Finding career happiness!

I'm pretty lucky. I've found a way to make money doing something I love. TWO somethings to be exact. They feed my soul in different ways, using different sides of my brain. For the first time in a long time I feel secure. I feel like I've really found my path....two paths that run along-side each other.

As you all know, I'm an author. I started writing years ago--like 10--on a whim and it just blossomed. I couldn't stop. I needed to do it. I took baby steps and eventually got to a good place. I love creating these wonderful worlds. I love creating these sassy characters and putting them into crazy situations. I love the love. I love when readers love my stories. I love that I create something that gives people an escape from whatever they need escaping from.

And I guess my other job is all about escape too!

I recently started a travel business. Some of you may know about my love for Disney, especially the parks. I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was 22. It was on my bucket list of things to do before we had kids. So we did it. It was a spur-of-the-moment budget trip but it was fun and I had a great time. Fast forward 5 years. We had a 2-year old and my mother-in-law had suggested we go to Disney World at Christmas time, and as our Christmas gift, she'd pay for our flights. Sounded like a good plan to me! That's when all the fun started!

I'm a planner by nature, so I jumped right in. I bought planning books, I got online. I learned everything I could about the Disney World property, for our first ever stay at one of their resorts. Our trip came and it was so much better than that first time. It was more magical. We were immersed in Disney, and that was it. I had caught the bug. We spend the next 10 years going back as often as we could, usually once a year, but twice a couple years. I learned all I could...I couldn't get enough! I became the go-to gal for everything Disney!

Then one day last fall it just hit me. I could help people plan their own magical trips and GET PAID for it! So I once again did my research, applied at a couple online travel agencies that specialized in Disney vacations, and before long, I was taking classes from the College of Disney Knowledge and on my way to becoming a certified Disney Travel Planner!

Never before in my life have a felt so happy and secure about my career/s. Many of you know writing was not my first career. I started in the floral industry and worked in it for about 14 years before giving it up to pursue my writing. I didn't have passion for it anymore. Writing had taken over. And now, even though I have taken on a second career, my passion for writing is still just as strong. Who knew you could have passion for two things???!!!

Check out my Disney Blog here and my Disney Facebook page here!

My two careers fulfill me in different ways. The writing nurtures my soul, my creativity. It's my outlet for my thoughts and feelings. But it is a roller coaster, as any artist knows. I often doubt myself, but then later that day, I feel like a million bucks! I have very few answers and I don't think I will ever feel like an authority. But that's okay. I love what I create. I love what I give to others. I love the journey. And I can't wait to see where it takes me.

The travel planning is very different. I know all the answers, or at least know where to find them. I feel very in control, which is a feeling I rarely have when it comes to writing. And actually I think that's good for me. It's good to have control, but also good to know when you have to give it up. I love helping people create memories for their families. Life is so full of must-dos and I think families often run out of time for togetherness. When I help families plan a Disney vacation, I'm giving them peace of mind. I'm helping them create opportunity for quality time with their family. I'm helping them create memories they will cherish forever.

How many careers have you had???

I know many people pick a career when they're in college, even high school, and stick with it for life. I commend that dedication! I thought I had done the same thing. I went to a vocational high school and really loved what I was doing. I was in Horticulture and though we'd learned many aspects of growing and cultivating and designing, I'd gravitated toward flowers and floral design. I'd worked an internship my senior year of high school at a local flower shop. I had my future career mapped out.

I went to college to further my education. I worked a couple different jobs afterward and eventually landed a great job I adored. But I did know it was temporary. I'd always wanted to run my own business. I'd known other designers who'd run successful floral business out of their homes and that's what I'd wanted. And I did it. For about 9 years I ran a successful home-based business doing flowers for weddings.

But....after a while...I didn't love it anymore. I found other things I enjoyed more, and even though it was a risk, I gave up the business and decided to pursue a writing career.

So far, it's going well. But I have to say, way harder than I'd ever thought. My floral career was a piece of cake compared to this.

But there are times...like last night. Something will trigger thoughts and memories. I had a random desire to make a floral arrangement. It's still like second nature to me.

Have you switched careers? Why? Did you find success easily? Were you happier?

When I grow up...

