In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Kellie Grutko about the winding roads of creative ambition, career pivots, and rediscovering purpose after corporate life. Kellie candidly shares the story of following her dream to pitch a TV travel show pilot, why it never made it to air, and how the lessons from that risk-taking adventure eventually led her to coaching women through major life and career changes.

About the Guest:

Kellie Grutko is a women’s transition coach and founder of Purposeful Pivot. With a professional background in marketing and media, Kellie now helps women translate decades of corporate experience into fulfilling new phases of work and life. Her journey from high-powered executive, to travel show dreamer, to empowerment coach inspires her mission to support others navigating big changes.

Main Topics Covered:

• Kellie’s leap from corporate marketing to pitching a travel TV show pilot.
• The realities of navigating creative dreams outside one’s comfort zone and network.
• Lessons learned from “failure” and the value of trying, even if the project doesn’t take off.
• Identity, reinvention, and finding your next chapter after leaving a traditional corporate role.
• The importance of support systems, introspection, and celebrating small wins during transitions.
• How Kellie now guides women through similar transitions as a certified coach.

Quote from the Episode: “A lot of people would have the idea and never even give it a shot. I looked at it as, you know, I had an idea, I followed through. It didn’t work, but I learned from it. I had fun doing it. And eventually, in a weird, like you said, thread kind of way, it led me to where I am.” — Kellie Grutko

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Kellie’s background and move from Pennsylvania to Charlotte

[00:01:34] Life and career at a Fortune 50 company; the origins of her TV show idea

[00:08:59] Turning a dream into action: how Kellie developed, shot, and pitched her pilot

[00:14:03] Financial realities, support from her husband, and staying motivated

[00:21:03] The afterlife of a shelved project—accepting change and evolving goals

[00:23:10] Transition coaching: redefining career and identity for women

[00:28:22] Connecting the threads from past dreams to new purpose

[00:32:59] Being brave, introverted, and going after what you want

[00:33:39] Kellie’s business, Purposeful Pivot, and her “Celebrating Small Wins” offer

[00:35:17] Fun closing questions: monkeys, turn signals, and thermostat negotiations

Special Offer from the Guest:

Creating Small WIns Worksheet https://www.purposefulpivot.net/small-wins

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

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In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Katrina Sawa—Northern California-based business coach, author, and publisher—about the pivotal moments that led her to leave situations that no longer served her, from quitting a draining corporate job to making bold moves in her personal and professional life. Katrina shares how her clarity around self-worth and refusal to settle shaped her journey into entrepreneurship, and offers insights for anyone feeling “stuck” or undervalued in their work or relationships.

About the Guest:

Business Coach & Book Publisher, Katrina Sawa, is CEO of JumpstartYourBizNow.com and JumpstartPublishing.net. For over two decades, Katrina has been helping entrepreneurs of all kinds get more comfortable and clarity around marketing, pricing to their worth, packaging and selling themselves. As the creator of the Jumpstart Your Sales & Systems Bootcamp, International Speaker and International Best-Selling author with 22 books, she hosts and speaks at events, workshops and webinars online and in person all year long and she’s been doing it since 2002. Katrina lives in Northern California with her husband Jason, stepdaughter Riley and their loving dog Luna. She loves entertaining, cooking, wine tasting and speaking to groups of all sizes.

Main Topics Covered:

• What it feels like to be in a job (or relationship) that’s no longer serving you
• How workplace burnout and a lack of support catalyzed Katrina’s leap into entrepreneurship
• The role of intuition, self-worth, and risk-taking in moving forward
• Practical support systems—from family help to lines of credit—that make transitions possible
• Identifying when you’re “settling” and why it’s okay (and necessary) to say no
• Parallels between quitting a job, leaving a relationship, and ending a business offer
• Navigating unsupportive relationships and finding people who lift you up
• Advice for anyone feeling stuck or undervalued in any area of life

Quote from the Episode:

“I want to empower people just to stop settling for not being totally happy. We deserve this. Life could be short. ... Let’s make it our happiest, most amazing life ever, with the right people around us, doing the things that we love and just embracing it all.” — Katrina Sawa

