So, you want to start your own business and you're looking for an expert to tell you how to do it? This is not the right blog for that.
However, I do have some honest advice and hot tips for anyone looking to go all entrepreneur up in here.
#1. Get Laid Off From a Stable Job
This will send you into a rage panic strong enough to make you consider actually starting your own business. Having people support you in this decision is very nice, but without pure desperation, angst, depression and fists full of your own hair, you may not be able to fully commit to this journey.
#2. Cry Buying New Office Supplies
There is nothing like the panic attack that will hit you in a supply discount store as you spend money to support a business that you haven't received a paycheck from yet. Openly weep. Other people spending hundreds on printers, copiers, and nice pens around you are probably about to have a nervous breakdown also. Let it out. Be a trend setter. Buy nice pens and a leather notebook to show your legit before you have received your articles of incorporation/organization.
#3. Marry Someone with Good Insurance.
Being self employed means saying buh-bye to sick days, vacation, endless supplies of easily stolen office supplies, and health insurance. Either never get sick again or chose wisely when you say "I do." If your man/woman doesn't have good insurance, Zorro Z snap at them and go find someone you can leech off of in case you sprain your ankle. This step can come pretty much anywhere in the start up process but make sure you're on their policy before cold and flu season.
#4. Women - Get a tubal ligation.
Have your babies and make sure you can never end up with people in your womb again. No employer means no maternity leave, no FMLA and no short term disability. What's that? You love your significant other and want to start a family AND start a business? Don't be stupid.
#6. Invest in 5-Hour Energy Stock.
You may never be so tired in your life as when you are starting up and running your own business. Days start before the sun and never seem to end. Work well past midnight and sleep restlestly trying to remember if you checked everything off of the to do list. At the end of the day it's not a company that you work for that's on the line, it's YOU and YOUR REPUTATION that's on the line. Try not to suck. Pound a Red Bull, snort some Folgers and meet your deadlines.
#7. Be Prepared to Hear How Easy You Must Have it Because You Make the Rules. Learn How to Avoid Punching People in the Eye Socket When They Say This.
Listen, or read, closely - You do not make the rules when you have a business! In fact, you play by several people's rules instead of like the old days where you answered to one boss. Even TPS reports were universal...nothing is when you work for so many different people. Understand that it's your name in high gloss on the business cards but it's everyone else's priorities. You are playing basketball on a 100 yard field with shortstops and half court shots. Or something. It's all over the place. Be cool. Stare at "President|Owner" printed under your name on correspondence and your company name on checks you receieve in the mail to combat this frustration.
#8. Go Bananas on Linkedin
Update the whole internet world that you, a mere person, have created an entity which now has a website, county license and tax ID number. You are AWESOME and you need to share how ambitious you are with your peers constantly. Request new contacts be in your network as if these are the people that will get you through a zombie apocolypse. Get a profile picture that screams, "I'm professional, but I still love the way says Han Solo , 'I know.' " Make sure to totally forget you have this account and ignore for weeks. Come back to see that you have MORE PEOPLE that you may want to add to your circle. Join every group you can in hopes of expanding your business. Eventually send all of the correspondence from linked in to your spam mail.
#9. Get Excited About all the Small/New Business Programs in Your Area!
Never go. Get too busy running a business to try and figure out if you're doing it right. Call your friends who are lawyers, tax advisors, florsts, bakers, teachers, gymanasts, bartenders, WHATEVER, and ask THEM for advice on what to put on your W9. Come to the realization that all the information available online is too confusing for you and decide to hire a tax person eventually. Also decide that you will use your swagger to pay them in coupon codes for free website formatting and Search Engine Optimization and consulting or whatever it is that you decide to do.
#10. Call one of your best friends to name your company. You are a successful and edgy business person who owns a pant suit, you don't have time to name your own adventure. Or you suck at it. Whatever. Call Tara Foreman and have her figure it out. High five your spouse when the name gives you goosebumps. Long distance respect knuckles to my T.
Now you have all the information you could possibly need to get out there and just do it. If you are currently employed steal as much as you can from your office supply room, make a business plan in a Lisa Frank notebook with your husband, and go get 'em!
It workd for me ;)
11.18.2011
10.31.2011
The (Rumore) House Wins
Everyone is great at giving parenting advice if they don't have your kids.
I hit the kid lottery when I scored Dylan and Lylli. Anyone who's ever met me, including drive-thru workers and Publix cashiers, knows that I am crazy about my little jackpots.
Even though I'm slightly blinded by their awesomeness, I'm very aware that they are not always perfect. Sort of like Jared...he's very handsome and his charm could stop Mike Tyson from chompin' on lobes, but sometimes he doesn't take out the trash and I have cheery visions of pushing him into traffic.
Like all other parents, with the exception of Mary and Joseph, my children are not shining examples of model behavior 100% of the time. They fuss, make messes, talk back, whine about things that make me roll my eyes and whisper violently at them to knock it off before I lose my mind, and end up in time out and the quiet chair for being straight up annoying and crazy.
