I feel so elated, excited, and inspired! It's mid-summer... the year is half way, and so many new and wonderful things have presented themselves!
Firstly, I feel as if my progression towards high nutrition, low toxin, and low-glycemic living is fast becoming more a part of my daily reality. This progression has been one of a sort of blog/book-inspired wikipedia-esque hop, skip, and jump style to many different opions and studies of what is the most comprehensive. Of course there are times of celebration during which I allow myself to enjoy treats that other people bring... And the fact that I live in an apartment complex and do not share my grocery bill or meal plans. Life is a work in progress! Plus, I am sure that a year from now I will tell you that my diet and knowledge has improved even more... there is constantly so much developing science and discovery. I'd like to incorporate more raw greens and cultured products too.
Also, I've been slowly but surely getting better at being grain-free. As my wedding date gets closer and closer, I have more inspiration. This inspiration is not only funneled by the actual wedding date or ceremony, but also the idea that Brett and I will be officially starting our adult lives together. It is also a celebration of youth, health, vibrancy, and the earth. Eating closer to the earth brings forth local farms, traditions, early cultures, and a connection to our ancestors. I've read so many nutrition books within the last 5 years, and I feel that they have all led me to my newest and comprehensive read: Nourishing Traditions.
Goals for living with Brett: Start a little garden, build a composting bin, rid house of plastics, use reusable cloth grocery bags, use recyclable kitchen bags, set up a bonfire pit, and build a koi pond. I can't wait for our little home to have sweet sunny curtains, shiny polished wood, and a super-functioning hard core kitchen.
We talked finances last night, and our goal is to live on one salary and save the other. Ideally, we would live on about $50 grand annually and save the rest equally about $30 grand. We would do this by cutting back costs on a home by renting a little place for under $650 a month. We would sell Brett's car and therefore only have to pay gas, maintainance, and insurance on one vehicle. This would truly only be possible if Brett gets the job in Charlotte because they will give him a company car.
Which brings me to the next topic... of Brett getting invited to interview for a claims promotion in Charlotte, NC. This job would involve him traveling mostly around Charlotte, but sometimes around the rest of North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. He wouldn't have to go into an office... his office would be the house! We would then sell his car and trade in mine to then purchase a Prius or other gas-saving variety.
Why would we need a Prius?? Because I got a job offer in Charlotte too!!! I was researching craigslist to just get an idea for what the market is like up there. I saw an ad for a Natural Product Sales Rep and got super excited. It ended up that I actually know the woman and her brokerage because she is a rep for us at Aubrey. So when I sent in my cover letter and resume, I got an email back saying "I know you!!!" LOL! So, about 7 emails and a phone interview later, I was offered the job! It 100% commissions based, and I would be an independent contractor. It is good then that Brett is with State Farm and they have good benefits.
I am so happy about these possibilities. Whether or not I am able to accept the position is contigent upon Brett actually being offered his promotion with State Farm. His interview is this Wednesday. I can't help but feel that my job offer may be a positive sign. I've been sending out a lot of positive vibrations for the "right path" to unfold. Even though I am very excited, grateful, and nervous, I have to wait and see if it's really meant to be. I have to trust that if this is what Brett and I are meant to do, then it will happen. It makes me feel so good to know that there is the possibilty out there for me to significantly increase my income while simultaneously increasing my free time and connecting even more with people about health. Oh LA! Here's to hoping for what's good! <3
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Give me that sugar baby!!
I think I'm addicted to sugar.
Just went into the kitchen and drank,
yes, drank
maple syrup straight from the bottle.
Like a little hampster.
I blame it on the wedding sites that
feature wedding cakes, cup cakes, and the like.
A girl can only handle so much torture before she breaks!
Just sayin'...
A girl friend of mine completed
a two week long
Candida Cleanse diet.
I am unable to paste the actual cleanse into the blog, so I will paste in a web site that gives you the details.
I am planning on doing this cleanse with a co worker.
Good luck to me on this one.
It's almost like telling a crack addict to take a self-imposed two week hiatus from the pipe!
I think it's going to start on Monday. EEEEK!!!
Just went into the kitchen and drank,
yes, drank
maple syrup straight from the bottle.
Like a little hampster.
I blame it on the wedding sites that
feature wedding cakes, cup cakes, and the like.
A girl can only handle so much torture before she breaks!
Just sayin'...