Adults always ask kids what they want to be when they grow up. I wonder how many actually do become what they'd wanted to be when they were 4 or 5 years old? I think there'd be a surplus firemen and ballerinas. :)

As far as I can remember, the first thing I ever wanted to be was a teacher, probably 6-7 years old. And that is COMPLETELY hysterical to me now. I am not good at teaching anyone anything. There have been times I've been asked to teach and explain..like in dance class, or crafting and scrapbooking, even in writing, and I just do not possess the ability to explain how I do things. I just do them. My daughter is only in 3rd grade and already I am having a real hard time trying to teach her and help her with homework. And I have very little patience. I could never ever home school. I think I would go completely insane. IMHO, teachers go through a lot of schooling...in NY state all teachers need a masters degree...and I just can't see how I would ever be able to do as good a job as the professionals. But huge kudos to those that do home school, though!

Anyway....

I remember later on, like 11-12, when I was just starting to play with makeup and stuff. I'd wanted to be a cosmetologist. I'd wanted to do everything: hair, nails, makeup, the works. Years later, after I was in high school, I found out there was a high school in my city with a cosmetology vocational program. I'd wished I'd known about it before choosing my high school. But knowing what I know now about myself, I'm not sure I would have been happy doing that either. I have no patience for my own hair now. But I do enjoy putting on makeup.

When I was in 8th grade, I had to choose which high school to go to. In my city, each area has it's district school...the one you went to if you didn't get into one of the good schools. But no one really wanted to go to them. You had to apply to the better schools and hope you got in. I knew which school I wanted to go to....but it was a vocational school and I had to pick what vocation to apply to. I remember going to Open House and touring the greenhouses. It seemed like fun. So I applied for Horticulture. And got in. I really did enjoy it, but it wasn't until my junior year that I decided I did want a career in horticulture. I wanted to be a floral designer.

But then my senior year came and I became the reporter for our FFA chapter. (I lived in a city, so there wasn't any actual farming going on, but we did many of the other FFA things like floriculture and such.) I wrote articles for local newspapers and I liked seeing my name and words in print. I applied to two colleges, one for Floriculture Merchandising (a program designed for those who wanted to own and operate a flower shop) and Journalism.  I got into both programs. I chose floriculture, probably because it was more familiar. I worked in the floral industry for almost 14 years before leaving it to pursue my dreams of publication in novel-length fiction.

Funny what you used to want and where you actually turn out and the different paths you take to get there.

Job vs. Career

Do you have a job or a career?

There is a huge difference between the two, if you ask me. A job is just what you do to make money. It doesn't necessarily make you happy. It pays the bills. A career is also an occupation, but you find fulfillment with it.

I have been very blessed to have had two careers in my lifetime so far...and who knows...maybe there will be more! I started out with a career as a floral designer and when I was no longer happy doing it, I worked toward a career as an author.

And I think women choose careers more with fulfillment in mind than men. As archaic as it is, I think men feel the need to be the provider and choose jobs that make good money and have good benefits even if it doesn't necessarily make them happy. 

What do you think??

My light bulb moments

I think most people have moments in their life where, like a light bulb, you suddenly see the light. Something wakes you up, snaps you out of whatever you were in.

I've had two light bulb moments that I can recall right now. I'm sure there've been more, but these two stick out, especially the first one.

When I was in college for Floriculture Merchandising, I knew I never wanted to run my own flower shop like my courses were preparing me for. But I did want to run my own business. I'd always had the plan to run a business that only specialized in wedding design. I wasn't real fond of the rest of the stuff that came along with being a floral designer: funerals, everyday birthdays and such. So after a few years working in a  flower shop as a designer, I did it. I went out on my own and I had built quite a reputation with solid referrals. It worked well for a while...until my daughter got older and I wasn't able to do the work during the day like I'd planned all along. And I started writing fiction...seriously with the intent of being published. My light bulb moment came one night around 10 pm when I was working in my design room with several hours of work yet to do. I was completely exhausted. And then my light bulb illuminated. Other nights I sat at my computer writing til 1-2 a.m. and had to force myself into bed cause I knew my daughter would be up in only 6-7 hours.

I realized I did not love my work anymore. And I needed to do something about it.

