At 35, I stepped out of formal employment — not by accident, but by design.

These days, I’m a very fulfilled and happy mother and career woman. But make no mistake — this life didn’t land in my lap. Growing up, I used to tell people I’d be out of the 8-5, and working for myself by 35. I meant it. In fact, I said as much in my Unilever interview back in 2015. They asked, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” I smiled and said, “Barefoot and pregnant, working from home.” I got the job but the way. 

In 2019, Simbisa Brands asked the same thing — this time in a five-year frame. My answer hadn’t changed. (Maybe that’s why I battled fertility issues for years — but that’s a story for another day. Focus!) 

Fast forward: I turned 35 in July 2024. And in February 2025, I officially excited formal employment and stepped into running my own business full-time. That barefoot-and-pregnant chapter? It closed on 30 June 2024 — just weeks before my birthday.

Back in the day, being a RAT — Retired At Thirty — was trending online. I didn’t just want to repost it. I wanted to be that girl. And when I finally took the leap, I thought I was living the dream. And I was living part of it… just not in dreamland where everything runs smoothly and money rains from the sky.

Reality Check: The Dream Looked Different

I never imagined the dream would mean long hours at my laptop while the kids played on the floor beside me. Or that I’d need two phones — not to look important, but to keep my personal life from drowning in client messages. When I was employed, I had two phones to give me the feeling of having a real side hustle (which is my business now). 

Truth is, I just wanted better photos for my doula work. That second phone? It worked — mostly for responding to preset WhatsApp queries.

Now? That phone is my empire. It’s the entire office block. It holds my strategy sessions, Zooms, funnels, ideas, wins — everything. And one day soon, my actual office will match the energy — complete with sleek bungalows and a kids’ playground. I’ve seen it.

The Setbacks Nobody Talks About

I also never saw myself losing money on a business. But that’s exactly what happened with a Day Care I launched in November 2024. The losses were painful. And the creditors? Stressful. But I chose to shut it down — and I’m proud of that choice. 

Why? Because bhuru rinoonekwa nemavanga aro. You know the strength of a bull by its scars. That experience taught me when to walk away and when to rebuild smarter. Losses can become legacy when you learn fast.

What I Didn’t Expect to Love

I never expected to be so happy staying home every day. I’m introverted — I knew that. But I didn’t know just how much I thrive in solitude. That solitude has built a business with systems, structure, and a strategy I improve on daily. It’s wild.

I Had a Plan — You Need One Too

I’ve been working for 16 years. From day one, I was thinking about legacy. I started with my own business before stepping into employment — not to settle, but to learn. To study the marketplace. To grow under the mentorship of brilliant people. I sat in some of the best classrooms the business world has to offer.

And I’m now giving that knowledge forward.

One of my favourite things to do now is walk young people through their own career blueprints. Why? Because I know the power of starting early. At 20, I was sitting at my aunt’s table in Randburg, South Africa, mapping my career. It’s 2025, and I’m living that vision. Not word-for-word, no. But with intention. And that’s what matters.

I also love the fact that I’m home when my kids get back from school. I’m the one who disciplines them, pours into them, and loves on them my way. They don’t have to miss me while I’m away at work — because I’m here. I’m absolutely loving being a work-from-home mum. 

Of course, there are still some things I’m working on and ways I want to improve — but right now, I’m grateful. I’m fulfilled. This life is giving exactly what it needed to give.

This Isn’t Just About Me — It’s About You Too

This was my path — one rooted in legacy, motherhood, and quiet power moves. But yours might look completely different.

You could be a hardcore corporate girly chasing the C-suite. Or the eldest daughter preparing to take over the family business. Maybe you’re gunning for a specific company, industry, or role that lights you up. You might even be a young man grinding toward financial stability so you can build and provide for your own family one day.

Whatever your path — you still need a plan. One that fits you, not the expectations around you.

What About You?

If you don’t have a career plan yet, now’s the time. Come through to Woza! — we’ll guide you step by step.

Start with a Career Discovery Call where we unpack your unique story and help you design a career that fits your life, not the other way around.

The world will hand you a script. Tear it up. Write your own. That’s how you design your career — and ultimately, your life.

One Last Thing

SweBhule isn’t just a brand. It’s a legacy in motion. It’s been 16 years in the making, and I’ve got receipts to prove it.

Stay tuned — and in the meantime, book that Career Discovery Call here. You won’t regret it.

With love,
Your Career Auntie
SweBhule 🌿