A girl friend of mine completed
a two week long
Candida Cleanse diet.
I am unable to paste the actual cleanse into the blog, so I will paste in a web site that gives you the details.
I am planning on doing this cleanse with a co worker.
Good luck to me on this one.
It's almost like telling a crack addict to take a self-imposed two week hiatus from the pipe!
I think it's going to start on Monday. EEEEK!!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
on going business thoughts...
So I got back from the Vancouver trip last week. The flight out there had one small mis-step: engine failure. We were about a 45 minutes away from touch down when the left engine "malfunctioned" and we had to make an emergency landing.
The flight attendant sounded as if she was on the brink of losing her calm when she announced that we would land within 10 minutes in a small Mid Western town. There was a 13 year old girl sitting next to me just as cool as a cucumber... Here I am cracking my knuckles, straightening out the items in my backpack, and buckling the seat belts around me just to busy my hands, and this little girl is chillin listening, presumably, to britney on her ipod.
anyway, we landed fine, but there were a slew of reporters and cameras waiting for us on the ground. Apparently we made all the local stations and npr! haha - i guess not much happens in that little town.
The rest of the Vancouver trip was pretty relaxed and went well. The show was slow but steady - lots of excitement about the new sun. Lauren Cottell was there - acting like the princess she is. Whenever I am forced to work that much harder than someone else I just like to imagine that I am exercising my mind, body, and soul. I just tell myself that I am made for bigger and better things and that this work now is just training and development.
The one niggling thought that kept scratching at the surface of my thoughts was that, since I've decided to move back to Jax, I will have to quit my job.
There are a few uncomfortable thoughts that accompany the act of quitting: One that I will have to tell my boss. I do not look forward to that conversation. She has come to depend on me and I am her business right hand. I don't like the thought of leaving her stranded. The second thought is that I will miss certain things about it. The people, the travel, the industry, the freedom (this job lets me be pretty dang free compared to most jobs.)
But, what am i to do? I don't make very much money, and Brett lives in Jacksonville. Our house is there and we would lose $8,000 if we sold now. If the house wasn't an issue, I'd probably still want to quit. Why? Because I don't like being at a desk as much as I am. I want more than two weeks off a year. I want to make decisions with my business and have more control over my income and my free time. I get bored easily, and I think if I owned my own business that I would be more motivated.
I'd be motivated for several reasons: Do you know that I could probably get done in 4 hours what I do in 8? I could also be more creative, have control over the discretionary marketing funds, etc.
I'd also like to make more money. It is so confusing to want to make more money. I want more, but to do what with? Mainly just to buy stuff. But really to have more freedom and to have more time off.
Time Off is the true golden ticket here. Time Off allows for spiritual growth, friendships, artistic pursuits, exercise, sun, etc. True Living comes with Time Off. But! Too much time off with out money is also not any fun. The trick is to find that perfect balance.
I've got a couple ideas for a business. I'd like to incorporate my family mostly. My Mom and Dad have such incredible skill sets. If we could come together... My Dad as the advisor, Brett in Sales, Me in Marketing, and my Mom in Creative... I think we'd have a GREAT team. We've all got one idea cookin' right now...
Another idea is one that I would implement upon moving to Jax. I've been internally debating about which to choose:
my own business idea:
cons:
- take about $5,000 to set up
- lots of time and energy
- lots of legal stuff
- possibility of taking a while to make money.
pros:
- i make my own hours/time
- free to choose direction of business
- entirely self-responsible
- the pride and accountability of being responsible for creative, marketing, customer service, sales and inventory ie your own income.
OR
I could try to find a high paying sales job. I've got one possible lead right now... quite an interesting story actually:
Back when I first moved to Jax I couldnt find a job to save my life and I was desperately applyin got any and all jobs listed on craigslist.
I got a call from the owner of an MRI center that was in the process of opening it's doors. I researched the name of the owner and found out that he actually owns 5 different businesses - the MRI center just being a small venture for him. The job I was interveiwing for was a receptionist position. Well, I show up thinking I had a special interview appointment... but I was wrong! Oh no, there were about 6 women in the waiting room, and 6 women behind me when signing in to the interview. I quickly discovered that we were all there for the same one job opening.