Light bulb moment number two came when my son was an infant. I apologize now if this is all too much information. I had breastfed my daughter exclusively to 6 months, then started supplementing with formula. At nine months, she gave it up completely. But there had never been a shortage of breast milk. My son, on the other hand, maybe he just ate too much, or maybe my body had changed, but the supply just was not there. I kept trying though, as excruciatingly painful as it was. Around his two month bday, my light bulb went off. My son was crying and I picked him up...but to hold him against my chest to comfort him, it hurt sooooooooooooooooo bad. I had to hand him off to my husband. That was it.....I stopped nursing him. It was just not worth it to keep doing it when I was in so much pain I couldn't even hold my baby. (And FYI, I did try to keep pumping but the supply had just diminished too much.)

So....have you had any light bulb moments??? What did you do about them?? Were you happier after??

Gonna try some freelancing! Ever do it??

As we all know, these days it's extremely tough to make a living on just book royalties. I knew this fact going in and obviously I still wanted to pursue a writing career.

I haven't worked for someone else in almost eight years. I gave up my 9-5 when my daughter was born so I could be home with her. That had always been the plan and I started my home-based business at that time. But after a while, that gig wasn't all I really wanted and writing kinda took over my life.

Luckily, my husband's salary does pay the bills, but we're not using dollar bills as napkins around this place, if you know what I mean. So I'd love to bring in some money again, even if it's just a little.

I recently signed up with Constant Content after reading that my friend and fellow author Nicole Zoltack was giving it a try.

Click here and you can give it a try too!

Now, I've tried this kind of thing before with Helium.com. Not really a great experience. I'd earned only pennies a week and I never actually collected a dime from them. They won't pay you until you reach $25. And at only pennies a week, that can take a looooooong time. But maybe I didn't give it enough energy. I don't know...but I wasn't very enthusiastic about it. And then I found that someone had stolen a few of my articles from there and was using them on their own page somewhere else. Left a real bad impression with me.

But Constant Content seems really good. You can write about anything you want, but there are guidelines and restrictions. Non-fiction only. All articles are reviewed before they go up for sale. And they will reject it for grammar. Of the first three I submitted, one was rejected for a few errors. I fixed them and resubmitted...hopefully it is okay now. Because three rejections and you are out. You set the prices for your articles and the site keeps 35%.

So I guess we'll see how this goes!! Wish me luck!!! If you're interested, please click the link and give it a try too!! I get credit for referrals! ;)

Not sure if I'm going to like this

First of all...don't forget about my first ever blogfest!!!! Show Me The Love Blogfest!! It's gonna be fun!! Make sure you sign up!

Now for today's post!!

Ever since my husband got his job, over 14 years ago (before we got married), we have never held a normal worker's schedule. His job is not a Monday through Friday, 9-5 type of job. His days off rotate. One week it's Wednesday and Thursday, the next week Tuesday and Wednesday. He only gets weekends off every 6 weeks. He works all holidays. But there are certain jobs in his field that do have weekend off. But the guys who get those have lots of seniority.

And it used to be kind of a pain. I worked a semi-normal day....every other weekend off, and the other weekends, I at least had Sunday off. So whenever there were things going on on the weekends, we couldn't do them or we'd have to come late, after he got home. Going out on the weekends was tough...we'd have to be home by a decent time so he could go to sleep...he gets up for work at 5:15 am. Once the kids came along, and our friends started having kids, it wasn't as big of an issue anymore, as we no longer partied it up all the time.

But I learned to love the schedule. Once our daughter was born, I no longer worked a job outside the home. When hubby was off mid week, we could run errands and shop in a near empty mall in the middle of the day. Or we could go to the Children's museum, Chuck E. Cheese, the park, or wherever, and they were dead. We didn't have hoards of families to contend with. It was really great. Having saturday and Sunday off wasn't such a big deal anymore.

But now hubby was penciled into a job that has weekends off. It's definitely temporary. But he should have it for at least a few months. We will be able to have a kinda normal schedule for once...and that is going to be great. No more having to use personal days for weekend events or swapping days off with coworkers. But we will no longer have our quiet midweek days off. I realized this today as I debated on when to make our appointment to have our taxes done. No longer can we go midweek at 10 am. It will have to be a weekend or an evening.

The Bacon Job

The first time I ever heard that saying, I thought it was positively perfect. The Bacon Job. Most writers have one- the job they do that "brings home the bacon". And I too used to have one. It used to be my dream job, actually.

