Unorthodox: From Ashes to Growth

In 2016, my life was in shambles. I was unemployed, living hundreds of miles away from family and friends, and relying on family support to survive. My partner and I had spent a year submitting application after application to dozens of companies without a single bite. Most of our meals came from a discount store selling damaged food, and we were barely scraping by. I’d lost my last job in retail due to seizures—a frustrating reminder that, too often, companies find ways around the laws meant to protect us.?

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Then came an unexpected lifeline. A family member approached me with a simple request: edit a PowerPoint presentation. I’d done small projects for him before, and I offered to do it for free. But he insisted on paying me, explaining he didn’t have the time or energy to do it himself. I accepted the payment—something we desperately needed—and surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the work.? When he paid me more than we had agreed on, I was stunned. He told me I’d done good work.

Someone valued me. Someone valued my work and my skills.

It's funny what extended unemployment does to your brain.

After months of rejection, I had dawning clarity. I remember the exact moment I decided to take control of my life. I remember exactly what I vowed.

“If no one will hire me, I’ll hire my damn self.”

This became my mantra. With encouragement from my first client, I registered as a sole proprietorship, determined to make it work.?

It wasn’t smooth sailing. My partner and I moved back home, where we could have a stable foundation, and I slowly began to build the business. I found support from clients and family, and before long, I needed extra help. That’s when I hired my first contractor—a close friend and disabled veteran who had been laid off due to complications from a war injury. A second friend joined soon after, someone with a disability who had also struggled to find work. Suddenly, the truth hit me:

Parasol Designs wasn’t just a business. It was a statement.

It was a place where people like me—overlooked by traditional workplaces—could thrive.?

When it came time to name the company, we wanted something meaningful. After weeks of brainstorming, we landed on Parasol Designs. The name reflects our mission: to be a full-service provider for our clients, bringing everything under one umbrella and warding against the struggles of entrepreneurship. It also nods to the Parasol Tree, said to be the nesting place of the mythical phoenix—a creature that rises from the ashes, reborn and stronger. It’s honestly no wonder that this symbolism resonated deeply with us.?

As the business grew, so did its purpose. Parasol became more than a way to make money; it was a rebellion against the way too many corporations treat people. “I’d been discarded for my seizures, and my team had similar stories of being undervalued. At Parasol, I was determined to do things differently.?

We built our policies around flexibility and compassion. I knew firsthand how unpredictable life could be, so we worked when we could, not on a rigid 9-to-5 schedule. When one of my workers became a caretaker for their mother with cancer, it was Parasol that adapted to ensure they could continue working while balancing their caregiving duties. And if someone had to step out of a meeting for a medical emergency, they still received half-pay for that time. To me, people always come first.?

I invested in my team, setting aside funds for education and retreats, even when it came out of my own income. It wasn’t about keeping workers under my wing forever—it was about helping them spread their wings, whether with Parasol or elsewhere.?

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But ambition doesn’t come without challenges. During our retreat, I shattered my right arm. Multiple surgeries left me unable to use my dominant hand for nearly two years. I lost most of my clients despite having a capable team ready to take on the workload.

And then COVID hit.

It was a dark time for Parasol, and for myself, personally. But with the support of my family, clients, and team, I pushed through. That first client I mentioned? He sponsored my mental health journey when he saw how much I was struggling. That generosity saved me in ways I can’t even begin to describe.?

Today, Parasol Designs is still recovering from those setbacks. But our mission hasn’t wavered. I’ve been told my ideals are unrealistic, even insane—that businesses can’t succeed by prioritizing people over profits. Respectfully, I disagree. Too many corporations treat workers as disposable, and that is unacceptable. I refuse to contribute to that system.

At Parasol, my team is my greatest investment. When they are healthy and supported, they move mountains—and that strength carries over to our clients. I believe every person has value, and given the right environment, anyone can flourish.

We may be a small company, but we’re making a statement. The world doesn’t need another cookie-cutter business. It needs places where compassion, flexibility, and human dignity come first.?

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Parasol Designs will continue to evolve, but our values will always remain the same.