I’ve always been a late bloomer. I had to repeat kindergarten because, as my kindergarten teacher documented on my report card “Susie can count to ten except for nine.” Sure sounds better than “that dumb kid can’t even count to ten!” She was the type to see the glass half-full. Maybe that’s where my optimistic nature began.
After college, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I played the marketing role like a good soldier while I tried to figure it out. I even got an MBA (primarily because I’d just broken a four-year relationship and was looking for something to fill my time). Actually, I got pretty good at that whole corporate marketing thing and I enjoyed it! In retrospect, I see that as a bit of a curse. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s your “calling” for the rest of your life. Women (more so than men) transform over time, and it just makes sense that careers need to adjust as well. It took me until age 43 to figure that out.
I didn’t get married until I was 34, had kids at 37 and 41. See what I mean about late bloomer! Someone smart once said “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” I get that now – but no regrets. But enough about history. Going forward, I have plenty of time to find myself and make a difference (kumbaya…that’s a lot of clichés in one sentence!).
This is where my story picks up. I’m a 44 (and a half) year old mother of two girls (ages 3 and 7) and a wonderful (albeit “type A”) husband. We currently live in Connecticut, although I suspect deep down I’m really a southern girl – but that’s another story for another day.
I just gave notice to my current employer that I’m leaving my job at the end of the month. Let me back up here just a minute. There is nothing really wrong with the job I am leaving (although I was bored, and felt extremely stifled). I am/was the VP, Banking Product Manager for an Internet bank, and I only had to work four days/week. But I eventually realized that I’m not “that person” any more – I’ve changed, as have my responsibilities. Bottom line…it wasn’t worth the separation from my kids, and it was in the way of something bigger and better.
So about a year ago, I started an Interior Redesign and Home Staging business on the side with hopes it would turn into a profitable and flexible venture. I loved the work. But after a year of juggling an overloaded schedule and lunching at Panera Bread (for the free wifi) to establish the business, I finally figured out that trading dollars for hours wasn’t going to take me where I wanted to go. And where is it I want to go, you ask? Good question. I wasn’t sure, but I knew I would recognize it once I saw it, thanks to my optimistic nature.
I was right. Thanks to advice from a former classmate (and serial entrepreneur); I finally had my “ah ha” moment. I’m developing an online forum as an extension of the business I started a year ago. This combines my marketing, ecommerce and design passions on a more palatable schedule. But more importantly, I’m going to actually be there for my kids.
So I’m looking at a summer full of transition…from the corporate rat race to the entrepreneurial soccer mom world. Oh the varied emotions! But any fears of failure (or success) are trumped by my optimistic passion that I am where I need to be. Perhaps I have my kindergarten teacher to thank for that. Hopefully that is something I can instill in my still-impressionable girls.
This journal is intended to document my journey – the highs and the lows – as I make my transition to “the other side”. I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes; my only hope is that I’ll learn from them, and perhaps anyone reading this journal can then avoid them. I may be a late bloomer, but at least I showed up! Game on!!!