I went to a vocational high school and took horticulture. I wasn't so much into landscaping or greenhouse stuff, but I really loved floral design. My senior year I did an internship at a local flower shop. I really loved it, but even then I knew I never wanted to own my own flower shop. But I did want to work in the floral industry. I got my associates degree in Floriculture Merchandising and my senior business project was a business plan for a wedding shop, all kinds of wedding -related items plus a floral service only for weddings. No day to day business. I honestly had no desire to do funeral work or everyday birthday arrangements. I loved wedding work. It's safe to say that back then, it was a passion!

After that I worked in the floral business, a couple different places until I settled at one. I worked there for five years and held many high responsibility positions: I did most of the shops window displays, I did most of the wedding consultations and in turn, most of the wedding work. I helped with book keeping and inventory. And I'd started doing weddings on the side. Running my own business had always been my goal. When I became pregnant with my first child, I gave my boss the news that I would not be staying on after the baby was born. It was probably one the of toughest things I've ever had to do.

I thoroughly enjoyed my business for a few years. I loved bringing so much joy to people on one of the most special days of their lives. But it wasn't without it's stress. There was tons. And it slowly started to eat away at my enthusiasm. I'd started writing by that time and I found myself wanting to do that more and more.

I'd decided to give up my business, way before I had a publishing contract. There were many reasons. One of the main ones was money and my business really wasn't bringing in much. So even though it did bring in some bacon, it wasn't enough to keep doing it if I really didn't enjoy it anymore. My husband and I decided together to end it so I could focus on my writing. His salary was enough to support us, though not in the lap of luxury. But we've made it work. And we kinda of had this agreement. I had 5-1/2 years after baby #2 was born. That's how long I had til he would start kindergarten. I needed to be bringing in some kind of money by that time or I would go out and get a job when he went to school full time. He just turned 3 this week, so I have 2-1/2 years to go. So far I think I'm off to a good start. I am bringing in money from my writing, slowly but surely.

Do I miss my bacon job?? Yes...sometimes I really do. When I hear that someone is getting married and I can't say "Hey...do you have a florist??" I loved being a part of so many people's wedding days. But I am so completely happy with where my career is now. I don't regret my decision at all.

So what do you do to bring home the bacon?? Do you plan on doing it forever...or will you someday move on to something else??

Don't forget my Show Me The Love Blogfest!! It's gonna be fun!! Make sure you sign up!

Sometimes life can be so bittersweet.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds myself in situations where I'm both happy and sad at the same time.

Take today for example. There are many opportunities for my hubby to work overtime at his job. And there are usually times there are so many other guys that want it, there is a list and you are offered overtime based on when the last day you worked OT was. Someone who worked more recently gets put toward the end of the list. Hubby usually doesn't know if he will get it `til maybe an hour or so before he has to go in- guys have up `til an our before the shift starts to call in sick, so that greatly effects the amount of overtime available. Hubby is on the list today for the 3-11 shift.

It's going on 1 and he has not gotten a call yet. They need to call him by 2 if they want him there on time.

I want him to get called- 8 hours of time and a half is VERY nice. But I so want a nice night with my family and husband. I have a movie we need to watch cause we need to return it. And I don't want to watch it alone.

We win and lose no matter what happens.

Do you ever find yourself in those situations???

Choosing a career....and changing your mind.

Some choose for the money-making aspect...others do what they love. There are a few extremely lucky people in this world who do what they love and make a boatload of cash doing it. I don't know if I'll ever be one of those people, but I'll certainly try.

For me, being happy and fulfilled is very important. Your career is what you do for many hours a day- you spend more time at your job each day than you spend with your family. If you don't enjoy it...what's the point??

Yes...money is the point. We all need it....we can't get by without it. We can get by on less if we have to...but how many of us are willing to give up some of our income to ensure our career happiness??

I am one of an extremely small group of lucky women. My husband makes enough money for us to live on without me having a job outside of the home. Now make sure you read that right...I said "live on" not roll around in cash. We get by, our bills are paid, and we can still enjoy some of life's pleasures. It's by no means a walk in the park, but when we had kids we decided it was important to us to have me home to raise the kids. And while doing that, I was given the opportunity to follow my dreams. Thank you hubby...I will forever be grateful!

