Determined

To be in control of my own destiny.

I am going to be a successful entrepreneur and owner of not one, but two businesses. How I do that is solely up to me and the choices I make along the way, the colleagues I call upon when I need guidance and support, and my dear family and friends that love me unconditionally. I am determined to forge ahead while appreciating the opportunities that have been afforded me throughout the years.

As many people know. my ability to pull myself up and change course this year is nothing short of a miracle. But it isn’t really a miracle because I clearly recognized my deficits and also my strengths before making any decisions. I was realistic about how hard it was going to be and how it would affect my family. I decided that I wanted to create a future for myself that would allow for me to be financially stable and still have the ability to travel and enjoy all that life has to offer. It was time to be selfish and steadfast.

Not all of this journey has been a choice. Taking over my late husband’s plumbing and heating business was not an option. This company has been our bread and butter for a long, long time and has provided financial stability for me and my children. It still does, thanks to two of my sons who are now the cornerstones of its future. So, when the opportunity to develop a business plan for this company came up through Goldman Sachs 10KSB, I jumped on it, and I can’t tell you how much that experience helped me to stay focused on the positive. Not only was I afforded the chance to learn a heck of a lot about this business that I have been managing behind the scenes, but I met some incredibly smart, hard-working and dedicated peers who have been resources, role models and ultimately- great friends. This program was the steppingstone for me and showed me how to move forward in a way that will benefit all of us along the way.

It would be great if I could say that I was satisfied with running the family business and leaving it at that. However, that is not the case. I had a teaching job after all. At least, in theory. I could have gone back to that and still run the business, and most people probably would have done that. I am not most people, as you may know, and I did not want to go back into the classroom. I know it provided a good income and benefits and would be a no brainer to go back after taking the year off to grieve and regroup. I loved the kids and teaching, but I really wanted more flexibility with my time. I absolutely needed to do something because without an additional job, all of our financial eggs were in one basket, and I needed a backup plan. There were thoughts about taking a part-time job for a set income. There were thoughts about working full-time. Then there were thoughts about waiting tables, so I didn’t have to put a lot of mental energy into my daily grind. Alas, I dug deep and decided to follow my passion in writing. After all, I have done it before and I knew that even though I had started a couple of writing businesses over the years that did not make it for one reason or another, this time would be different. This time I was armed with business acumen that I did not have before and was willing to tackle a niche with grant writing at the heart.

My feet are solidly planted, and my goals are perfectly clear. My professional writing business is in full swing thanks to the support of so many, but ultimately thanks to me, myself and I who decided to take the bull by the horns and be a student of the profession, ask for help and resources from others, and put my business plan into action. It has not been easy and there have been occasions when I needed some gentle encouragement, but each time I found doubt creeping in, it was scared off with a little assistance. I am at “the age” when doing something that brings me joy should be the focus of my energy. If it can also bring me a decent salary, all the better!

The moral of this story is that no matter what you decide to do with your life and career, it is really up to you. How to make your dreams come true, however, may require a bit of determination and openness to learning and growing as an individual or as part of a team. Take some time to step back and take inventory of your wants and needs, strengths and weaknesses. Engage with others in your social and professional circles and be aware of opportunities that are all around you, even if you never noticed them before. It’s never too late to decide to make a change, no matter how big or small for yourself. Reflect on all you have learned along your life’s path. I bet you will find that the answers have been accumulating along the way.

Be determined. Be brave. Be smart. Be gentle with yourself. Be grateful for what you have. Be open to help. Be happy!