Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Glowinski.
Alison, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I graduated college in 2005 with pretty much no idea what I wanted to do. I started in retail management because it was easy to get a job and I had already been working retail throughout college. After a few years of realizing that was not what I wanted to do, I took an admin job at a real estate office just to start building out something new on my resume. I ended up moving from admin into property management, then to a real estate team, then out on my own as an agent with an already established brokerage. I quickly learned I prefer to do things my own way and my values and style really did not align with any of the local brokers so I decided to open my own brokerage in 2017. Over the next 7 years I would add agents and we’d grow to be an award wining, reputable local brand. Throughout this entire time, my former partner and I were building a small side hustle focused on the outdoors and hiking. When we separated around 5 years ago, I took over that company and quickly realized that’s where my heart was. My identity and life were wrapped up in the real estate brokerage but my soul was not happy in that world and I was feeling more and more pulled towards the outdoors, away from the hustle culture of the corporate world. I ended up selling most of what I owned and moved to the country, eventually also selling the real estate brokerage to focus on Happy People Hike as well my personal brand which includes speaking, writing, and hosting retreats. This was not just a change in career but a total transformation of who I am and my purpose in life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the biggest struggles both personally and professionally were not necessarily the day to day specific things that all entrepreneurs deal with, although I have had plenty of those. My biggest struggle was to figure out what exactly my personal mission in this lifetime is and how my companies and offers align with that. Then when I figured out one of my companies really didn’t align, taking that scary step to walk away from the career that was providing the most financial stability. I still am doing a wide variety of things between running the hiking company as well as my personal offers and soon to be launching a non profit so finding a balance between all of that and finding ways to share it with my community that isn’t confusing can be tricky. In the end it all aligns with one mission but it’s a wide variety of projects to manage.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Happy People Hike?
Happy People Hike is an outdoor lifestyle brand with a passion for people and planet. We offer a variety of events, products, and publications that align with our values.
At Happy People Hike we believe…
-In the power of fresh air and camaraderie of strangers.
-In the healing powers of the natural world.
-Every human should be encouraged and welcome in the outdoors.
-Connecting with nature is the fastest way to discover yourself and what you’re made of.
-In protecting the planet and leaving every place better than how we found it.
-Sharing lived experiences out loud helps to connect and heal our souls.
-Hiking is inclusive and available in some manner for people of all abilities.
And we believe in the power of community to heal our planet and ourselves. Our brand was created to support groups and programs that align with these beliefs.
I am most proud of the partnerships we’ve formed over the last few years with groups such as the BLK Hike Club out of Atlanta and Eco Plastique in Michigan. Because of these partnerships I have not only been able to meet some incredible people, we have been able to support the important work of already established groups making a difference in their communities. It’s important people know that we are not just some brand trying to sell a shirt. We are working on very intentional projects that impact people and our planet.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a child I was very shy and unsure of myself. I was the quiet the kid that always followed the rules and got good grades – every teachers favorite. I preferred not to be noticed but was incredibly observant of everything and everyone around me. With my close friends, I was more similar to who I am now where I loved connecting and chatting and laughing, I very much loved being outside and was obsessed with any and all kinds of animals. I spent most days playing outside with friends or reading.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happypeoplehike.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happypeoplehike/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happypeoplehike/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonglowinski
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKu-Uuw33BXG5APa5XVPJAw
- Other: https://www.soulfullycontent.com
