Diving In Head First
This post is long overdue. Perhaps some of you have even wondered why it hadn't been written yet. I know I've wondered that for a long time...
I have some exciting news: I'm not returning to my corporate job after maternity leave.
Yikes! It's real. I officially told my manager as of yesterday. I have been talking about this moment for years, literally years. I cannot believe it's actually my reality.
Let's back up a bit.
It all started with the genesis of this blog back in 2014. There was a lot of disappointment in my life that year. I had been laid off from my first "real" job due to budget cuts, David and I were forced to pack up our home in Indy to move back East and live apart for the summer, and I looked for a job for months and months until I finally landed one in September.
After being laid off a little voice in my head started asking, "do you really want to depend on someone else for your paycheck?" The answer was no, but my confidence took a hit from losing my job and I wanted to prove to myself that I could succeed.
After four and a half years at that new job, I feel more confident than ever. I kicked butt there, and I'm no longer too shy to say that. I loved what I did, and I did it well.
But then I had kids.
I wrote a post last summer about my struggle being a full-time working mom. It never sat well with me having to send Finn to daycare just so I could go to a job that no longer fulfilled me. I was growing increasingly unhappy, and I was outgrowing my job.
When Reese was born, I was grateful for the time away from work. I figured that it would shift my perspective and by the end of maternity leave, I would be longing for adult interaction. But that never happened.
As I started to think about going back to work, the same sense of dread came over me. I continued to put off signing Reese up for daycare and started talking to David about not returning and about making my dream of working for myself a reality.
Needless to say none of this would be possible without David. He truly is my biggest supporter and cheerleader. When I start doubting my decision, he is the first one to remind me of my work ethic and determination - he believes in me more than I do.
So what's next?
I'm following in my family's footsteps and diving headfirst into the entrepreneur life. I'm starting my own creative marketing agency and using the skills I've developed in my corporate career to launch a business of my own. I'll also be blogging here full time.
This new chapter in my life will allow me to have a flexible schedule and spend more time with my kids - and that's truly the best part! Reese won't have to go to daycare until we are ready to put her in, and Finn will only be going part time.
I haven't felt these feelings of excitement and nervousness in a very long time. I know the next few months are going to be a hustle, but I keep reminding myself that failure isn't not making this work, but would be never trying to make it work in the first place.
I'll be writing more about my new business in the coming weeks as things start to come together.
I'm so proud of myself for making this decision! It always seemed like a far away dream, but now it's my reality.