Timestamps: [00:00:04] Warm welcome & where Katrina calls home

[00:00:49] Katrina’s philosophy on kindness and real-life support

[00:02:36] The experience that led to leaving her last job

[00:07:03] Self-worth, intuition, and walking away from “bad bosses”

[00:10:32] Laying groundwork for entrepreneurship: networking & coaching

[00:12:11] The leap into business ownership: excitement, nerves, and risk

[00:15:26] What settling feels like—patterns in work and relationships

[00:17:39] The crucial role of family support and financial planning

[00:19:48] Are you a risk-taker? Katrina’s perspective

[00:22:23] Recognizing settling and trusting your gut

[00:26:34] The gentle process of deciding it’s time to move on

[00:28:31] Parallels in quitting jobs, relationships, and business offers

[00:29:19] Money, letting go, and making room for better opportunities

[00:30:10] Katrina’s work today—business coaching and book publishing

[00:31:32] Fun questions: favorite TV, networking, and desert island meals

Special Offer from the Guest:

Get a free audio version of Katrina’s book Love Yourself Successful and explore resources for launching your own story via collaboration or solo publishing. Visit LoveYourselfSuccessful.com for more details.

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the...

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Julia Chien—Vancouver-based registered dietitian and passionate world traveler—about the life-changing impact of booking a one-way ticket and embracing adventure after heartbreak. Julia shares her story of leaving behind a comfortable routine, overcoming the limitations of chronic eczema, and discovering both freedom and loneliness during her years of solo travel across Central and South America, Europe, and Asia.

About the Guest:

Julia Chien is a registered dietitian based in Vancouver, BC, specializing in holistic nutrition and the root causes of chronic inflammation. Through her own journey healing from eczema and building a location-independent business, Julia helps others find balance and empowerment in their health and careers. She is also an avid solo traveler, digital nomad, and advocate for growth through risk-taking and self-discovery.

Main Topics Covered:

• What inspired Julia's decision to buy a one-way plane ticket to Costa Rica at the end of a long-term relationship.
• Navigating the healing journey from chronic eczema and what newfound health enabled Julia to do.
• The logistics, emotional experience, and practical strategies of working remotely while traveling solo through multiple countries.
• How spontaneous decision-making, risk-taking, and meeting new people shaped Julia’s self-discovery and spiritual healing.
• The challenges of being a digital nomad—including loneliness, burnout, finances, and adapting to different cultures.
• Insights into Julia’s work as a holistic dietitian and the unique pressures of entrepreneurship.
• Learning to nurture one’s own wellbeing and redefine what “home” and “success” mean.

Quote from the Episode:

“Traveling really showed me how much out there there is that we haven’t really seen as people... it was healing in the sense where I kind of finally was able to do things for myself, because I realized that I poured so much into my business... I started to not really do things for myself.”—Julia Chien

Timestamps: [00:00:06] Welcome & intros; where Julia calls home

[00:01:39] A one-way ticket to Costa Rica: the catalyst moment

[00:02:20] Healing, heartbreak, and remote work: what led to travel

[00:04:56] Leaving a healthy long-term relationship and mindset shifts

[00:06:46] Booking the ticket: doubts, freedom, and practicalities

[00:09:00] Choosing Costa Rica and first days as a solo traveler

[00:12:02] Combining work and adventure as a digital nomad

[00:14:25] From Costa Rica to Colombia: the spark for indefinite travel

[00:16:47] How Julia chose her next destinations and the power of nature

[00:18:25] Deciding how long to stay and returning home for milestones

[00:19:57] Letting go of “home” and going all in as a digital nomad

[00:21:48] Navigating logistics: connectivity, finances, and minimalism

[00:25:43] Solo travel: from loneliness to community

[00:27:11] Expanding to Europe and Asia: the full world tour

[00:29:38] Living from a suitcase; how her travel rhythm evolved

[00:31:13] Spiritual lessons, self-discovery, and redefining success

[00:34:56] Adventures, risk-taking, and pushing boundaries

[00:39:44] Could this transformation happen without travel?

[00:41:57] Julia’s business, nutrition practice, and special offer

[00:43:23] Fun questions & rapid-fire favorites

Special Offer from the Guest:

Journalling Guide for Busy Entrepreneurs

Value: $29 USD Special offer: FREE - https://julia-chien.mykajabi.com/journalling-guide

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

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