In January of 2016 I started Hatch Tribe. Little did I know what the following 8+ years would entail.

To say it’s been a journey would be an understatement. It’s been a remarkable experience building this company from the ground up and quite literally touching the lives of 1000s of entrepreneurs — primarily women and a few brave men ;)

It all started in Charleston, South Carolina with an in-person gathering of women entrepreneurs in a long defunct co-working space. I remember jokingly asking these women “Why are you here?” and the response was a resounding desire to build real connections and relationships with people doing similar things.

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to feel alone and isolated, and it was immediately clear that Hatch Tribe could fill that void. And we did.

In the years that followed we hosted hundreds of in-person gatherings, building a massive community of entrepreneurs and business owners. As our audience grew, so too did our offerings — business coaching, masterminds, online courses, membership, digital downloads, retreats, conferences, and events in other cities. It blossomed into a huge business.

I look back on those times with such fondness, because it’s when I met so many of you who are reading this now. And yet, it was also becoming overwhelming and I was beginning to lose some of my passion for the business. I loved parts of what Hatch Tribe had become, but certainly not all of it.

As the pandemic struck, we were forced to pivot like most businesses. Our in-person events came to a screeching halt, and we ramped up efforts to grow the online courses and membership. With the business operating fully online, I took the opportunity to relocate to Florida. I had deeply loved Charleston for 10 years, but I was desperate for a change of scenery. It was every bit of what my soul needed at that time.

But life has a funny way of throwing you curveballs.

A month after I moved to Florida I learned that I had an 11 centimeter cyst on my left ovary that would need to be surgically removed. Two months later I found out it was ovarian cancer. By the grace of God, it was Stage 1a, which meant the cancer was contained to the ovary and had not spread throughout my body. But it did require me to have a total hysterectomy, which at the age of 42 threw me into medically induced menopause. Oh the joy!

That short paragraph may lead you to believe this time was easy breezy. In reality it was the scariest time of my life.

I was afraid my life was being cut short, and I started to question everything. Was I really happy? Had I really been spending my time well? What even mattered?!

As I lay there recovering from surgery, I realized first hand what Bronnie Ware talks about in her book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”. In her interviews with people during their final days of life, she discovered five common regrets, two of which are: “I wish I hadn't worked so hard.” and “I wish I had let myself be happier”

It became glaringly obvious to me that work had consumed a disproportionate share of my life. This obsession began well before starting my first business in 2011. I had been obsessed with work and achievement since my first job out of college. I had climbed the corporate ladder and landed an epic six-figure job. Then as an entrepreneur, I launched, grew, and sold multiple businesses.

I had achieved so much, so why did it feel so empty?

I had poured so much time and energy into my career that I’d lost sight of the bigger picture! My obsession with building businesses consumed my energy and thoughts, causing me to spend less time with family & friends, to walk away from relationships, and to say no to doing fun things. I had put work on a pedestal and mistakenly believed that when I reached certain milestones and goals things would change.

I began to realize that my one wild and precious life was slipping through my fingers. I knew I had to change — and I did.

In the year that followed my wake-up call, I scaled down Hatch Tribe and scaled up my LIFE! I decided to only offer what felt truly aligned in my heart and soul — business coaching, masterminds, and retreats. It was magic! I had a phenomenal year financially, working fewer hours, obsessing less, and loving my life even more.

Today, nearly 3 years later, I am truly a different person. Just ask my family, closest friends, and therapist who have all walked beside me through this insane journey!

I am more life-loving and joy-filled now. I trust and believe that my life is unfolding in a divine way. I feel more connected to myself, to others, and to the spirit that unites us all. And I truly operate from a place of remembering that death is inevitable. None of us are getting out alive! So while I’m here I want to “right size” work into being just one aspect of life — not life itself.

In that spirit, I have made the decision to step away from Hatch Tribe. My work here is complete.

I have achieved more than I ever dreamed possible through Hatch Tribe. I am proud of the work we’ve done and the impact we’ve had on so many entrepreneurs & businesses. I am so grateful for the people who made it possible — our amazing clients, partners, and team members. A special thanks goes to Nina who has been by my side through it all.

So what’s now, you ask?

I am continuing to work with the human archetype that I know and love best — ambitious and driven business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

As a Business & Leadership Coach, I help my clients discover what success really means to them so they can build their business in a way that’s aligned and supportive of the life they really want to live.

I am expanding my work into psychedelics, specifically Microdosing Integration. The practice of microdosing can be a powerful ally helping leaders develop new ways of thinking, seeing, and being in the world.

Additionally I am offering Nature Experiences, like forest bathing, that can help you rewire your nervous system to function more optimally and joyfully in daily life.

I will continue to run Fast Friends Fungi, where we offer superfood functional mushroom products to help elevate health & wellness.

If you are interested in learning more about my work, you can check out my website www.hilarypjohnson.com.

If you’d like to stay in touch, I invite you to subscribe to my weekly’ish newsletter and follow me on Instagram.

As a final note, I’ll leave you with this.

Change is AOK. In fact, change is expected. Nothing in life is permanent, including every single aspect of your business. If you desire a change, go after it. Your time on this Earth is precious.

Hilary Johnson

Announcement: I’m moving on.