Choose the Wrong Dream? 

Building a Life We Want to Live

 For years, many of us have been sold a narrative: go to school, go to college, get a degree, and land that stable job. Work your way up the ladder, collect the W2s, and eventually, you’ll be “in charge.” Sounds solid, right? Except for the part where this dream often comes with crushing student debt, years of monotony, and the feeling that you’re climbing a ladder leaning against the wrong wall.

We’ve been there.

For Frank, it meant following traditional paths into international marketing, owning a pickleball company and real estate, while Sherri, with a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Washington Medical School, dove headfirst into the rigorous world of research, producing papers on opioids and blockers.  She then became a patent counsel starting biotech companies. On paper, it all looked perfect—a blueprint for success. But life had other plans.

We weren’t living our purpose.

Sure, we had achieved what society deemed “success,” but we couldn’t shake the feeling that the system we were working within was broken—especially when it came to housing and recovery. Why were so many people falling through the cracks? Why wasn’t anyone addressing the deep connection between housing, mental health, addiction recovery, and true reintegration into society?

So, we pivoted.

Instead of chasing the traditional dream, we built Kate’s House Foundation https:/kateshousefoundation.org to create real change. Starting with a single sober living home, we now house over 1,000 people, including veterans, individuals in recovery, those with mental health challenges, and foster adults who’ve aged out of care. Our model of shared housing is transforming recovery housing across the U.S., providing sustainable, affordable, and accredited homes for people who need it most.

Here’s the thing: we didn’t have all the answers when we started. We just knew the current system wasn’t working, and someone had to step up. So we did.

What We Learned Along the Way

1. Debt Isn’t Destiny
   It’s easy to feel shackled by debt or that you must stay in a high-paying job that doesn’t align with your values. But your life’s work doesn’t have to fit into someone else’s box. We leveraged our skills—Frank’s real estate expertise and Sherri’s pharmacological background—to create a scalable model of social entrepreneurship.
2. Purpose Beats Paychecks
   Don’t get us wrong; we’ve earned millions in government contracts and built a sustainable model. But the real payoff? Watching lives transform, communities heal, and people regain dignity.
3. Your Pivot Can Change Lives
   The decision to pursue social entrepreneurship wasn’t just a career move—it was a life move. By breaking free of the traditional path, we’ve trained thousands of investors to open recovery homes and created a nationwide network of housing referrals.

The Question That Changed Everything

We had to ask ourselves: Are we building a life we want to live, or just checking off society’s to-do list?

If you’re feeling stuck in the wrong dream, let this be your sign to pivot. Whether you’re launching your own venture or looking to make a difference in your community, there’s no time like now to reimagine what’s possible.

You don’t have to follow the script society handed you. Tear it up. Write your own.

Ready to learn how to build a business with purpose? Visit https://frankandsherri.com/home-study-heroes/ and discover how you can make the pivot that changes lives—including your own.