Prosecutor Turned LinkedIn Mom. Here's Her System.

The Journey of Candace McLaren Lam: From Prosecutor to Entrepreneur

Introduction to Candace's Background

• Candace McLaren Lam, a former Manhattan prosecutor, dedicated 10 years to putting away dangerous criminals in New York City.

• At the age of 47, she had a baby during challenging times and faced a life-altering event when her husband lost the ability to walk.

• Despite her dreams of being a prosecutor since childhood, she was forced to leave her career due to family obligations.

The Turning Point

• Casey Brown introduces Candace as a recovering attorney and new entrepreneur who never envisioned herself in this role.

• Candace describes her past as a Type A planner who preferred job security over entrepreneurship; she valued knowing where her paycheck came from.

Life's Challenges and Career Shift

• In November 2025, Candace's husband suffered from degenerative disc disease, losing his ability to walk overnight while they were already dealing with their son's trauma.

• Faced with overwhelming responsibilities at home and an inability to juggle work and family needs, she decided to leave her beloved job.

Job Market Struggles

• After leaving her job, Candace found the legal job market saturated due to layoffs; positions that once attracted attention now resulted in quick rejections.

The Birth of an Idea

• Instead of opening a law firm as initially planned, one night her husband suggested she leverage her skills for mothers on social media.

• Initially dismissing the idea, at 3:00 AM she felt compelled to explore it further and spent hours fleshing out how she could support moms like herself intentionally.

Realization and New Path Forward

• Reflecting on her lifelong dream of being a lawyer since age nine made her realize there might be another path worth pursuing beyond traditional law.

Understanding the Signs of Opportunity

The Importance of Listening to Inner Calls

• The speaker emphasizes that sometimes the path you are meant to take diverges from your original plans, highlighting personal experience as proof of this phenomenon.

• Candace, a key figure in the discussion, recognized a calling that contradicted her long-held beliefs after 43 years; this realization is described as "where the magic is."

Three Signs You're Sitting on Something Big

Sign #1: Doing It for Free

• The first sign indicates that if you're already engaging in an activity without compensation, it may signal a deeper purpose or potential business opportunity.

• Candace was actively involved in supporting other moms online before considering it could be a vocation; she found community through social media during her own experiences as an older mother.

Sign #2: Others See Your Potential First

• The second sign suggests that often those around you can recognize your talents and potential before you do. Candace's husband encouraged her to build a business based on what she was already doing.

• This insight highlights how being immersed in your passion can obscure its value; external validation can help illuminate opportunities.

Sign #3: Solving Personal Problems

• The third sign posits that significant ventures often stem from personal challenges you've faced. Candace's journey began with her own feelings of isolation as a new mom at 47.

• Real-life experiences provide authenticity and urgency to address problems others face, making them powerful catalysts for business ideas.

Overcoming Fear and Taking Action

• Despite recognizing these signs, Candace initially considered pursuing law instead of embracing her newfound direction. This reflects common fears associated with stepping outside one's comfort zone.

• Joining a supportive program called Brick by Brick helped her confront these fears; she felt panic about sharing her story publicly but acknowledged the importance of taking action despite discomfort.

The Journey of an Older Mom: Finding Community and Impact

The Initial Post and Its Impact

• The speaker describes the emotional complexity of being an older mom, sharing a simple post that resonated with many: "Those of us having kids in our 40s and 50s are not crazy."

• Following the post, numerous women reached out with heartfelt messages, expressing feelings of divine connection and shared struggles regarding motherhood at an older age.

• Many women shared their personal stories about fertility treatments and the challenges they faced, emphasizing how much they needed to hear this narrative.

• Messages came from older mothers who wished for similar support during their own experiences, highlighting a generational gap in community support for older moms.

• The speaker emphasizes that "income follows impact," suggesting that creating meaningful connections is more valuable than monetary gain.

Building a Community

• Candace's relatable posts about everyday parenting moments (like feeding her son pizza three days in a row) garnered widespread engagement on LinkedIn.

• Her candidness struck a chord across diverse demographics; parents resonated with her authenticity amidst professional settings where others often present polished images.

• Within three months, Candace attracted nearly 100 women to her movement, showcasing the power of vulnerability in building community.

• She initiated newsletters and Zoom calls to foster connections among women nationwide seeking understanding and camaraderie.

• Despite lacking formal business training or planning, she successfully organized gatherings that brought together women from various regions.

Embracing Self-Worth

• When asked what advice she would give to someone hesitant to pursue their passion, Candace stressed the importance of recognizing one's value as seen by others.

• She noted that people often dismiss compliments or encouragement from others; it's crucial to reflect on these affirmations instead of brushing them off.

• Celebrating small wins is essential for maintaining motivation; without acknowledgment of progress, it becomes challenging to continue pursuing goals.

• Candace encourages individuals to view themselves through the eyes of those who believe in them rather than through self-doubt or skepticism.

• She challenges listeners to take action today by sharing their passions publicly instead of waiting for perfect conditions.

Call to Action

• The speaker urges viewers not only to recognize their potential but also to actively share their journeys online—emphasizing immediacy over perfection.

Transformation and Opportunity

Turning Passion into Profit

• The speaker encourages viewers to share activities they do for free that could potentially be monetized, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's value.

• A compelling example is presented: a woman who, despite being ill with the flu, sent out 300 direct messages (DMs) and successfully generated five figures in just 11 weeks.

• The speaker invites viewers to watch an inspiring video about this transformation, suggesting it can motivate others to see their potential as others do.

• There’s a call to action for audience engagement through comments, indicating the speaker's interest in community feedback and shared experiences.

• The overarching message is about self-perception and the transformative power of taking initiative in pursuing opportunities.