Sometimes, reality smacks you across the face and forces you to step back and think, “What the #%?! am I doing with my life?!” 

For Cameron Rogers, this reality came in the form of a car hurling down a New York City street, hitting her and leaving her with a life altering concussion. Amid her recovery, Rogers left her coveted job at J.P. Morgan, focusing her attention on curating a health and wellness brand, Freckled Foodie, to promote healthy and balanced living.

Rogers’ success has accumulated in being named one of the five entrepreneurs changing New York’s wellness scene by Forbes, she hosts Freckled Foodie & Friends podcast and she shares healthy meal ideas with her followers. 

Rogers shared her advice with The Fit Magazine on forging your own path, finding happiness and how she recharges. 

Q: What inspired you to start your business Freckled Foodie?

Cameron Rogers: I was struggling with my own digestive health issues, which led me to begin cooking and paying attention to the ingredients I was consuming. Once I started playing around in the kitchen I realized that it was the creative outlet I needed while working on Wall Street in a very different industry. The more I began cooking and leaning into this wellness journey, the more I realized I was interested in this field and a desire sparked within me to pursue it further.

Q: How did you gain the confidence to leave corporate America and create your own unique path?

CR: It was definitely a long journey and is something I struggled with even after leaving corporate America, but I had a life-altering moment that really changed everything for me. I was hit by a car while crossing the street and suffered from a bad concussion. While on disability from work, I took this as a real wake-up call and realized that life is way too short to be doing something you don’t love simply because of the fear of what others may think of you. 

Q: How do you make time for yourself to recharge when you are not working? 

CR: This is probably the number one thing I struggle with since it is very easy to always be “on” when you are your own boss. For me, my recharge time looks like date nights with my husband, cuddle sessions with our dog, and reading a good book. Most importantly, it involves stepping away from my phone, laptop, and social media. 

Q: What advice do you have for college students who want to start their own business but are afraid of going against the norm? 

CR: In today’s world, I really don’t think there is a “norm” anymore. Don’t get me wrong, there are huge benefits to corporate America (stability, benefits, etc), but it is not for everyone. Really assess where your talents and interests lie and, if they are ones that would better suit you in entrepreneurship, pursue that passion! It is a privilege to be able to do so, but if you are in a place to be able to then don’t let other people’s opinions hold you back.

Q: What has been the most fulfilling part of your career? 

CR: Creating the incredibly supportive and empowering community that I refer to as the “Freckled Foodie Fam.” Connecting with so many wonderful people and feeling like I’ve had a true impact on people’s lives has been the most impactful aspect of my job. 

Q: What do you wish your younger self knew when you were in college? 

CR: To not take everything so seriously and you don’t have to be perfect!