and gone back to waiting tables at restaurants. I liked that I made good, quick money and that I had a ton of freedom to pick up and go travel whenever I wanted… I taught yoga on the side and things were pretty good. I was hustling.. but I like what that hustle allowed me to do. Then, 4.5 years ago, everything changed… my dad died suddenly due to heart disease problems that no one (including him) knew he had… I was devastated… but I was also determined. I was determined to make steps toward a life that was more fulfilling. I decided to follow my heart and teach yoga full-time.

At first, I made less than $100 a week but slowly… it started to grow and within a year, I had a thriving new career as a yoga teacher. I was living in Aspen, CO and in between my classes I would go out on hikes. I started bringing a GoPro out with me on my adventures and posting photos on my personal Instagram. Seemly out of nowhere… my page started to grow… and at about 35k followers, I realized I wanted to make another leap of faith. I wanted to see if I could create a completely location-independent income so I could travel more and put more energy towards the adventures that were bringing me so much joy. That’s when I started building my online health business! Withing six months (of hustling like a madwoman), I had created a monthly income for myself that allowed me to step away from my group classes and clients and pursue the next chapter… the next adventure. Now, I create content for brands that I love, I travel to teach yoga at different festivals around the US (and even in Costa Rica), I support a team of passionate entrepreneurs and best of all, I genuinely feel like I’m honoring my dad’s passing by living my short time here on earth to it’s fullest!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road is never as smooth as we hope it will be… but would we want it any other way? It’s our challenges that shape us into the people we are… they teach us how to appreciate the good things more… they shake us up enough to make the changes we’ve always wanted to make. In the last six years, I’ve lost my dad, I’ve struggled with major health issues and EVERYTHING I’ve built has taken longer than my ego would have liked. My best advice: when faced with a challenge rise to the occasion. These stumbling blocks can break us… make us feel weak… or the overcoming of them can show us that we had internal strength we never knew existed! YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE.

Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
While the specificities of what I do vary, the overarching theme is a mission to inspire others to define and build their dream lives. Whether it’s through yoga, writing, speaking, or content creation my hope is to remind people that they have what they need to find more joy in their lives. One of my favorite quotes is “Hint- the cage isn’t locked” and I hope through whatever modality I connect with someone through that, I can remind them of this fact!

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Finding a mentor is KEY! I’ve worked with three different coaches over that last two years and have had multiple mentors along the way. Seek out someone who is doing what you want to be doing and either study them or study with them! Working with life/business coaches can set you forward years because they help you see passed all your own limiting beliefs so keep yourself open and follow your intuition if the opportunity to work with someone comes your way. Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself! Sometimes, that’s time… sometimes that’s money… but investing is VERY different from spending and every penny I invested in my self and my businesses was worth it!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arielleshipe.com
• Email: info@arielleshipe.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/arielleshipe/

Image Credit:
@photograferg – Sam Ferguson

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