In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Monica McKitterick about her journey from nurse practitioner to business owner, how she navigated stepping into the CEO role with no formal business training, and the profound impact that competing in a reality TV competition had on her definition of success, freedom, and personal fulfillment. Monica is an Austin-based founder and CEO of Impact Family Wellness and winner of Season 18 of “The Blocks,” a televised entrepreneurial competition. About Monica McKitterick: Monica McKitterick is a family nurse practitioner turned CEO who built a thriving, multi-location Direct Primary Care practice from the ground up. After winning a national business competition, she realized success is less about titles and accolades and more about freedom, impact, and living in alignment with her values. She now helps other medical providers break free from the broken healthcare system and create sustainable, patient-centered practices. Monica is passionate about redefining success and showing others that their worth is never tied to burnout. Main Topics Covered: How Monica launched and scaled a direct primary care (DPC) practice with no business background The experience and intensity of participating in “The Blocks” entrepreneurial TV show Learning to redefine personal and professional success beyond traditional metrics The role of competition, networking, and mindset shifts in entrepreneurship Facing burnout, the importance of setting boundaries, and embracing freedom Monica’s strategies for building a business that operates independently of her day-to-day presence New ways she’s making an impact through writing, mentoring, and online education for healthcare providers Quote from the Episode: “It was the first time I legitimately felt validated as a business owner… I was doing it. I just couldn’t admit to myself that I was doing it. And that was the first time I was like, oh, maybe I do know what I’m doing.” — Monica McKitterick Timestamps: [00:00:00] Monica’s Austin roots and family celebrations [00:02:03] Monica’s journey to “The Blocks” & applying for the show [00:04:54] Transitioning from nurse practitioner to CEO [00:07:32] What is direct primary care and how it differs from concierge medicine [00:09:06] Monica’s hopes and goals for the TV competition [00:10:50] The reality of filming “The Blocks” and competition structure [00:13:59] The diversity of entrepreneurs on the show [00:15:41] Competitive spirit, imposter syndrome, and the reality of winning [00:18:49] The impact and pressure after winning “The Blocks” [00:20:44] Redefining success, facing burnout, and pivoting to new projects [00:25:07] Freedom, mindset shifts, and building an autonomous business [00:27:36] Would Monica do another competition? [00:29:21] Where to find “The Blocks” and Monica’s resources [00:32:11] Austin recs, reality TV, and Monica’s favorite guilty pleasures ABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individuals (not celebrities) who share their personal experiences and insights. Through these authentic stories, listeners find validation, motivation, and inspiration for navigating their own path through modern life. Because there's a big difference between expert advice and shared experience, and hearing another person's lived experience helps us feel less alone in our own situations. CONNECT WITH Monica Mckitterick:
