When people hear that I split my time between Las Vegas and Tulsa, they often wonder how I make it work. The truth is, my lifestyle isn’t the result of luck or some perfect plan; it’s the result of intentionally building a career that moves with me.
I didn’t start my professional life with this kind of flexibility. Like most people, I began in traditional roles, clocking in and out, sitting in meetings, and feeling boxed in by cubicle walls and zip codes. But over time, I realized that the career I wanted, the life I wanted, didn’t fit neatly inside that structure. I wanted the freedom to work from anywhere, the ability to travel without pressing pause on my career, and the flexibility to live life on my terms.
That desire shaped every professional decision I’ve made since. In this post, I’m sharing why I built a career designed for flexibility, how it’s impacted my life, and what I’ve learned along the way.
The Spark – Realizing Traditional Work Wasn’t for Me
My career didn’t start in an office or with a clear corporate ladder to climb. In fact, it didn’t even start in marketing.
During my senior year of college, I worked as a substitute teacher, making $90 a day to help pay the bills. After graduation, I waited tables at a restaurant for two years, just trying to make ends meet. During that time, I juggled a handful of part-time jobs: working as a volunteer coordinator with AmeriCorps, driving the Red Bull car around town and handing out free drinks, and teaching English as a Second Language to adults at Catholic Charities.
It was that last job, teaching English, that sparked something bigger. It inspired me to take a leap and move to Seoul, South Korea, where I spent a year teaching English full-time. Looking back, that year abroad was probably the most “traditional” job I’ve ever had. After that, I never worked in a typical office setting again.
When I returned to Las Vegas, I pieced together work where I could find it. One of those roles was remote, helping a major Silicon Valley tech company introduce new augmented reality devices to schools across the Las Vegas Valley. But behind the scenes, something bigger was brewing. I spent long hours teaching myself everything I could about marketing. I built She Strayed from the ground up, designing the website, creating content, and growing my social media presence. I enrolled in every free course I could find: Google Ads, Google Analytics, HubSpot, SEO, you name it. I wasn’t waiting for anyone to hand me a career. I was building one.
As my Instagram presence grew, so did opportunities. Brands started reaching out, and I found myself doing influencer work before influencer marketing was the buzzword it is today. People began asking if I could help them build their social media presence, too. That’s when I launched a second website and freelance business, With Stray, offering marketing services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
That hands-on experience became the foundation of my career. I wasn’t following a mapped-out path; I was creating one.
Eventually, I transitioned into full-time roles. I landed a job as a social media manager at a startup accelerator and, within five months, was promoted to marketing manager. A year later, I joined a firm that provides on-demand executive leadership. I started as a marketing specialist, worked hard, and after two years, was promoted to marketing manager – the role I hold today.
My career wasn’t built in a boardroom. It was built in coffee shops, after long shifts at my other jobs, and in the quiet hours spent learning, testing, and creating. I didn’t set out to build a career that moves with me, but through every step, I made choices that prioritized freedom, flexibility, and growth.
Designing a Career Around Flexibility
The further I got into my career, the more I realized I wasn’t interested in climbing a traditional corporate ladder. I didn’t want a corner office or a 9-to-5 routine; I wanted flexibility, variety, and the freedom to choose how and where I worked. That desire wasn’t new. It had been part of me for years.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in International Relations because I’ve always been drawn to the world beyond my own backyard. Traveling, learning about new cultures, and living life without borders have always been at the top of my list. Even in college, I looked for creative outlets that let me express that curiosity. I started writing on Medium and eventually built a free WordPress site, not knowing at the time that those early blogs and digital projects would lay the groundwork for my future career.
When I began working after college, I didn’t think I was “building a career in marketing.” I was just looking for ways to share stories, connect with people, and create something meaningful. Over time, though, I realized that’s exactly what marketing is.
As I gained more experience, I became intentional about developing skills that could travel with me, no matter where I lived or what life looked like. Digital marketing was the perfect fit. It’s an industry that doesn’t require you to sit in an office to be effective. You just need strategy, creativity, and a WiFi connection.
I focused on learning the skills that would make me valuable from anywhere:
- Digital advertising (Google Ads, social media ads)
- Content strategy and copywriting
- SEO and website management
- Marketing automation and CRM
- Data analysis and performance reporting
Beyond technical skills, I learned how to work well in remote environments. I became comfortable with asynchronous communication, project management across time zones, and holding myself accountable without a boss down the hall.
At every stage, whether freelancing, consulting, or working full-time, I looked for roles that supported flexibility. I wanted a career that could move with me, whether I was living in Las Vegas, Tulsa, or somewhere entirely new.
What I’ve learned is that flexibility doesn’t happen by accident. You have to build it. You have to choose career paths, skill sets, and employers who value outcomes over hours and trust you to get the job done, no matter where you are.
The Reality — It’s Not Always Easy, But It’s Worth It
I’d be lying if I said building a career that moves with me has been effortless. Flexibility sounds glamorous, and sometimes it is, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.
There were years when I worked long hours teaching myself new skills after a full day at another job. There were months when I pieced together freelance projects and side gigs just to pay the bills. And even now, working remotely and splitting my time between two cities isn’t without its trade-offs. Time zones, travel days, unpredictable schedules, and the blurred lines between work and home life can all add up.
Working outside of a traditional office also means you have to learn how to advocate for yourself. You have to set boundaries when no one’s setting them for you. You have to stay disciplined, organized, and motivated because no one else is holding you accountable.
But even with those challenges, I wouldn’t trade this career for anything. Every skill I’ve learned, every late night spent figuring things out, and every risk I’ve taken has allowed me to build a career on my own terms.
I’ve learned how to adapt, how to create structure where there wasn’t any, and how to stay connected even when I’m thousands of miles away from my coworkers. And most importantly, I’ve learned that there’s no “right way” to build a career. You can carve out a path that fits your life, your values, and your goals.
Building a Career That Works for Me
When I look back at how my career unfolded, it’s clear that nothing about it was traditional. I didn’t have a clear roadmap or a polished resume that made everything fall into place. What I did have was curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a desire to build a career that worked for me -one that gave me the freedom to live life on my terms.
Today, I’m grateful to have a career that isn’t tied to one city, one office, or one definition of success. I currently work as a Marketing Manager for a firm that provides on-demand executive leadership, a role that allows me to live and work remotely between Las Vegas and Tulsa. It wasn’t handed to me—it was built piece by piece, with intention, flexibility, and a lot of hard work.
If my story shows you anything, I hope it’s that careers don’t have to fit in a box; you can build something that fits your life, your passions, and who you’re becoming.
If you want more career and marketing tips for building a flexible life, you can browse more posts here.
