‘Pressure’: 31yo reveals extreme lengths she took to start her own business

A Millennial worker has opened up about the reason she quit her stable six-figure job, sold her home and “isolated” herself from friends and family.

Jen Aphay was a homeowner and was making over $100,000 a year when she decided to overhaul her comfortable life and start her own business.

The 31-year-old came up with the idea of creating a sweat-proof makeup line six years ago. At the time, she was working as a paralegal and making $110,000.

Immediately she believed in the idea, but it took her four more years to launch her brand Gymnos and a lot of hustle.

Ms Aphay worked two jobs, one on the weekend and then her usual 9-5 and threw everything she had into her idea.

She invested $80,000 to launch the business, covering everything from samples to consolation fees.

It was a terrifying decision.

“I was definitely anxious at the start,” she told news.com.au.

“I had no prior experience in product formulation or running a business. So I wasn’t entirely sure where to begin.”

Jen was making $110,000 when she planned to launch her business. Picture: Supplied

She worked two jobs and launched the business four years later. Picture: Supplied

Ms Aphay was prepared to invest everything because she genuinely believed in the product and was “driven by a clear mission” to help women feel beautiful and confident while on the go.

She was so serious about starting her brand that she even sold her designer handbags.

It was tough, though. She stopped going out and spent every waking moment working on the business, and her personal life took a massive back seat.

“I made several sacrifices to focus on building the business. I essentially isolated myself in my apartment, dedicating every day to working on the business, which meant I only had four hours of sleep each day,” she said.

The business owner said she even had to give up spending time with her loved ones, even asking them to visit her rather than going out to see them.

“I didn’t want to lose any time that could be spent on growing the business. Unfortunately, this meant I lost a few friendships along the way,” she said.

This business launched in March this year. Picture: Supplied

She sold her home to launch it. Picture: Supplied

The ultimate sacrifice came when Ms Aphay decided the only way she could afford to launch the business was to sell her biggest asset.

“One of the toughest decisions I had to make was selling my house to invest the proceeds back into the business, ensuring we could launch on time despite the significant financial pressures,” she said.

“Product costs were rising and I needed every bit of capital to keep things moving forward.”

The 31-year-old said it was a frightening decision to make as she was basically throwing away her financial security.

“The biggest risk I’ve taken was selling my property, leaving behind a stable six-figure salary, and diving into full-time business ownership,” she said.

“I became my own boss and, eventually, the leader of a team of four without formal qualifications. I ventured into a niche market that was completely new to me, with no experience or guidance to rely on.”

She’s became her own boss. Picture: Supplied

The business is now thriving. Picture: Supplied

To Ms Aphay’s relief, it has paid off.

Since launching in March 2024, the business has experienced significant growth, with monthly revenue now reaching around $10,000.

It’s been completely thrilling for the 31-year-old, who poured her blood, sweat and tears into the business.

“The most exciting moment for me has been seeing the smiles on women’s faces, knowing that my brand is making a real difference in their lives,” she said.

“To hear that we’ve helped them feel beautiful and confident again, without the stress of worrying about smudging or a runny face, is incredibly fulfilling.”

Now Gymnos is stocked in more than 50 Anytime Fitness gyms around NSW and is growing in Snap Fitness locations, currently in seven franchises.

Originally published as ‘Pressure’: 31yo reveals extreme lengths she took to start her own business