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Hello and welcome to the very first episode of Your Business Untethered! If you’re listening in, I am so glad you’re here. This first episode is an introduction to the podcast, my story, and hopefully, an inspiration to you.

My journey is unique to me, but after working with fellow nine-to-five escapees and location-independent entrepreneurs, I’ve found that we can all see parts of ourselves in another person’s story. So, let me share mine.

I certainly didn’t just wake up one day with the ability to work from anywhere, travel extensively, and grow my business. It was a journey. If we haven’t met yet—hi, I’m Dina, the creator of Way of the Founder, a business dedicated to helping freedom-seekers like you create a life aligned with your purpose.

The Dream That Led Me to Los Angeles

It all started years ago when I had the opportunity to travel from my small hometown in Saxony, Germany, to attend an acting camp in Los Angeles. At the time, I was dead set on becoming a professional actress, but a more detailed dream emerged: I wanted to live, work, and love in Los Angeles.

Although I didn’t pursue acting professionally, I remained deeply connected to the arts. That dream of moving to LA stayed with me, and a decade later, I made it happen. I earned a scholarship to Syracuse University, where I studied music management, attended business school, and minored in entrepreneurship. Before even graduating, I landed my dream job in Los Angeles, working in orchestra management, fundraising, and community engagement.

Realizing the Dream Wasn’t Enough

Here I was, living my so-called dream, working in Los Angeles in a field I loved. I was expecting to feel happy, fulfilled, and successful. But instead, I felt suffocated.

Growing up in Germany, I saw my family and friends enjoy four to six weeks of vacation every year. But as an employee in America—even in California, which has relatively progressive labor laws—I found myself struggling with a system that barely allowed for any time off.

I began to question everything. I had achieved what I had set out to do, yet I felt trapped in a life that wasn’t truly mine. My days were consumed by endless meetings, fundraising strategies that felt soulless, and a rigid corporate structure that stifled innovation.

Shifting Mindsets for True Happiness

The pivotal moment came when I asked myself: Do I want to live the life of my colleagues 20 years from now? The answer was a hard no.

That realization led to a mindset shift. Instead of asking:

• What do I need to do to be successful in my industry?
• How do I climb the corporate ladder?

I started asking:

• What actually makes me happy?
• Can I create a life where joy and freedom are always present?

I began waking up earlier to journal and reflect. Sitting in a cafe in downtown LA, I watched business professionals rush around, stressed and hurried, and wondered—Is this really what I want?

Plotting the Escape

I secretly started planning my exit. I took a remote part-time job to build up savings, cut expenses, and prioritized my time around creating a way out. Every decision became a step toward my freedom.

After months of internal debate, my bosses unexpectedly offered me what I now call the expat’s golden ticket—a visa sponsorship, a promotion, and a raise. It was everything I had once thought I wanted.

But deep down, I knew the truth. So, I walked into the office the next morning and handed in my resignation.

Traveling to Find Myself Again

With a backpack and a one-way ticket to Vietnam (because it was the cheapest flight I could find), I left my job behind.

For six weeks, I traveled around Southeast Asia. I barely spoke to anyone for the first five weeks—I had spent years trying to meet others’ expectations, and I needed time to rediscover myself.

Two key realizations emerged:

1. I needed to return to Germany—not just for logistical reasons, but to reconnect with family and heal past trauma.
2. I wanted to help people. That was my entire business plan at the time: “I help people.” And I had to figure out what that would look like.

Building a Business from Scratch

I moved back to Germany and started from square one. I had no professional network there, but I knew from my past experience that musicians often struggled with the business side of their careers. They’d approach me asking for help turning their ideas into sustainable businesses.

So, I launched my first coaching offer—helping musicians build entrepreneurial careers outside of traditional orchestra or teaching paths. It sold out within days.

It was the middle of COVID-19, and musicians were being laid off. The demand for alternative career paths skyrocketed. Within a short time, I was making $18,000 from coaching, and within nine months, I had built a fully sustainable business.

Healing and Growth

While building my business, I also went to therapy.

I had spent years trapped by societal conditioning and past trauma, making decisions based on external expectations instead of what I truly wanted. Healing was essential—not just for my personal growth, but for the sustainability of my business and freedom.

Embracing a Nomadic Lifestyle

By 2022, I knew my time in Germany was over. I wanted to travel full-time. So, on February 28, 2022, I handed in my apartment keys and boarded a plane to Lisbon.

I’ve been traveling ever since, meeting my boyfriend in Bali (yes, a real-life Eat, Pray, Love moment), and growing my business from the road.

Rebuilding for True Freedom

Halfway through my nomadic journey, I hit a new roadblock: burnout.

I had designed my business to be location-independent, but not time-independent. My income still depended on me showing up for one-on-one coaching calls.

So, I burned down my old business structures and rebuilt them for true freedom—adding scalable offers that provided accessibility while allowing me more time for myself.

Questions for Your Next Chapter

I’ll leave you with a few questions to reflect on:

1. What do you want your business to do for you? If you don’t have a business, what do you want your source of income to provide for your life?
2. What does an ideal day in your life look like—without judgment from society or family?
3. What impact do you want your business to have on the world? Is it set up to make that impact?
4. If you had six months to transition to a more freedom-based lifestyle, what would you need to do in the next 180 days?

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review, share your thoughts, or message me on Instagram (@wayofthefounder). I’d love to hear your journey!

Until next time, take care, and create more freedom, one step at a time.