I was annoyed, but my competitive side was intrigued. I was determined to woo this interviewer! When I walked into his office and pulled my chair right up to the desk - ready to talk biz-nazz!! He and I had a great repetoir and I got him talking about his MRI center's start up plans, the building's construction, and decorative decisions (aka the expensive tiles in the waiting room (since I knew from my research that he also had a tile import business...)) I was all into it, pumping him up and getting excited. I proceeded to tell him that I'm a quick learner and would read any and every book he wanted to give me. He asked me why, with my gpa and internships, that I would apply to be a receptionsit... I explained that the economy had put in a position to apply for whatever was available. By the end of the interview I had gotten a tour of the facilities and shown the MRI machine. (It was some special MRI machine... I guess there are only 3 of it's kind...)
So anyway. I go home and get a call a few days later from the man himself. His first question is: "So do you really want to be a receptionist?" I'm a bit put off by the question. I mean, who really wants to be a receptionist?? I am also referencing in my mind that he's a straight shooter - meaning that the usual "Yes, I would love to be a receptionist because I like to help people" answer would not be well-received. So I answer "No, I am just hoping to get the job because I need to get my foot in the door somewhere, anywhere really."
That's when he starts telling me that he has a position open as the "MRI machine sales rep." He says that the job would be to go around to doctor's offices, take their team out for lunch, and go to events - basically just wooing them to recommend the MRI service to their patients. He says that he has all these sales rep applicants with experience but that he thinks I would be the one for the job.
The pay was $40k to start plus commisions. I asked him what he estimated I would make including commisions and he says: "Put it this way, my untalented reps make $75k." So, as you imagine, I am shitting myself. At the time I was working 55 hours a week to make about $1,200 a month. $75k just seemed miraculous... as it still does to this day!! He tells me that he will call me to set up a talk sometime next week when he is back in Jax.
Well, that call never came. I sent him two pages worth of original marketing and pr ideas on how to get the word out there to not just doctors but consumers as well just to see if that would spark a call. No word back.
Fast forward 8 months... He sends me a linkedin request. I accept, and another 6 months go by. This morning I received a linkedin email from him saying " I see you have a Sales job... I knew you'd get there. Congratulations" Hmmmm So I wrote him back saying thanks and that he was the one who had put the sales "bug" in my head. I also told him I'd be moving back to Jax in August and to let me know of any business ventures he may want assistance with!
Lol... who knows. He never came through with the last, but it stills doesn't seem like a dead horse to me!!
It's just so confusing whether to start my own or work with someone else. They are both rewarding and stressful in their own ways...
anyway. lots of ideas running through my brain. I'm going to try to work out tonight - havent done so in about 2 months. It's sad really!
The flight attendant sounded as if she was on the brink of losing her calm when she announced that we would land within 10 minutes in a small Mid Western town. There was a 13 year old girl sitting next to me just as cool as a cucumber... Here I am cracking my knuckles, straightening out the items in my backpack, and buckling the seat belts around me just to busy my hands, and this little girl is chillin listening, presumably, to britney on her ipod.
anyway, we landed fine, but there were a slew of reporters and cameras waiting for us on the ground. Apparently we made all the local stations and npr! haha - i guess not much happens in that little town.
The rest of the Vancouver trip was pretty relaxed and went well. The show was slow but steady - lots of excitement about the new sun. Lauren Cottell was there - acting like the princess she is. Whenever I am forced to work that much harder than someone else I just like to imagine that I am exercising my mind, body, and soul. I just tell myself that I am made for bigger and better things and that this work now is just training and development.
The one niggling thought that kept scratching at the surface of my thoughts was that, since I've decided to move back to Jax, I will have to quit my job.
There are a few uncomfortable thoughts that accompany the act of quitting: One that I will have to tell my boss. I do not look forward to that conversation. She has come to depend on me and I am her business right hand. I don't like the thought of leaving her stranded. The second thought is that I will miss certain things about it. The people, the travel, the industry, the freedom (this job lets me be pretty dang free compared to most jobs.)
But, what am i to do? I don't make very much money, and Brett lives in Jacksonville. Our house is there and we would lose $8,000 if we sold now. If the house wasn't an issue, I'd probably still want to quit. Why? Because I don't like being at a desk as much as I am. I want more than two weeks off a year. I want to make decisions with my business and have more control over my income and my free time. I get bored easily, and I think if I owned my own business that I would be more motivated.
I'd be motivated for several reasons: Do you know that I could probably get done in 4 hours what I do in 8? I could also be more creative, have control over the discretionary marketing funds, etc.
