Monica doesn’t hide her past, instead, she wears it like armor.

Today, Monica leads a thriving 160-employee technology consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio. But ask her how she built it, and she’ll tell you straight: she had to get fired three times first.

According to Monica, it was the absolute best thing that ever happened to her career.

“I needed to fail, and fail hard, to learn the lessons that got me where I am,” she reflects. “It was jumping into situations that caused me to drown a bit and then learn how to swim.”

Standing Up vs. Standing Down

Two of Monica’s firings had nothing to do with poor performance or bad timing; instead, her firings are the price she paid for doing the right thing.

When she uncovered illegal practices at two separate companies, she was faced with a choice: stay silent to save her job or speak up to keep her integrity. She chose her integrity. When she brought unscrupulous practices to light, both companies opted to fire her.

Her firings proved to be painful lessons in navigating corporate culture, but it forged her commitment to be unrelentless about operating with truthfulness. “This changed me to my core,” Monica says. “I now walk with uncompromising character.”

The Blindside That Built a Culture

Her third firing came out of nowhere, a sudden, disorienting blindside after years of tireless dedication.

While that blow shook her confidence, it ultimately gave her the clearest vision of her life. It showed her exactly what kind of leader she wanted to be, and more importantly, what kind of company she needed to build: one rooted deeply in genuine employee care.

Monica’s Playbook: Wear Your Battles Like Badges

Today, Monica shares her battle-tested wisdom on her podcast that functions of a beacon of light for anyone who feels stuck in the aftermath of a career setback and provides the following sage advice:

• Fail fast, fail often, and fail again. Every single stumble is raw material for growth.
• Drop the scarlet letter. Being is a badge of honor. You survived, you learned, and you came back sharper.
• Check your survival rate. You have survived 100% of your worst days so far. You might be bruised, but you are still standing and you are better for it.

From Reading Courage to Practicing It

If you’re currently navigating a career transition or trying to rebuild after a setback, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

The Fired to Inspired: Embracing Courage Workbook is designed to take you from reflection to action. Packed with thought-provoking prompts, inspiring quotes, and practical strategies, it helps you move past fear and build a path forward on your own terms.

Ready to discover your courage? Download the Embracing Courage Workbook at https://firedtoinspired.com/workbooks/