Five Years Ago, I Wrote an 18-Month Plan. Here's What Happened.

Five years ago, over Fourth of July weekend, I was building APx Branding & Design—the company you now know as Openly Curated.

I was also in one of the messiest chapters of my life, I just didn’t speak on it. 

Everyone had plans for the holiday weekend. I was supposed to go to a party at my mom's house, but instead, she kept the kids, and I stayed home. I spent the entire weekend immersed in my creative energy, trying to build a future that felt so much bigger than the life I was living.

Somewhere in that weekend, I sat down and wrote an 18-month plan.

At the time, it felt almost laughable.

I had no clue how I was going to make any of it happen.

But before we get into that though, let’s recap. 

Five Years in Fast Forward

The last five years have been nothing short of a whirlwind.

After ending my engagement, I left my six-bedroom farmhouse in the country and moved into what I jokingly called my "bachelorette pad" in the city. In reality, it was a newly-remodeled 3-bedroom apartment in one of the roughest parts of town. It had a terrible reputation, but somehow it remains one of my favorite places I've ever lived. It wasn't perfect, but it represented freedom and a fresh start. I had to lose myself to find myself and I truly lost myself in that place.

At the time, I was pouring everything into my personal brand, Aspiring Ari, and The Petti Podcast. On the outside, I looked ambitious and motivated. Behind the scenes, though, I was struggling more than anyone realized. Mentally, I was hanging on by a thread.

Then the summer of 2021 happened - Within a matter of weeks, there was a shootout outside my apartment. I found myself dodging 113 rounds of gunfire, and not long after, my children's school bus was caught in a drive-by shooting.

That was my wake-up call. I couldn't keep raising my children in the dead-end towns that I came from. I wanted BETTER for them and for me. 

In September, I quit my job to bet on myself. Looking back, it probably seemed impulsive, but at the time, I felt an overwhelming sense that something had to change—and quickly. I truly believed that if I didn't change my environment and the trajectory of my life, something terrible was going to happen to me or someone I loved.

A few months later, in December, life surprised me again - I welcomed two more children into my home, including my little brother, whom I hadn't seen in 13 years. That's an entire story within itself, but overnight I found myself responsible for a family of five, living entirely off the income from my own business long before I felt financially prepared to do so.

Then came another leap of faith. I packed everything I owned and moved us to Tampa.

That chapter was short-lived, eventually leading us to Wilmington, North Carolina. My little brother eventually went his own direction, leaving me 13 hours away from everything familiar with just me and my two kids.

I thought changing my location would change everything, but instead, I learned that you can't outrun yourself.

By 2023, my mental health had continued to decline. I was drinking enough that I knew it had become a problem, and I finally decided to seek help for my mental health. That's when I was diagnosed with ADHD—a diagnosis that genuinely surprised me.

Like so many people, I thought getting diagnosed would immediately provide answers. Instead, I quickly learned that finding the right treatment is often a process of trial and error. Living hundreds of miles away from my support system made that process feel even more isolating.

I ended up traveling for most of 2024 and into 2025. I experimented with different business ideas, different routines, different environments, and honestly, different versions of myself. Eventually, I landed in Oklahoma for about a year, where I spent more time learning than earning.

Every success.

Every failure.

Every pivot.

Every lesson.

It all brought me here.

&

Last month, I moved back to Florida.

The Difference Between Then and Now

It wasn't about running away from myself. It was about intentionally moving toward something. For the first time in a long time, I have an intentional plan and so much clarity. 

I know what I want.

I know where I want to build my life.

I know when I want to accomplish my goals.

I know why they matter so much.

I know how I plan to get there.

Now I'm focused on the only piece that really matters.

Who do I have to become to create that life?

Looking at everything through that lens, I'd say I'm already 75–85% of the way there.

Not because I've accomplished every goal on my list—but because I've built the foundation required to accomplish them.

Five years ago, I was trying to figure out what kind of business to build.

Today, I'm focused on scaling businesses that already exist.

