From Cancer to Calling: Erica Carrico’s Million-Dollar Pivot

When a cancer diagnosis strikes, most people think survival. Erica Carrico thought transformation.

At 36, while caring for a toddler and a baby, building her career, and following her prescribed path in life, Erica received news that would stop anyone in their tracks: kidney cancer. But instead of slipping deeper into fear or deferring to the path she’d been told was "safe," she chose to listen—to her body, her heart, and the whispers of a life she hadn’t yet given herself permission to create.

In the quiet rhythm of early motherhood, rocking her baby in the dark, Erica found herself asking the big questions. Why am I here? What if this is it? What would I do differently if I knew I only had a little time left? She remembers hearing the word “remission”—but in her spirit, it echoed as “remember your mission.” That moment became the catalyst for a complete reinvention.

Years before her diagnosis, Erica had chased all the right milestones: a corporate career in recruitment, a master’s degree in nonprofit management, a marriage, and a sense of stability. But it never felt aligned. Despite her achievements, she was working for someone else’s dream—first in the corporate world, then as the executive director of a nonprofit, where she earned $29,000 a year while carrying six-figure student loan debt. The burnout was relentless. The anxiety quietly grew. Her soul kept nudging her to do something different, something more.

After her cancer surgery, Erica made a vow: to stop playing small and start living fully. She enrolled in a life coaching program, finally allowing herself to pursue the path she’d been drawn to for years. Within a year, she launched her own coaching practice—and walked away from her job. Today, her business generates over a million dollars in revenue annually and helps thousands of women around the world find clarity, confidence, and purpose.

But Erica’s story isn’t just about business. It’s about healing. It’s about learning to speak gently to yourself, to honor your body, and to prioritize joy. It’s about moving from perfectionism and people-pleasing to soulful, service-driven impact. It’s about remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.

Through one-on-one coaching, courses, group programs, and in-person retreats, Erica helps women uncover what she calls their “original medicine”—the unique purpose they were born to share. And she does it while fiercely advocating for balance, boundaries, and a lifestyle that aligns with their values.

Starting over doesn’t mean beginning from scratch. You bring your wisdom. Your life experience. Your scars and your story. And if you’re willing to peel back the layers and get honest about what you truly want, you can build something breathtaking—no matter your age, no matter your past.

Erica’s journey from cancer to calling is more than a comeback. It’s a reclamation. A reminder that sometimes, the most disruptive moments in life are the ones that call us home to ourselves.

If you’re standing at a crossroads, stuck in burnout, or feeling like it’s too late to start something new—let this be your permission slip. It’s not too late. You’re not too much. And the life you dream about might just be waiting on the other side of your yes.

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Erica’s book, Awaken Your Purpose, is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. To learn more about her work and upcoming offerings, visit https://www.ericacarrico.com.

P.S. Has Erica’s story sparked something in you? I’d love to hear what resonated. DM me on Instagram @penny4yourshots or email me directly—your voice and your journey matter.