What happens when you stop waiting until you feel fully ready and start building before you have all the answers? In this episode, I sit down with Keziah Wonstolen, founder and CEO of Vanan Chief of Staff, to talk about the messy, uncertain, and deeply transformative reality of entrepreneurship. Through powerful lessons on entrepreneurship, identity, and redefining success, Keziah shares what it really looked like to leave a successful corporate career at Accenture and build one of the leading chief of staff talent firms in the country. From pivotal personal experiences to the mindset shifts and hard-earned lessons that shaped her journey over the last six years, this conversation offers an honest look at what it takes to grow both a business and yourself along the way. What makes this conversation so powerful is how honest it is. Keziah opens up about the pivotal life moment that changed her perspective on work and success, the uncomfortable early days of entrepreneurship where nothing felt clear, and the process of learning to trust herself before she felt fully confident. We also talk about balancing ambition with family life, the hidden emotional load of building a business, and why getting comfortable with discomfort is often the key to growth. This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship is not about having everything figured out from the start. It’s about taking the next step, staying open to learning, and continuing to evolve along the way. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✨ The life-changing experience that pushed Keziah to finally pursue entrepreneurship ✨ Why clarity often comes after you start, not before ✨ How niching down helped her grow faster and build momentum early on ✨ The importance of having real conversations instead of hiding behind branding, websites, and planning ✨ Why confidence is built through action and repetition, not waiting to “feel ready” ✨ How Keziah redefined success, balance, and boundaries as both a CEO and a mother ✨ The role discomfort, vulnerability, and human connection play in growing a sustainable business ✨ Why investing in the right people and building a strong team changed everything ✨ How AI is changing business and why human relationships still matter most ✨ Practical advice for anyone who knows they’re capable of more but feels scared to start If you’ve been sitting on a business idea, questioning whether you’re ready, or feeling stuck trying to perfect everything before you begin, this episode will give you the permission to start before you feel certain. Keziah’s story is proof that growth comes through action, clarity develops over time, and sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen when you’re willing to lean into discomfort and trust yourself anyway. Tune in and discover what can happen when you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start building one conversation, one decision, and one step at a time. LET'S CONNECT! If you’re ready to take the next step in your business, attract your dream clients, or gain clarity on your strategy, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, I’m here to support you in building a business that aligns with who you are at your core and the lifestyle you want to live. Simply connect with me through one of these channels: Website: https://www.rachel-lubchansky.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.lubchansky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lubchansky Book Your Free Discovery Call:https://rachellubchansky.as.me/consult You can explore my 1:1 strategy + mentorship here: https://www.rachel-lubchansky.com/1-1-mentorship Get The Business Clarity Scorecard and uncover in just 3 minutes what your business needs to grow:https://www.rachel-lubchansky.com/resources#get-clarity About Keziah: Keziah Wonstolen helps visionary leaders unlock their time, scale with intention, and build enduring companies—with the right Chief of Staff by their side. As Founder & CEO of Vannin Chief of Staff, she leads the only firm solely dedicated to the Chief of Staff role. The firm places transformational talent, builds operating models around the CEO, and equips Chiefs of Staff to drive clarity, alignment, and results from day one. Her work sits at the intersection of executive search, operational strategy, and leadership development—trusted by growth-stage CEOs, family offices, and private equity firms across the country. Recognition and Awards: 🥇 Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40, Class of 2023 🥇 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Class of 2025 🥇 Colorado Companies to Watch, Class of 2025 🥇 WBENC Certified Woman-Owned Business Before founding Vannin Chief of Staff, she led large-scale transformation initiatives at Accenture. Today, she brings that same systems thinking and strategic rigor to complex leadership teams—helping them scale with purpose. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keziah-wonstolen/ Website - https://www.vanninchiefofstaff.com/ -------- EPISODE CREDITS:Produced, edited and mixed by Pod2GoMusic from #Uppbeat by Infraction (Tropic of Life)License code: SAZGVKPQTBNJEMWC