Five years ago, I had dreams.

Today, I have direction.

Five years ago, I relied on motivation.

Today, I have systems.

The only thing left is becoming the woman capable of sustaining everything I'm working so hard to build.

That's where my focus is now.

I'm building routines before results.

Discipline before freedom.

Character before success.

Because I truly believe that the life I'm asking for requires a different version of me than the one who wrote that first 18-month plan.

And that's exactly who I'm becoming.

A more disciplined version.

A healthier version.

A more intentional version.

The version of me who can sustain everything I'm asking life to give me.

Because success doesn't come from settings goals.

It comes from becoming the person capable of achieving them.

That's the difference between the 8% and everybody else. 

With that being said, let's get back to the plan I wrote over Fourth of July weekend in 2021.

The Original 18-Month Plan

When I found the document I wrote that Fourth of July weekend, I couldn't help but smile.

Here's what I wrote...

“'18 Months To Your Best Self:
July 2021 – December 2022

Where do I want to be in 18 months:

In 18 months, I would like to be moving to Wilmington, NC or some other coastal town. I would like to have a 40k dollar safety net and have a strong and consistent flow of income, strictly from my business. I would like to be a published author. I would like to rent a house in a higher end subdivision or community and work from home. I want to look good and feel good. I want to dress very businessy and fashionable. I want it to be fulfilled as a mother and have strong relationships with my kids, as well as be actively involved in my children's lives, not just present. I want to have transitioned over to an active, healthier, more natural, non-toxic lifestyle. I want to be happy, have a sense of belonging, and a solid support system”.

Reading it now is surreal.

Some of it became my reality.

Some of it took longer than I imagined.

Some dreams evolved into something even bigger than I originally planned.

Openly Curated isn't just an idea anymore.

It's a real business.

I'm no longer trying to figure out what I want to do.

I'm focused on scaling what I've already built.

I have consistent income from my business.

I'm actively marketing my first book.

It's still unpublished—and that's intentional.

I'm playing the long game.

The rest?

We're still working on it.

The Next 18 Months

So here's to the July 2026 edition of my 18-month plan.

The vision is bigger now.

Not because I need more things.

Because I understand more clearly what freedom actually looks like.

Over the next 18 months, I will scale Openly Curated and launch my property management company into businesses that create freedom instead of dependence.

Sparkle & Shine will become a business that operates without me on the front line. 

I'll own a home in a small coastal community.

I'll purchase my next vehicle with cash.

I'll publish It's A Scam.

I'll begin investing in beachfront vacation rentals.

Most importantly...

I'll build a life that feels aligned.

Not just successful.

Aligned.

The businesses aren't the goal.

The life is.

How I'm Going to Get There

This time, I'm not relying on motivation.

I'm relying on systems.

I've created an 18-month execution plan that covers everything from finances and business growth to motherhood, health, community, and daily habits.

Because if I want that life...

I have to become the woman capable of living it.

That means showing up every day.

Keeping promises to myself.

Building routines before chasing results.

Choosing discipline over motivation.

Protecting my peace.

Creating systems instead of chaos.

And asking myself one question every single day:

What can I do today that makes tomorrow easier?

Then doing exactly that.

The Next Chapter Starts Now

I've heard that six months of focused intention can set you five years ahead. I believe in 18 months will completely transform my life for the better.

Five years ago, I was too scared to let my business become successful because I was doing everything myself.

I was the CEO.

The assistant.

The accountant.

The marketer.

The customer service department.

Everything.

I've stayed small because small felt manageable.

Not anymore.

Starting July 1st, I'll be documenting this journey consistently.

You'll find me on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and here on the blog every Sunday.

Season two of the podcast launches August 1st.

From this point forward, I’m only looking forward. No more reflecting on the past. 

I've acknowledged where I've been. I’ve been real and raw about my struggles. Now my focus is on where I'm going and the struggle isn’t part of this story anymore. 

If you've made it this far, thank you for being here at the beginning of this next chapter.