How Lesline Pittman Turned Her Passion into a Profitable Business (Without Even Trying)
Lesline is a yoga teacher who loves helping busy moms find balance in their lives to avoid burnout. She never intended to become an entrepreneur, but her passion for yoga and helping others led her to start her own business, LeslineDoesWellness.
From Passion to Purpose
If you're like most people, you've probably spent a good amount of time trying to figure out what your purpose in life is.
You might have even gone so far as to take a personality test or two (or ten) in an effort to find that one perfect career path that will make you both happy and successful.
But what if we told you that your purpose doesn't have to be so grandiose?
What if we told you that it can be as simple as finding something you're passionate about and turning it into a business?
Sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, it's not.
Just ask Lesline Pittman, founder of LeslineDoesWellness.
Lesline is a yoga teacher who never intended to become an entrepreneur. She stumbled into the world of business by accident, but it turns out that it was her true calling.
In this article, you’ll learn that not only is it possible to slow down and do what you love, but you can make it your job to be the best you that you can be, literally!
In other words, you’ll learn why Lesline does wellness very well!
Busy Mom Turned Business Owner: Interview with Lesline Pittman
Be Helpful:
You teach yoga to busy moms, you're a registered nurse and a certified life coach. I am enamored and fascinated by your story and how being a mom evolved your way of thinking and your career path. You are also very connected to your community; you’re a Director of Women on the Rise, which helps uplift women and their voices to inspire others. Tell people a little bit about your background and why you took the dive into entrepreneurship.
Lesline Pittman:
That was an incredible introduction!
Why did I take the dive?
“It was kind of accidentally taking a dive. I didn't realize that I was becoming an entrepreneur. I just knew that I loved yoga. I am a yoga teacher and it's my passion. I didn't realize that my passion was also my purpose.”
I’ve always struggled with thinking I didn’t have a purpose. I see people around me, like my husband where it’s so obvious. He's a software developer and that's his thing- he loves that and he's passionate about computers.
Now that I have kids, everything is before kids or after- so my son is now four so maybe it was like six years ago- and I remember my husband and I were in the car going somewhere and I was like, ‘Man, I am so jealous of you that you found your purpose and that this is your thing!’
And the reason I said that was because he was listening to a software developer podcast. I was like, “There is a podcast for THISSS?”
I was definitely trolling him, but I knew I was making fun of him as a defense mechanism. I was kind of jealous because I was like, ‘Wow, you love this software development thing so much that you listen to it on the weekends! On your off time, you're listening about how to be better and learn more about software development.”
“And I remember saying out loud, ‘I wish I could find what I'm passionate about.’”
That was six years ago. Then fast forward three and a half years later, we had my son and I was offered a yoga teacher scholarship and I said, ‘Sure why not?’ This was also during the pandemic. So yes, I was busy with my kids, but when they were sleeping, I didn't have anything to do. I thought, ‘Oh, I could just, you know, study about yoga!’
I've always loved it because I've been practicing since 2009 but I wanted to learn more about it. But again, I didn't realize that this was what I was supposed to do. So, I was studying and learning and teaching my family and friends, but I was still not like, “This is what you're supposed to do. There wasn't that lightbulb moment yet.’
And from there, it all organically unfolded.
Be Helpful:
This question started as, ‘How do you balance work and life?’ But now, it’s evolved into, ‘How do you - as a whole human- balance all of your responsibilities?’ I think more and more people are realizing that work AND life are JUST life. So, I'm curious from your perspective, especially because your business is you, how do you manage to be present for your kids, for your husband, for your business, and for yourself? And then, looking out into the future, what does a Tuesday 5 years from now look like?
Lesline Pittman:
Oh gosh.
Every day is different, especially because I have two young kids. They are changing so fast, and they get sick all of the time!
“So, some days are not going to be the picture-perfect, aesthetic vibes that we see on IG.”
I have my journal at my desk and some days I'll clock in, do a little bit of work, and then I'll take 10 minutes to journal while I'm on the clock because that's what I like. That's how I have to get it in some days. I'm not going to take that away from myself like, ‘Well, I'm clocked in so I can’t focus on myself.’ No, because these jobs don't care about you like that and journaling is one way that I check in with myself.
“Another thing that I do to separate work and life- because I really feel it's important to separate them- is to go outside. I live in Florida, so the majority of the time it’s sunny and I take advantage of the sun and get that vitamin D because that boosts my mood.”
I will also work in hour spurts at a time. Let’s say I clocked in at eight. I’ll be super focused for the hour and then at nine I know it’s time to get up. So that means I get up and I put a load of laundry in or something like that. And then once it comes around this time of day, I'm like, ‘Okay, I'm going to go outside and take a walk,’ and I don't bring my phone. That is probably bad because God forbid, something happens to me and I get snatched, but I’m not trying to speak those things into existence! So, I leave my phone and I just walk. Sometimes I'll even pray or just express gratitude for the day, for my breath, for my legs, and that I can move my own body. These are things that I know that I sometimes take advantage of.
“So, going outside and journaling are ways that I get that balance, but not every day is the same and it’s about learning how to not judge myself.”
As for what a Tuesday looks like 5 years from now, it would look like having more conversations just like this! It would look like inspiring and motivating moms, and whoever wants to listen, on how to maintain balance and joy in their life.
Follow Your Heart and the Money Will Follow
Lesline is living proof that following your heart can lead to a successful career that is both meaningful and profitable- even if it's not what you originally set out to do.
So, if you're feeling stuck on a business idea, remember Lesline's story, and don't be afraid to take a chance on something new.
Are you an entrepreneur, start-up, or business owner who is an expert on a topic like this too? Tell us your story and get your business featured here. Follow this link to apply.