It was nearing midnight. I’d been glued to my screen, obsessively tweaking every last detail of a product description on my Shopify store. My eyes were burning, my back ached, and I was one more error message away from giving up for the night.

But I couldn’t stop. I was determined to get it just right.

And then—DING! 

My heart skipped a beat. I froze, ears straining to pinpoint the sound. 

DING! 

There it was again. Where is my phone?! My pulse quickened. Could it be what I think it is? I scrambled, tossing aside papers and cushions, desperately searching. Finally, I found it. 

Cha-ching! You’ve made a sale!

I stared at the notification, my tired eyes widening. I read it again.

And again. 

Slowly, a grin spread across my face. My heart raced as the realization hit.

It’s working! It’s really working!

For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the screen, afraid the notification might vanish. But it was real.

Someone—a complete stranger—had bought something from my store. This wasn’t a pity purchase from a friend or family member. 

This was real.

A flood of emotions surged through me: pride, disbelief, and a shot of pure adrenaline. 

My exhaustion vanished faster than a Death Eater disapparating under Dumbledore’s glare.

I wanted to dance (even with my two left feet) and jump for joy, just like I did when I passed my NCLEX.

In that instant, every late night, every moment of frustration, every skeptical comment telling me I was “crazy” disappeared into the background.

Finding Freedom in a Side Hustle

That ding was a breath of fresh air. For years, my world had revolved around shifts, scrubs, and the organized chaos of nursing.

Shopify offered something new: a sense of control over my time, my work, and my outcomes. It became my escape—a space where I could experiment and create on my terms -no deadlines or shift reports looming over me.

This was more than just a side hustle. My initial motivation was to help with my parents’ expenses as they aged and needed more care. 

But deep down, I craved something that was mine. Something beyond the routines and hierarchies of nursing—a project that gave me space to pause, breathe, and, if I felt like it, dance in my living room at midnight just because I could.

What I didn’t expect was how much every small win would mean.

Each sale, each tweak to my store, felt like diving headfirst into a world I didn’t understand—seriously, my tech skills stopped at writing on a Word document.

I was scared of the unknown, the kind of person who liked to know every step before taking it.

But even with the fear, there was a spark of hope, this tiny voice saying, “What if this actually works?“

The Mastermind Group: My Lifeline

Remember the first business conference I ever attended in Maryland? That’s where it all began.

I met a group of people who would become my support system. We formed a mastermind group—a fancy name for “a bunch of dreamers figuring it out as we go.” (If you think that sounds crazy, you should check out my Crazy is as Crazy Does post.)

This group became my lifeline—a safe space where I could vent about frustrations, celebrate small wins, and remind myself that giving up wasn’t an option.

There were days when I felt completely overwhelmed—every decision felt like stepping onto a minefield, and my confidence was as wobbly as a Jell-O on a hot day.

But then, I’d hop on a call with my mastermind group, and the chaos would start to untangle. We shared stories of epic fails and little victories, and suddenly, the journey felt a lot less lonely.

Through my mastermind group, I learned the magic of asking for help. 

They became my tribe, the people who understood the struggle and didn’t judge me for it.

They celebrated everything with me, from brainstorming a store name to surviving the terrifying process of uploading my first product.

One night stands out: I was on the verge of tears, utterly defeated by payment settings that refused to cooperate. I was ready to hurl my laptop out the window. 

Then, a message popped up from one of my groupmates: 

“You’ve got this. Hop on a call, and let’s figure it out together.” 

That moment hit me like a warm hug I didn’t know I needed.

The First Facebook Ad: Confusion, Frustration, and a Glorious Win 

Building my store was one thing, but getting people to actually see it was another.

Enter Facebook ads. It felt like trying to decode a secret language with no cheat sheet—like high school math all over again, where the teacher’s explanation sounded more like alien gibberish a.k.a Klingon (looking at you, Star Trek fans).

Running a Facebook ad was a maze of decisions. I spent hours—and I mean hours—trying to figure out the ad settings.

My eyes blurred as I stared at options like ‘create a campaign’ and ‘boost a post.’ I had no idea what to choose: conversion campaign or awareness campaign? Custom audience or lookalike audience? Cost per click or cost per impression?

And seriously, what in the world is the difference between ad creatives and ad sets?

The choices felt endless: audiences, budgets, objectives. I had no idea if I was building a marketing strategy or accidentally signing up for NASA’s next mission to Mars.

More than once, I wanted to throw in the towel. Frustration buzzed in my head like a mosquito I couldn’t swat. But every time I felt like quitting, my mastermind group swooped in with reminders that even the pros once started clueless.

So I pushed forward, taking it one step at a time. 

I made mistakes—a lot of them. But each misstep taught me something new. When it got too overwhelming, I’d step away, clear my head, and return with fresh determination.

After what felt like a lifetime of tutorials, trial and error, and enough ad copy drafts to fill a small novel, I finally launched my first Facebook ad. My mastermind group cheered me on like I’d just crossed the finish line of a marathon.