I'd also like to make more money. It is so confusing to want to make more money. I want more, but to do what with? Mainly just to buy stuff. But really to have more freedom and to have more time off.
Time Off is the true golden ticket here. Time Off allows for spiritual growth, friendships, artistic pursuits, exercise, sun, etc. True Living comes with Time Off. But! Too much time off with out money is also not any fun. The trick is to find that perfect balance.
I've got a couple ideas for a business. I'd like to incorporate my family mostly. My Mom and Dad have such incredible skill sets. If we could come together... My Dad as the advisor, Brett in Sales, Me in Marketing, and my Mom in Creative... I think we'd have a GREAT team. We've all got one idea cookin' right now...
Another idea is one that I would implement upon moving to Jax. I've been internally debating about which to choose:
my own business idea:
cons:
- take about $5,000 to set up
- lots of time and energy
- lots of legal stuff
- possibility of taking a while to make money.
pros:
- i make my own hours/time
- free to choose direction of business
- entirely self-responsible
- the pride and accountability of being responsible for creative, marketing, customer service, sales and inventory ie your own income.
OR
I could try to find a high paying sales job. I've got one possible lead right now... quite an interesting story actually:
Back when I first moved to Jax I couldnt find a job to save my life and I was desperately applyin got any and all jobs listed on craigslist.
I got a call from the owner of an MRI center that was in the process of opening it's doors. I researched the name of the owner and found out that he actually owns 5 different businesses - the MRI center just being a small venture for him. The job I was interveiwing for was a receptionist position. Well, I show up thinking I had a special interview appointment... but I was wrong! Oh no, there were about 6 women in the waiting room, and 6 women behind me when signing in to the interview. I quickly discovered that we were all there for the same one job opening.
I was annoyed, but my competitive side was intrigued. I was determined to woo this interviewer! When I walked into his office and pulled my chair right up to the desk - ready to talk biz-nazz!! He and I had a great repetoir and I got him talking about his MRI center's start up plans, the building's construction, and decorative decisions (aka the expensive tiles in the waiting room (since I knew from my research that he also had a tile import business...)) I was all into it, pumping him up and getting excited. I proceeded to tell him that I'm a quick learner and would read any and every book he wanted to give me. He asked me why, with my gpa and internships, that I would apply to be a receptionsit... I explained that the economy had put in a position to apply for whatever was available. By the end of the interview I had gotten a tour of the facilities and shown the MRI machine. (It was some special MRI machine... I guess there are only 3 of it's kind...)
So anyway. I go home and get a call a few days later from the man himself. His first question is: "So do you really want to be a receptionist?" I'm a bit put off by the question. I mean, who really wants to be a receptionist?? I am also referencing in my mind that he's a straight shooter - meaning that the usual "Yes, I would love to be a receptionist because I like to help people" answer would not be well-received. So I answer "No, I am just hoping to get the job because I need to get my foot in the door somewhere, anywhere really."
That's when he starts telling me that he has a position open as the "MRI machine sales rep." He says that the job would be to go around to doctor's offices, take their team out for lunch, and go to events - basically just wooing them to recommend the MRI service to their patients. He says that he has all these sales rep applicants with experience but that he thinks I would be the one for the job.
The pay was $40k to start plus commisions. I asked him what he estimated I would make including commisions and he says: "Put it this way, my untalented reps make $75k." So, as you imagine, I am shitting myself. At the time I was working 55 hours a week to make about $1,200 a month. $75k just seemed miraculous... as it still does to this day!! He tells me that he will call me to set up a talk sometime next week when he is back in Jax.
Well, that call never came. I sent him two pages worth of original marketing and pr ideas on how to get the word out there to not just doctors but consumers as well just to see if that would spark a call. No word back.
Fast forward 8 months... He sends me a linkedin request. I accept, and another 6 months go by. This morning I received a linkedin email from him saying " I see you have a Sales job... I knew you'd get there. Congratulations" Hmmmm So I wrote him back saying thanks and that he was the one who had put the sales "bug" in my head. I also told him I'd be moving back to Jax in August and to let me know of any business ventures he may want assistance with!
Lol... who knows. He never came through with the last, but it stills doesn't seem like a dead horse to me!!
It's just so confusing whether to start my own or work with someone else. They are both rewarding and stressful in their own ways...
anyway. lots of ideas running through my brain. I'm going to try to work out tonight - havent done so in about 2 months. It's sad really!
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