Coaching by Day, Crypto by Curiosity: My Midlife Side Hustle Story

Back in 2004, I was growing my occupational health business, leading a team of doctors and nurses, and helping companies manage employee stress. It felt purposeful and impactful. But beneath the surface, stress was silently building closer to home.

In 2008, my husband experienced a severe burnout. It blindsided us. Everything we thought we knew about work, success, and security came crashing down. We stepped back—both from our careers and from how we were living. We chose healing and retraining, diving deep into the world of mindset, emotional resilience, and burnout prevention. That journey led us both into coaching.

Since then, I’ve spent over a decade coaching senior leaders and entrepreneurs, helping them manage stress, avoid burnout, and build lives that feel deeply fulfilling—not just outwardly successful.

But a few years ago, another question emerged:

At first, I dismissed crypto like many people do—too risky, too techy, too confusing. But that quiet itch to learn wouldn’t go away. I didn’t want to chase headlines or jump on trends; I wanted to understand it for myself. Slowly, I began exploring.

What I discovered changed everything.

This wasn’t just about coins and speculation. At its heart, crypto was about freedom. Ownership. Control. Transparency. All values that aligned deeply with my coaching work. Stress, after all, often stems from a lack of control—and here was a system that offered individuals more say in their financial future.

Crypto didn’t replace coaching. It complemented it. I started talking about it more—at first with friends and family, then with coaching clients who were also asking big financial questions.

Many felt uneasy about the future—about pensions, inflation, or just how fast the world was changing. They weren’t overwhelmed, but they wanted better tools. They wanted clarity without the hype. They wanted to feel confident navigating this new terrain.

That’s when I knew I could bridge the gap.

With my background in education, mindset, and simplifying complex emotional journeys, I realised I could bring the same approach to the crypto space. Not as a financial advisor—but as a guide. A translator. A fellow explorer who understands the doubts and the dreams that live side by side.

CryptoGran started as a side project. Just a way to demystify crypto and blockchain for people like me—people who value thoughtful, real-world learning over hype and jargon.

Today, it’s grown into a community and a course platform. I teach crypto fundamentals, host conversations, and offer step-by-step learning that feels safe, human, and grounded. No shouting. No pressure. Just solid guidance and support.

I’m still a coach. I still love working with high-achieving clients navigating stress and performance. But crypto has added a new spark. It’s expanded my perspective on what empowerment looks like—especially when it comes to money, mindset, and future planning.

This side hustle isn’t about replacing my career.  It’s about reinventing what's possible within it.

If you're feeling curious about something new, don’t dismiss it just because it’s unfamiliar. Your current skills aren’t wasted—they’re the bridge. Whether it’s crypto or something else entirely, you don’t have to burn everything down to try something different.

You just have to be open.