And then it came: my first sale. That notification wasn’t just a transaction—it was validation

Bloopers, Oops, and Lessons Learned

Building my store was anything but smooth. There were plenty of mishaps—moments that still make me laugh, cringe, or both even until now.

One unforgettable night, I accidentally uploaded an entire product listing with the wrong description. A friend messaged me a screenshot, asking, “Is this supposed to be a sweater or a coffee mug?” 

My cheeks burned. It was a rookie mistake that quickly became a running joke in our group chat: “Remember the Sweater-Mug Incident?”

And then there were the technical hurdles. 

I had to lean heavily on one of my groupmates who knew a whole lot more about online stuff. Every small task felt huge. Setting up a payment gateway? No clue. Creating a return policy? Even less of a clue.

What? I need to create a Facebook Fanpage too? Well, how in the fiddlesticks am I supposed to do that?

It was like building a rocket ship when all I’ve ever driven was a bicycle.

But every mistake, every ‘oops’ moment, came with a lesson. This wasn’t just about learning e-commerce and Shopify. I was learning patience, resilience, and an unexpected joy in figuring things out for myself.

There’s a unique satisfaction in messing up, fixing it, and laughing about it later.

Biggest Takeaways: Lessons I Never Expected

Looking back, I realize that this journey has taught me far more than just how to run a Shopify store. Here are a few takeaways that stick with me every time self-doubt tries to creep in:

There’s a Whole World Outside Healthcare
Nursing is a big part of who I am, but this venture showed me there’s life beyond hospital walls. The resilience and problem-solving skills I developed as a nurse carried over, proving healthcare lessons thrive in unexpected places.

You Can Do Anything (With the Right People)
Having like-minded people around made all the difference. When I was down, they lifted me. When I celebrated, they cheered louder than I did. The right tribe keeps you grounded, pushes you forward, and reminds you that limits are just imaginary lines.

Ignore the Naysayers
People thought I was a bit out there for juggling an online business while working as a nurse. Maybe I was, but I’ve learned to tune out the negativity—not everyone will see my vision, and that’s okay.

My journey is about growth—MY growth—not theirs.

Stepping into the Great Unknown

Looking back on the night I earned my first $$$ online through Shopify, I feel like Alice after falling down the rabbit hole—caught between the demands of nursing and the unforgettable moments of that journey, but with more hustle and wisdom in my pocket.

That midnight ‘ding’ was the start of something bigger. It proved that stepping into the unknown could open doors I never imagined and gave me something I hadn’t felt in years: freedom beyond shifts, routines, and expectations.

This journey wasn’t just about learning a new skill or starting a side hustle. It taught me that we’re not limited by the roles we take on—nurse, entrepreneur, dreamer—but by the boundaries we’re too scared to challenge.

Ultimately, it’s not about the uniform you wear or the job title you hold. It’s about the courage to imagine something different—and the willingness to chase it, one step (or one “ding”) at a time.

With knees trembling, I slowly stood up, letting my gaze sweep across the room as the applause faded. It was my very first business conference, held in Maryland a few years ago, and it marked the beginning of my journey into the digital world.

I was in a room full of people I had just met, many exploring their own paths in the digital space. The unfamiliar faces at my table lit up with encouraging smiles.

My coach, Sue, beamed with pride. For days, she had been urging someone from our group to speak up. It was already the fourth day of the five-day business conference, and so far, no one at our table had dared to—until now.

Everyone at our table preferred to sit back, listen, and observe. Unlike some of the more outspoken participants, we were content being spectators, absorbing information about business and the digital world, rather than actively engaging.

But that day, something inside me shifted. I raised my hand and decided to take a leap of faith, to speak up when no one else would.

Overcoming Self-Doubt

Everything seemed to slow down as I reached for the microphone.

A gazillion thoughts raced through my mind, zigzagging like a heart monitor.

The room was filled with strangers, all looking at me expectantly—or was it just my imagination? I swallowed nervously and glanced at my coach again. She was looking at me like I was a hero or something. 

I took a deep breath, so deep I feared half the room would be sucked in.

“That’s fewer people to feel shy around,” my mind quipped. I let out a big sigh, humorously picturing those sucked in by my breath being gently puffed back out.

“Come on, Len. Open your mouth and speak,” my mind commanded. My mouth obeyed.

Facing the Fear, Finding My Voice

I began speaking: “When I told some of my friends and family I was going to a business conference, they thought I was joking. I was assessed, probed, and grilled about this “business thing”.

At first, the words stumbled out, like a patient taking their first steps after surgery. I could hear the tremor in my voice, betraying the nerves I was trying to control. 

But as I spoke, something surprising happened. The room seemed to shrink. The intimidating faces blurred into the background. My focus narrowed to just the message I wanted to convey- the ideas that had been swirling in my mind for days.

I continued, “A friend asked if I  had a loose screw in my head, or if I was sick or something. Another asked who I’ve been talking to, who put ‘those ideas’ in my head.”

“I had a feeling they were looking for someone to blame for this crazy thing happening to me.”

