I was laid off after 25 years of working my way up in the insurance industry. It was the best thing to happen to me.

• I was 20 years old when I started an entry-level job in the insurance industry.
• Twenty-five years later, I was a director reporting to the CEO when my position was eliminated.
• My job loss was a blessing because it allowed me to follow my entrepreneurial dreams and move west. 

I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, a global insurance hub, with a mother who worked in insurance, so it's no surprise that's where my career began.