We had the good fortune of connecting with Tabitha Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tabitha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my business Life to Paper happened through a series of shoulder taps from the universe, serendipity and dedication. My career began in politics, and after two years, I made the switch into capital markets. Despite what anyone would see as advancing quickly, I was in a constant state of restlessness. A job promotion or new role would provide brief satisfaction, but the discontentment would return not long after, and I would feel like something was missing. I was in a constant state of needing more. My grandmother and I have a close relationship. One day, she mentioned how she planned to hire a ghostwriter to put her life story to paper. As a child, she had been in prison and escaped a labour camp in Hungary. Having been one of the youngest in the camp and now one of the only living survivors, she had done her research and found that no one had chronicled what happened during that time. My grandmother had not shared much more than the linear facts about her life with me or anyone else. *Shoulder tap from the universe. The truth-seeker inside of me awakened. I needed to know more. Before I knew it, I suggested that I start writing her life story – at least start with doing the leg work – and we could always pass it off to a ghostwriter to polish it off. She agreed. A few weeks afterward, my phone rang. It was my grandmother. She said that if we were going to do this, then we ought to do it right. We would have to travel to Hungary (it would be my first time) and visit the places where notable things in her life took place. I should also meet people who are a part of her, and therefore, my history. **Another shoulder tap from the universe. I was thrilled. We set off for Hungary. Naturally, my discontentedness came with me like an oversized bag, at first causing me to struggle and feel weighed down. Once the stories started, everything changed. My notebook never left my side. In it, I scribbled everything that crossed my consciousness. I was a sponge. One day, sitting at an outdoor table outside my cousin’s bed and breakfast in Hungary’s wine country while watching the rain, a feeling washed over me. It was something I had not felt in a very long time. Complete contentment. It felt as though I knew that there was nowhere else I was meant to be, but exactly right where I was. ***Major shoulder tap from the universe. When I returned from Hungary, I went back to work in my tall tower in the financial district. I felt different, but I did not know what to do with this experience and these shoulder taps. I continued with life as I knew it, and tried to make time to do life story writing. I stopped listening to shoulder taps. But then, those taps lead to slaps. And slaps finally led to a complete knock-down. I got fired. So, I went to the west coast to think. I was gifted the opportunity to work with an extraordinary human being. Within the first hour of discussion, he somehow got me to share my life story writing experience with my grandmother. Next, he had me saying aloud that helping people put their life stories to paper was my passion and purpose. Everything made sense. All the teachers who told me I was a writer. All the piles of books I had next to my bed as a young girl. All the A+, “Outstanding,” marks I had received on book reports and documentary projects. I bought another notebook and started to scribble down potential names for my new business. Life to Paper was the third one I wrote. I checked GoDaddy, and the .com was available. Serendipity. I went to my dear friend’s grandmother’s funeral, and while mentioning my new business idea to his parents, they decided to introduce me to one of their best friends. He was a friendly, kind man. He had also written one of the best-selling guides on how to write a life story. I asked him to be my mentor on the spot. He agreed. Serendipity struck again. A few months later, I moved to Miami, Florida and began the new and best chapter so far of my life. I don’t know if it was just the warm air, but I felt as though the city embraced me from the moment I arrived. There was a creative community and many fascinating humans with brave stories greeting me saying, We have been waiting for you.

Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
A major lesson I learned in entrepreneurship was clarifying my intention and staying true to what that is. When I realized that I want to work with people who want to impact the world positively, everything shifted. At first, I struggled in my early days, as many do with a new business. I thought the best thing I could do for myself was to say yes to any person who wanted to work with me. It led to my having to dim my light and my inner voice, which often told me I should say no. I am not the best ghostwriter for everyone, and that is okay! There is someone out there for everyone who needs help writing their story. Once I got clear on the fact that I want to work with individuals who wish to tell brave, honest accounts of their lives and use those stories to impact others positively, I began to attract the right kind of clients and find it easier to say no when it didn’t feel right as well. I help individuals who have lived through their own heroes journey. They have gone through the separation, ordeals, initiations, and slew all the dragons that come along with them. Heroes make mistakes. Heroes fall. But it is through a series of next right actions that they make their way to resurrection and return. I have come to find that our gifts are located next to our wounds. These are the golden threads of legacy. We find them by going through our ordeals and entering the innermost caves of life. The heroes I work with have discovered their gifts and are using them to serve others. Most importantly, they always return home to tell their story. Even after the hero does, these stories live on to inspire the hearts and minds of others.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Live music! Miami has incredible talent. It is home to one of the best music schools in the country. Not only that, I truly believe there is something in the water and air that has nurtured some of the nation’s best musicians. Lagniappe would be my first stop for live music and charcuterie. I would check out Prism to see if there were any outdoor live shows as well. At some point, I would need to make at least one or two pit stops at Vice City Bean to see Roland. I spent my early days in that place working on my first books for clients. The energy and overall joy that place brings to me is second to none. Meditation on the beach during what I call, Miami Magic hour – sunset. I absolutely love sunsets and my meditation circle was a big part of what made me feel like Miami was home when I first moved there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mentor, Richard Campbell. My Dream Coach, Giovanni Marsico. My personal development coaches, Claudia Duran & Britta Aragon. Also, I have to thank my grade 8 teacher and basketball coach, Belinda Lelli. She encouraged me to be a writer and made me feel the most seen and inspired in my early years.

Website: www.lifetopaper.com
Instagram: @tab_nav AND @lifetopaperpublishing
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lifetopaper
Twitter: @lifetopaper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabitha.navratil

Image Credits
Max Rosenstein https://www.maxrosenstein.com/

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