About my guest:
After nearly 40 years in software development—most of which was spent in project management and leading teams in consulting—Laura made a bold pivot in 2024 to pursue her passion for organization and design. She launched Up Closets of Bastrop, a custom storage solutions company serving both residential and commercial clients. While custom closets are the most popular request, Laura and her team also design pantries, laundry rooms, home offices, and garages. The first year of entrepreneurship has been both challenging and deeply rewarding, offering new lessons and inspiration every day.
Where to connect with Laura:
Website upclosets.com/bastrop
Facebook @upclosetsofbastrop
Instagram @upclosetsbastrop
About this episode:
What if the end of your career wasn’t the end—but the beginning of something entirely new?
In this episode of Life 4.0, I sit down with longtime friend and former colleague Laura Timmis, who made a bold move many of us only dream about: she left a 20+ year corporate career to start over as a small business owner.
We talk about what it feels like to walk away from stability, how she evaluated risk, and why her decision wasn’t just strategic—but deeply intuitive. Laura shares how she recognized the writing on the wall at her former company, the surprising appeal of franchise ownership, and how her lifelong “Spidey sense” helped her prepare for change before it was made apparent.
Whether you’re approaching retirement, facing a layoff, or simply craving a new chapter, Laura’s story is a reminder that reinvention is possible at any age—and that the skills you’ve built over a lifetime don’t disappear when the title does.
What we cover:
– Why trusting your gut is a leadership skill
– How franchising became her bridge to entrepreneurship
– Grieving the loss of work identity
– Finding purpose through community, service, and starting small
– Redefining success on your terms
This episode is part cautionary tale, part roadmap, and full of the kind of clarity that only comes from lived experience.
If you’re standing at the edge of something new—this one’s for you.