I used to have a job out of the home..a career...I have a college degree that gave me the title of Floral Designer. I loved my work and at that point in my life knew I wanted to open my own shop one day..but a specialty shop, not just a regular retail flower shop. I wanted to concentrate on weddings. And I did do that out of my home for a few years. Worked okay for a while and I thought I was happy. But things changed...I changed. And I chose a new career.

I've spent the last five years working my tushy off and it's finally paying off. And this new career has made me happier than my last career ever did. I feel fulfilled now.....and I never did before. I hear poeple complain about work and dreading going in and counting down `til the weekend....not me. I never feel like I get to work enough! I work whenever I can...I work on weekends...on Sundays, on holidays!

I wish everyone could feel this way about their career.

Switching careers....pretty scary.....

I'm sure we all remember back to high school when we had to fill out college applications and choose a major. If you think about it, it's pretty ridiculous to ask a 17-year old what they want to do with the rest of their lives. We mature so much after high school and our tastes change.

I had lots of interests back then. But I was lucky. I attended a vocational high school and already had more than 3 years of vocational education under my belt when I filled out college applications. I had already known one thing I definitely liked to do- floral design.

My high school was not one you just went to. Growing up in a large city- Buffalo, NY- there were many high schools to choose from. You had to apply, just like college. Of course, every neighborhood had their district school, where you went if you didn't get into your 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice schools. But you didn't want to go there unless you had to. There were so many other schools to pick from: a couple vocational schools, a technological school, a performing arts school, more... I chose McKinley High School and its Horticulture program. I can't even begin to tell you why...I was 13 and it sounded fun. But I've always been an artsy craftsy kind of person and came to find a real love for floral design.

But by the beginning of my senior year, there were other things I liked too.

I was the reporter for the FFA chapter at my school. I loved writing about club happenings and seeing my name in lights (or rather black print) in small local publications and also a state-wide paper. I won the NY State FFA Reporter's Award that year. I applied to two different colleges- Alfred Sate College for Floriculture Merchandising (to learn to run a flower shop), and Buffalo State College for Journalism.

I chose Floriculture and to this day have no real reason as to why.

I graduated with honors from Alfred State College and went on to work at a couple different flower shops, settling at one and became one their top employees- trusted with most of the shop's displays and about 95% of wedding work (my favorite!) I left there to start my own home-based business when my daughter was born and thoroughly enjoyed that. I wanted to be one of the top wedding florists in Buffalo! And I wanted to add Bridal Consultant to my title as well.

But reality set in and the insane amount of hours I put in was not matched by dollar signs.

And I started writing again.

I finished my first novel and felt so incredibly accomplished. All I wanted to do was write! My love for my floral business started to fade even though I forced myself to go on. My heart was not in it anymore.

Then I had to make a decision....one that was much easier than I thought it would be. I thought my husband would fight me on giving up my income, as little as it was. But he didn't. I officially gave up the business and made plans to pursue a writing career full time. I was due with our second child and we decided I had a 5-year time limit to make it as a writer. And when I say "make it", that meant I had to be bringing in some kind of money. If I didn't make that happen before my son went off to full day kindergarten, I would have to go out and get a part time job. And I did not want that at all.

So here I am...my son just turned two. My debut novel, A Bitch Named Karma, will be out this year from Lyrical Press. I am determined to be successful. People often comment on my determination....as terrifying as it was to go from a sure-thing career to one that "might" happen one day, I just cannot let myself be a failure.

I want to work!!!!

I find it really interesting when I hear friends, family members, even my own husband, say how they like their job, even love it, but they can't wait to get home to spend time with their families or do other things...basically they can't wait to be away from work each day and weekends are their paradise. And while I love my family immensely, I have many many days where I wish so badly I could go and do the work that I love. To me it doesn't feel like "work". Cleaning my house is work....doing laundry, cooking dinner, doing yard work...that is my definition of work. Writing....it's my nirvana. I start and I don't want to stop. I get so involved in my imaginary world that I hate pulling myself away from what I am creating. I want to continue..I want to see where my characters go. I want to create their problems and solve them. I want to create sexual tension and then relieve it (that's the best part!!) I want to create something that is all me.