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!
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