Confessions of a Corporate Refugee

Recently, Ellen was interviewed by Nancy Merant, the leader of RISE, a network of  New Jersey woman entrepreneurs in the wellness field, about her transition from working in the corporate world to creating a business built around positivity. In the interview, Ellen describes how she made the journey from being a corporate refugee who has happily found herself in the wellness space and has created a life where there is no need to retire.

NANCY: Who is Ellen? The parts of you that no one else can see?
ELLEN: I am a person who knows you can reinvent yourself and do things you never imagined that you could. I am proof that you can create a life that makes sense, feels good and is so fun to live. I totally believe in magic, miracles and manifesting the life you want.

I went from being a CPA (typical Type A, Virgo) for 30 years in the corporate world to diving into all things spiritual, and from there creating a thumbs-up, Buddha-like statue named Syd. Seriously? I still am amazed.

I love the fact that I’ve created a life that doesn’t need retirement. There are many things that bring great joy, including an astrology class where I learned to concentrate on fewer, but more powerful, creative ideas as opposed to saying yes to so many smaller things that zap my energy.

I need lots of alone time because I absorb people’s energy like a sponge. My clairvoyant teacher used to say, “Ellen, you walk down the street and everyone’s energy sticks to you.” Of course I have my energetic tools, but still need that alone time to recharge. For much of my life I thought I had low-level depression, but once I learned that I am an empath, I learned the tools to keep me healthy and balanced.

NANCY: Can you please describe your business?
ELLEN: I built a business called The Suburban Monk. I loved that name. It came to me in meditation, and I knew that would be the name of my business even though at the time I had no idea past that point. Our tagline is, “Create a life that makes sense, feels good and is so much fun.” Our cornerstone product is Syd, our two-thumbs-up little Buddha statue that comes in 14 colors, each with a color meaning card. I also created Big Syd, a larger statue who radiates joy and acceptance. He is so cool and magical. People message me all the time with their “Syd Stories”.

The Suburban Monk is a place that makes you feel better, whether you own a Syd or go to our website and follow “Where in the World is Syd”–where he travels all over the world creating joy. I love elevating people. I love humor and amusement. The word “spirituality” can seem so serious and it doesn’t have to be.

NANCY: Why?
ELLEN: I had a great career, great money and was very respected, but I knew there was more. I didn’t want to get to the end of my life knowing I never had the courage to find out. So I quit, and during that time I felt so so lost, but never sorry I made that choice. In that void where the past was gone (not my husband, 3 sons or dog, but still, this was big for me), I focused on anything that made me feel better, and from that place, Syd and The Suburban Monk were born.

NANCY: Where can we visit you and follow you online?
ELLEN:
www.thesuburbanmonk.com
Instagram: @thesuburbanmonk
Twitter: @thesuburbanmonk
Facebook: @thesuburbanmonk

NANCY: Please share a practice that keeps you centered.
ELLEN: Without a doubt, getting up really early, having hot lemon water and tea, then heading to my window seat where I spend a few hours meditating and being still. This is my happy place and grounds me for the whole day.