The audience smiled, some even chuckled, and I began to feel a shift. The words started to come out more smoothly, each one building on the last, gaining momentum. I saw a few nods—a sign that maybe, just maybe, I was making sense.

“Alright, this isn’t so bad,” I thought, feeling my confidence rise like a patient’s blood pressure after 10 mg of Midodrine. 

My voice steadied, and I felt like I had something worth saying for the first time since I stood up.

“The day I told some of my coworkers that I was going to a business conference, one of them asked if last night was a full moon,”

“An older coworker said bluntly that I was not built to be a business person.”

“Another colleague,” I continued, “put her hand on my forehead, checking if I was delirious.”

The crowd chuckled, and I smiled, feeling lighter. I was no longer speaking just to fill the silence; I was sharing a part of myself that had been waiting for this moment. 

It was the first time I felt like I had stepped outside the box I had been placed in—nurse, caretaker, “the practical one.”

Embracing the Crazy

“I told them this, and I’m repeating it to you now,” I said, scanning the room of strangers who were now leaning forward, eager to hear the rest. 

“I was called crazy for coming here. But I’d rather be called crazy and ridiculed than live with regret later, knowing I could have pursued something worthwhile”

“This is the way I see it:

“I COULD EITHER LIVE MY LIFE BY DESIGN OR BY DEFAULT.“

“If I am to be labeled crazy for doing what I want, then so be it.

With a deep breath, I ended with my battle cry: 

“Crazy is as crazy does.”

“Let the crazies rule!”

An Unexpected Response

The room erupted in applause. The sound washed over me like a wave, and I realized how significant this moment was. It wasn’t just about speaking at a conference. It was about claiming something new for myself.

To my surprise, people began queuing up to give me hugs. Strangers wanted to welcome me, to tell me they resonated with what I said, that they were proud of me, or just to show they cared. 

It was overwhelming. 

I never imagined that I’d be rubbing elbows with wealthy business people—some of whom were millionaires—but there they were, offering their support. 

It smashed the picture I had of money-grabbing, snub, rich people. Instead, I found myself surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to help and were willing to extend their kindness to someone like me, just starting out.

These folks welcomed me into this strange, new world of entrepreneurship, where taking risks was celebrated, not feared. 

As I stood there, I realized how wrong I had been about this crowd. They weren’t distant or opportunistic. They were warm, open, and ready to help a stranger who dared to speak her truth.

I sat back down, heart still racing, and felt an undeniable shift inside me. 

For the first time, I wasn’t just a nurse. I was something more—an entrepreneur, someone willing to risk being called crazy to chase after something bigger. 

That moment changed everything. It was the start of a journey I never expected to take, but one I couldn’t walk away from now.

A World Outside of Healthcare

I didn’t know it then, but this moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. One where I would learn how businesses were built, join communities of like-minded individuals, and stretch myself in ways I never thought possible. 

It was like learning a whole new set of vital signs—instead of blood pressure and heart rate, I’d be monitoring conversion rates and ROI.

The conference was an eye-opener. 

It made me realize I could do something entirely different—build my online business, create my logo, and be my own boss and do so many other things I never, in my wildest imagination would do or be a part of. 

It introduced me to a world that exists outside of nursing—the business world—something I never, in a gazillion years, would have expected to be in. 

The only world I knew was healthcare, and suddenly I saw a whole new world of possibilities.

The E-commerce Journey Begins

When I attended this conference, I was completely clueless about business- I hadn’t started any side hustles, had zero knowledge about marketing, creating a Facebook page, or even the basics of entrepreneurship. 

I couldn’t tell you about the world of side gigs and hustle if my life depended on it- nothing, zilch!….. just a desire to learn and find a way to create a better future for my aging and sick parents.

Some of my friends and family thought I was making a huge mistake. My sister was worried that I might be getting involved in a cult.

She made me send pictures of the hotel I was staying in, the conference room, and anything else that could prove I wasn’t caught in some kind of scam. 

I had to reassure her that I did not join an underground movement or was going to come back home brainwashed.

After the conference, the real work began. I went home and dug deep into the ecom world. 

I learned about building an online store, creating a logo, setting up a Facebook fan page, running ads, and understanding marketing concepts. It was all new to me, and I was starting from scratch. 

It wasn’t a walk in the park.

It felt like I was going to college but instead of nursing, decided to take Egyptology with Hieroglyphics as my major.

It was bonkers, full of head-scratching and what-in-the-world-am-I-doing? and how-in-Harry-Potter-am-I-going-to-do-this? moments.

But the thrill of learning kept me going. I felt a sense of control and freedom I had never experienced before…

I wanted to learn more.

I still want to learn more.

Beyond the Bedside

A lot of things have happened since that day. There were twists and turns in my -ecom journey – like an action-packed love story that suddenly turned to sci-fi.

I would love to share my online adventures with you. 

If you love my story so far, watch out for my next posts. I’ll tell you more about this adventure that has changed the way I think about things and life.

As they say, those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

And if that’s true, then I say bring on the crazy.

LET THE CRAZIES RULE!