When the RV Breaks and the Dream Doesn’t

Ever feel like you're supposed to be farther along by now?

You’ve done the work. You’ve got the skills. But something about your message still feels… murky.

That’s not a branding problem. It’s a clarity one.

And clarity doesn’t come from guessing. It comes from conversation.

That’s what Wildly Known is. It's one 45-minute conversation that results in three trust-building stories and messaging that makes people feel like they already know you.

If you’ve been saying “I just don’t know how to talk about what I do,” this was made for you. Reply with "In the Jar" (like, in the jar so you can't read the label) to find out if it's right for you. No prep needed (well, for you!).

Now speaking of saying the hard things out loud…

This week’s feature is Rachel Michelle, a former surgical director turned digital nomad who rebuilt her life (and business) when the wheels literally fell off. Her story is one of grounded grit, clarity in motion, and what happens when you refuse to give up on freedom.

Let’s get into it.

They were supposed to be cruising through the Alaskan wilderness in a cozy, tricked-out RV. That was the dream. Instead, the RV broke. Not once. Not twice. But three times. And not with a flat tire or a leaky faucet either. No, this was manufacturer-defect, ship-it-back, long-haul broken.

Most people would cancel the dream and go back to "normal." Rachel Michelle is not most people.

Instead of quitting, she decided to live the dream anyway. Even without wheels.

From Surgical Director to Digital Nomad

Rachel spent years in healthcare. She was the director of a surgery center in Fairbanks, Alaska, managing operations, staff, and the kinds of crises that would make most of us cry in a breakroom closet. Then the pandemic hit. Overnight, she had to send staff home, juggle shutdowns, and somehow keep morale from flatlining.

She pulled it off. Until she couldn’t.

“It wasn’t aligned with what I wanted for my life anymore,” Rachel said. “I was missing my kids. My mental health was suffering. Something had to give.”

She didn’t hate nursing. She just couldn’t keep doing it like that.

So she didn’t.

The Course She Forgot About

Rachel’s husband, ever the optimist, had once pitched the idea of making money online. He even bought an affiliate marketing course. Rachel’s response? Classic supportive wife meets realist: “That’s cute.”

Fast-forward a few burnout cycles and one very tired soul later, Rachel blew the dust off that course. At first, it felt like a long shot. They couldn’t even remember the login. But eventually she found her way back in.

“I tried a bunch of stuff that didn’t work,” she said. “I was just throwing spaghetti at the wall.”

Eventually, she found a mentor. Then she found a product she actually liked. That combination changed everything.

Now she teaches others how to do the same. From her phone. In whatever state her family happens to be visiting that month. Assuming the RV cooperates.

Business, But Make It Purposeful

Rachel and her husband now run multiple income streams. There’s real estate, book publishing, and affiliate marketing. They even published a guide for traveling Alaska, which is exactly what you’d want from two locals who’ve lived it, left it, and come back to it by choice.

But here’s the kicker. Rachel doesn’t just want to make money. She wants to help people make freedom. Big difference.

“A lot of people get stuck,” she said. “They’re smart, driven, capable. But their life doesn’t reflect that. I love helping them change that story.”

She works in small blocks of time. Early mornings. Nap breaks. Evenings. She’s still a recovering workaholic, but now she’s home. When her kids need her, she’s right there.

That’s the win.

How She Gets Her Best Ideas

No surprise here. Outside.

Rachel takes a daily walk with her dog, usually first thing in the morning. It’s non-negotiable. She might be in a campground, a forest, or a snowy Fairbanks trail, but the effect is the same.

Her brain clears. Her spirit resets. And her creativity returns.

“I used to think I didn’t have time,” she said. “Now I know I don’t have time not to.”

She carries her phone so she can jot down ideas before they evaporate. Because nothing haunts you like the brilliant idea you didn’t write down.

Yes, the RV Is Still Broken

It’s been at the manufacturer since May. Rachel is still in Alaska. The road trip summer she pictured? Didn’t happen.

That could’ve tanked her business. And for a little while, it almost did. She stopped showing up. Lost momentum. Felt frustrated and stuck.

But then she reached out. Formed a mini mastermind with others in her community. Found people to collaborate with, brainstorm with, grow with. That changed the energy.

“Even if you don’t feel like you can pull yourself forward,” she said, “the right people can pull you with them.”

What’s Next?

Rachel’s long-term goal isn’t just more income. It’s more impact. She wants to fund medical mission trips. Not as a “maybe someday” fantasy, but as a very real part of her future.

And the way she’s building things now? That future’s coming faster than you’d expect.

She still pops in for the occasional nursing shift when she’s back in Alaska. She wants to keep her skills sharp. But now it’s on her terms. Her schedule. Her rules.

And that’s the real freedom.

Rachel’s not trying to impress anyone. She’s trying to connect with the right people. If you’re a go-getter with big dreams and a current reality that doesn’t quite match, she wants to talk.

She’s the one who turned burnout into boldness. She’ll probably help you do the same.

Rachel’s got some business-building freebies for you here!

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