My friend and self-described dreamer and adventurer, Megan McCurry, has been on a “tidy up your life” journey for several years. When my wife and I met her in NYC nearly a decade ago,  we were drawn to her joyful and creative spirit. Yet deep down, Megan was struggling. After years of trying to manage her anxiety and panic attacks, Megan hit a breaking point. She made the decision to move back to Texas and set herself on a new professional course with Young Living that would lead to both personal and professional fulfillment. She shares about her journey on her instagram accounts: @meganmccurry (personal) and @oilcoalition (professional) and on her website www.oilcoalition.com. Last week Emily and I spoke to Megan from her home in Austin, TX and chatted about her “tidy up your life” journey. Enjoy!

Where are you in your tidying journey?

I feel like my tidying journey is always evolving. I don’t feel like I’m ever at a completely tidy place. Things tend to get a little messy and then I have to tidy up again. It’s just a constant cycle. In my physical space, I’m always taking photos of products or mailing stuff, so it gets messy. Once it drives me crazy, I have to tidy it and then I feel so much better. Probably one day every 1-2 weeks I tidy my office and make it look really nice, and then I just work in it until it gets messy again. I’m kinda all over the place!

In what ways have you tidied up your work life?

I landed a fantastic opportunity at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn at age 30, where I spent 3 years planning events. Then I entered grad school while working full-time, and absolutely adored studying Arts & Cultural Management with my classmates in one of the most artistic cities in the world. NYC oozes culture in every way, shape and form, and I will forever LOVE that urban oasis.

Though I planned to finish my degree and then let life happen, I unexpectedly hit a HUGE bump in the road.

I have struggled with severe anxiety and panic attacks since high school, but 4 months of insomnia really put me over the edge. It was time to put my health first.

I moved back to Texas and spent 10 months in my hometown at age 33, moving back right as my twin nieces were born, and getting my footing again. It was a difficult time to say the least, but as I look back, one that was much needed as I finally felt like I gained the confidence I had been searching for all three decades before.

I began using essential oils for the first time, as a natural approach to emotional health, and saw there was an income opportunity with Young Living. Since I was in between jobs, I thought I’d give it a whirl. So I began sharing these products and seeing success.

In the meantime, I landed a job in Austin, Texas where I worked for the American Red Cross in fundraising events.

When things seemed to be back to normal, I unexpectedly underwent a third open heart surgery to repair a valve. I returned back to work one week before the 100th anniversary gala for the Red Cross Central Texas, and with the help of my colleagues, pulled off a great event! Eventually, I made the very hard but also rewarding decision to leave my job and pursue my own adventures in Young Living full-time.

When I began to share about the Young Living products I was using, it came from a genuine place. I was DONE with anxiety and panic attacks and needed a more natural way. And then I found I could clean my house and use our supplements and switch to all-natural make-up. Now I don’t worry about my hormones being disrupted with the thousands of ingredients our commercial products have in the USA that are banned in Europe! But even better, I have experienced freedom from this one little YES.

I tidied my work life up in the sense that now I am my own boss and I have time freedom.

How did you know that you needed to tidy up your life?

After years working in the non-profit sector, I just knew that in my career I was never going to get to a place where I was totally financially free and completely debt free. So when I found this opportunity with Young Living, I was able to actually dream things I was never able to dream for my future before. Some of those dreams have even come true already. For example, I never would have been able to buy a house if I had stayed in my non-profit administration role.

I’m not very traditional, and I have always been willing to take risks, especially professional risks. Those risks have been a trade-off for personal freedoms. I love that I can just pick up and go when I want to travel or go to visit my family.

What aspects of work bring you the most joy?

My favorite part of my job is the community that I’ve built and the people I get to interact with. The community is so life-giving. I have people on my Young Living team from all over the world. It’s fun to work with people who are so different, yet have the same goals. We all want to spread health and wellness awareness by educating people about the use of essential oils and non-toxic products, and selling them. I love that my community and I are able to help each other work towards goals.

How do you describe your work to others?

I usually just say, “I sell Young Living Essential Oils,” but it’s hard to describe what I actually do. As part of my work, I teach people about living with toxic-free products. I spend a lot of time networking with others, producing content for social media, and making marketing materials.

Many people don’t understand the term “network marketing”, or have preconceived negative notions about it, and I feel like they are judging my work. The 9:00-5:00 work schedule has been ingrained in us, but that usually means a capped salary and very little room for growth.

Freedom was never found in spending 9-5 at a desk – at least it wasn’t for me. Residual income has meant freedom for me. It’s a guaranteed paycheck forever. Not a day goes by that I am not oozing with gratefulness for the industry that is network marketing.