Business Curious:
Explore business ownership on your terms—with clarity, strategy, and support.
A self-paced course for purpose-driven professionals who want to turn their skills into a service-based business—without the pressure to have it all figured out.
Start Exploring Today
Curious About Working for Yourself?
You’ve been thinking about it for a while—maybe even years.
The idea of working for yourself. Using your strengths to build something that reflects your values. Creating more freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment in your life.
But then the questions come in:
Where would I start? What if I fail? What if I don’t know enough?
Business Curious was created for this exact moment.
It’s designed to help you explore the path of entrepreneurship—without the overwhelm, the pressure to be perfect, or the need to have a full-fledged business plan before you begin.
Who It's For
This course is for you if:
-
You’re craving more autonomy, purpose, and alignment in your work
-
You’re considering consulting, freelancing, or launching a service-based business
-
You want to explore what's possible before making a big leap
-
You’re curious—but unsure where to begin
-
You’d benefit from guidance, structure, and feedback as you take the first steps
What You'll Gain
In this course, you'll:
-
Identify your motivations and values as a business owner
-
Clarify your strengths and how they could translate into offerings
-
Explore service models and pricing strategies
-
Reflect on how you want to structure your time and workday
-
Learn what it takes to begin sustainably—without risking everything
Personalized Feedback to Guide You
This isn’t just a DIY course with no support.
As you complete the self-assessments, you’ll receive personalized written feedback from me—along with guiding questions to help you reflect more deeply and develop your own answers.
You’ll gain insight from someone who’s built a small business themselves, while staying grounded in what matters most to you.
Your feedback will help you clarify next steps that align with your interests, values, skills, and goals—so you can move forward with confidence and intention.
A Realistic Path Forward
You don’t need to have everything figured out.
Businesses evolve.
They change over time—as you grow, as your goals shift, and as the world changes around you.
All you really need to get started is an idea, some motivation, and a bit of time.
And no—you don’t need a ton of money. Many small business owners start with limited resources and grow step by step.
Designed for Busy Professionals
You may end up working more hours than you’re used to—but when your work is aligned with your purpose, those hours often feel energizing, not draining.
Working for yourself means gaining more control over when, how, and where you work.
That flexibility allows many of my clients to spend more time outdoors, build movement into their days, and structure their work around their well-being.
Learning from Real-World Experience
Over the past few years, I’ve collaborated with dozens of small businesses—most of them women-owned. From photographers and marketing consultants to designers and web developers, I’ve had the opportunity to choose who I work with and build relationships rooted in shared values, trust, and mutual support.
As a business owner, you’ll discover how fulfilling it can be to partner with others who are also building something meaningful.
You may be starting solo—but that doesn’t mean you have to move forward feeling uninformed or unprepared.
What's Inside
Here’s a look at what you’ll explore inside the course through 20+ engaging lessons.
Module 1: Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Mindset
- Managing Fear & Uncertainty
- The Art of Starting Small
- Adaptable Planning: Building a Foundation that Grows
- Embracing Your Strengths
Module 2: Building Your Business Circle
- Building Your Professional Ecosystem
- Connecting with Your First Clients
- Your Professional Network and Value Creation
Module 3: Essential Business Resources
- First Steps: Legal and Financial Considerations
- Essential Business Tools & Business Systems
- Developing Business Skills: Resources and Support
- Professional Development: Mapping Your Learning Path
- Testing and Learning: Your Business Evolution
Is Independent Work Right for You?
Dreaming of having more control over your career? You're not alone.
Many experienced professionals reach a point where they wonder: Could I succeed on my own?
Whether you're unsure how to make your day-to-day work less stressful or you're feeling frustrated searching for a new opportunity, feeling unfulfilled in your career is not your only option!
Transform Your Expertise into Independent Work
This course is designed for mid-to-late career professionals who want to:
• Create more flexibility in their work life
• Maintain or improve financial security while exploring independence
• Turn their expertise into sustainable income
• Find greater work-life harmony
• Make a meaningful impact through their work
What Makes This Course Different?
