Defining Success on Your Terms: A Personal Reflection

The best plans can fail.

The best intentions can go sideways.

But when life throws you those curveballs, the real question becomes, what happens to you? The person behind the dream, the goals, the business?

Generation Green + Acorn Cafe

When I started my entrepreneurial journey in 2012, opening a natural living retail store, I had no clue how it was all going to unfold. What I did have was a deep passion, born out of my own health scare, a uterine tumor that sparked a mission to educate consumers about safer, healthier product choices.

I had my mission. I had my passion. But I didn’t have a mentor. No one to bounce ideas off of. It was lonely. It was challenging. But I did it anyway.

That little kiosk at The Forks became profitable in its first year. Timing was on my side, but so was sheer determination. Five years later, faced with relocation, I took a giant leap and expanded - not just a store, but Winnipeg’s first all-vegan café. I had never worked a day in a café, but I had built enough confidence from taking imperfect action.

I felt successful.

The key? Community. My business model revolved around showcasing local makers and building meaningful relationships with both customers and suppliers. Workshops, events, collaborations, it was all about connection.

But after five more years and a vision for phase 3 expansion, a global pandemic hit. Suddenly, none of us knew what to do. Fear was everywhere. But the Made To Grow community had just hosted our first sold-out event, and we quickly pivoted to virtual meetings, supporting one another to brainstorm next steps.

I hustled to build an e-commerce store, offered curbside pickup, deliveries -anything

The accident that changed my direction

to keep going. But behind the scenes, the stress, the overhead, and the isolation of running it all without staff began to crush me. My mother was slipping into dementia, and I was desperately trying to keep her at home with support.

One evening, after leaving a nursing home visit, my life changed in a moment. A snow grader had accidentally knocked off a manhole cover, and in an instant, my vehicle became airborne when it hit. The crash was violent. The aftermath, devastating. Concussed, with burns, a broken wrist, and a business hanging by a thread, I was forced to face a painful truth: I couldn’t keep going like this.

I felt like a failure.

Closing my business, something I had poured my heart and soul into, was the

The Aftermath

hardest decision I’ve ever made. I had no idea what would come next. All I had was the Made To Grow community - a lifeline that held space for my vulnerability, reminded me of my worth, and carried me through the unknown.

That following year, I found an unexpected gift. With no business to run, I had time to be present with my mother, to find healing in a relationship that had been strained for years. When she passed away, grief cracked me wide open. It wasn’t just about losing her; it was the culmination of years of suppressed emotions, burnout, and loss. But once again, community became my sanctuary. The shared stories, tears, and heartfelt conversations birthed something beautiful: space for others who were also grieving and needed connection.

This year, I took ownership of Made To Grow. I rewrote our programming, completed a digital marketing course, and redefined not just my business, but my entire life. My version of success had changed, because I had changed.

I left a marriage that no longer aligned with my soul’s needs. I started over with the understanding that my new life was going to cost me my old one. It’s been the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most freeing.

Now, I’m preparing for another big move - (surprise announcement) I'm relocating

Kelowna, BC

to Kelowna this fall.

A fresh start. A new chapter.

Because here’s the truth: we are the only ones who can give ourselves permission to change.

Success isn’t a destination.

It’s not a checklist.

It’s a feeling.

It’s a choice.

And it’s allowed to evolve as you evolve.

2025 marked my 59th trip around the sun, and it’s been the most revealing and healing year of my life. All because of the incredible women who have stood beside me, igniting my fire when I couldn’t do it alone.

My mission now is simple but so aligned: to live a joy-filled life that’s present, connected, and rooted in community. I want every woman to know it’s never too late to start, and I want every woman that wants more for herself to know, she's not alone, that's WHY Made To Grow exists.

To start over.

To pivot.

To rewrite your story.

We ignite each other in community

Success is yours to define. But trust me when I say, surrounding yourself with a community of ambitious dreamers is like gathering around a bonfire where everyone brings a log, someone else brings the match, and together, we ignite!

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to hear how you are defining success on your terms. Are you in a season of starting, pivoting, or maybe even letting go of something that no longer serves you?

I encourage you to join us in the Made To Grow community where women support women, not just in business, but in life! Because together, we redefine what success really means.

Drop a comment below or join us in community. Let’s keep this conversation going.

Start here - Join our FREE private facebook community https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CUPDZHP7u/

Sherry Sobey

Founder + Director, Made To Grow Project