- Test ideas safely
- Build confidence gradually
- Learn practical strategies
- Access proven resources
- Receive personalized written feedback
- Connect with like-minded professionals
Perfect for Mission-Driven Professionals Who:
✓ Have valuable expertise but aren't sure how to package it
✓ Want to explore independence without risking everything
✓ Seek greater autonomy and creative freedom
✓ Value both innovation and stability
✓ Feel ready to explore but uncertain where to begin
What You'll Discover
✓ How to evaluate business ideas without risking your security
✓ Ways to leverage your existing expertise and network
✓ Strategies for building multiple income streams
✓ Tools for managing uncertainty and building confidence
✓ Resources for ongoing support and growth
Real-Life Inspiration
Many of my clients have successfully launched service-based businesses—in fields ranging from education to communications and beyond.
For many of them, it wasn’t about hustle. It was about alignment.
Take Jill, for example. When we started working together, she was navigating uncertainty about her direction. Now, she’s thriving in her own consulting practice and in her personal life as a mother of a young child.
“Working with Erica has been a tremendously positive step for me. I've been in a space of both questioning my current professional value and exploring curiosities around what it might look like to take my career in a new direction. My work with Erica has been an opportunity to consider both of those spaces.”
— Jill
Wondering if Independent Work Could Be Your Next Chapter?
Hi, I'm Erica
As an Executive Coach, I partner with purpose-driven professionals who are ready to reimagine their careers and create meaningful change in the world. I'm particularly passionate about helping experienced professionals discover how their skills and expertise can have greater impact through professional freedom.
My path to coaching began naturally, when colleagues started seeking my guidance about their career transitions. While working as an environmental protection lobbyist, I launched my coaching practice on the side, working with clients during evenings and weekends. As my client base grew and my vision expanded – including plans for a book and speaking engagements – I recognized it was time to fully embrace professional autonomy.
Drawing on my background in psychology, law, and public administration, I help clients chart their own entrepreneurial paths in ways that align with their values and priorities. Whether you're dreaming of consulting, launching a small business, or creating a solo practice, I'll help you transform your professional expertise into work that offers both impact and independence, with an approach that honors your need for flexibility, financial security, and work-life harmony.
Qualifications
Erica transformed a side business into a thriving coaching practice that has supported thousands of purpose-driven professionals. She’s built strategic partnerships with institutions like Harvard University, the Suffolk University Executive MBA Program, and UMass Amherst, while generating multiple revenue streams through executive coaching, career development programs, and professional speaking. As the author of Clarifying What Matters: Creating Direction for Your Career, she brings deep expertise in helping professionals turn their experience into sustainable business ventures. A Certified Career Services Provider and Master Certified Life Coach, Erica combines business insight with a strong foundation in human development, holding a BA in Psychology, a Master of Public Administration, and a JD.
Hi, I'm Chuck
I've spent over two decades navigating the waters of entrepreneurship, from running my own design agency to launching a specialized pet care business. I understand firsthand the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with considering independence – I've been there multiple times myself.
My journey started with my parents' swimwear business and led to running ILLUSIO for 22 years, where I helped businesses and nonprofits build their digital presence. In 2021, I made another pivot, founding Pooch Patrol LLC, a specialized pet care service. This transition showed me that it's never too late to start something new, and that past experience can provide unexpected advantages in new ventures.
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I've learned the value of keeping things simple and working smarter, not harder. I believe that a successful business shouldn't mean sacrificing your personal life. I'm here to help you explore the possibility of independence – without the overwhelm that often comes with it.
Qualifications
Chuck brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience across multiple industries, with a track record of launching and sustaining purpose-driven businesses. He founded and ran a design agency for 22 years, serving clients from local nonprofits to major media companies like Showtime and Universal Pictures. During the pandemic, he successfully built and scaled a specialized pet care business, Pooch Patrol LLC, showing his knack for spotting market needs and turning them into viable ventures. With a background in marketing, branding, and digital strategy, Chuck has helped countless small businesses and nonprofits strengthen their presence. His experience spans full-time ventures and side gigs, service-based and client-focused models, and he’s known for creating efficient systems that support lifestyle flexibility and long-term sustainability.