You would think that a community of like minded people, i.e, parents, would have each others' back and offer support for other stressed out, overwhelmed, moms, dads and parental guardians.
So many times the people that could be your biggest allies end up being the very people that bring you down. The judgemental, unwanted, back-handed advice and sheer ignorance is enough to make you home school your minis and and resort to a diet of fried foods and vodka.
In my case, I have a wonderful,supportive family. My Mom and Dad couldn't be any better at the whole grandparent gig and my in-laws love their grandkids unconditionally. They are on board with the decisions we make for the kids and offer help when we ask for it. They care about the kids' well being, happiness and success as much as Jared and I do.
Even so, I have had the judgemental looks from strangers when Dylan babbles or doesn't follow my simple directions and I want to either melt or smash them with a hammer. That's not something you should be subjected to in your daily life.
I've been the recipient of nasty glares when Lylli has a tantrum after hours of perfect behavior. Her vocabulary is out of control and her story telling is better than your seven year old's, chill out with the dirty glares if she's melting down because of a napless afternoon and too much running around. "If that we're MY daughter I'd teach her not to have outbursts!" If she was your daughter you'd be the luckiest person on the planet, you would hear you are beautiful and loved every day, you would get pretend meals and coffee every morning, and you would get an endless supply of hilarity. And even though she's a genius princess rock star she would still go all "three years old" on you and lose her cool over three year old things. Sucker.
Having an autistic child has made me an incredibly sympathetic parent. My son has a silent, unrecognizable diagnosis. People who look in his beautiful eyes have no idea at first glance what he's had to overcome. Likewise, I don't know what invisible problems other parents, or people in general, are overcoming.
I'm looking for appropriate ways to tell people their advice or criticism is unwanted, unnecessary and to put it bluntly, rude, uninformed and obnoxious. It's not something I deal with often but it would be nice to have a zippy one-liner for overzealous advisers.
I'll continue to have compassion on people with the two year old son screaming about candy in a WalMart. That kid is probably a sweetheart doll baby when he's rested and not out grocery shopping in the pits of hell that is a discount super center.
Or maybe he's a selfish, loud, annoying brat and sucks at life. If that's the case his parents are already too aware that their kid is a punk and don't need your help pointing that out to them on the canned food aisle.
Until you've walked the endless miles of scaring away monsters, finding the right stuffed animal, attending therapy session in the middle of your workday, praying for your kids sincerely every night or teaching them every minute that you can, in MY very capable shoes, then keep your comments to yourself. Until you have raised my kids day in and day out, you are not allowed to have a negative opinion unless they stab someone or steal a car.
I had a theory that parents are rough on other parents to disguise their own child's shortcomings. The more experience I have with other people who spawned life, I'm pretty sure that's the case.
So let this be a lesson to all those difficult, critical, quick to judge parents out there: If you give me grief about my kid I'll assume that yours will end up on Bay News 9 for larceny or psycho tantrums or drunk driving to elementary school and also go ahead and instantly come to conclusion that my monkeys are way better than whatever you are raising.
My kids are the Powerball of all munchkins - they are adorable and smart and they love me like a best friend, caregiver and comedian. I'll take those odds any day.
I hit the kid lottery when I scored Dylan and Lylli. Anyone who's ever met me, including drive-thru workers and Publix cashiers, knows that I am crazy about my little jackpots.
Even though I'm slightly blinded by their awesomeness, I'm very aware that they are not always perfect. Sort of like Jared...he's very handsome and his charm could stop Mike Tyson from chompin' on lobes, but sometimes he doesn't take out the trash and I have cheery visions of pushing him into traffic.
Like all other parents, with the exception of Mary and Joseph, my children are not shining examples of model behavior 100% of the time. They fuss, make messes, talk back, whine about things that make me roll my eyes and whisper violently at them to knock it off before I lose my mind, and end up in time out and the quiet chair for being straight up annoying and crazy.
You would think that a community of like minded people, i.e, parents, would have each others' back and offer support for other stressed out, overwhelmed, moms, dads and parental guardians.
So many times the people that could be your biggest allies end up being the very people that bring you down. The judgemental, unwanted, back-handed advice and sheer ignorance is enough to make you home school your minis and and resort to a diet of fried foods and vodka.
In my case, I have a wonderful,supportive family. My Mom and Dad couldn't be any better at the whole grandparent gig and my in-laws love their grandkids unconditionally. They are on board with the decisions we make for the kids and offer help when we ask for it. They care about the kids' well being, happiness and success as much as Jared and I do.
Even so, I have had the judgemental looks from strangers when Dylan babbles or doesn't follow my simple directions and I want to either melt or smash them with a hammer. That's not something you should be subjected to in your daily life.
I've been the recipient of nasty glares when Lylli has a tantrum after hours of perfect behavior. Her vocabulary is out of control and her story telling is better than your seven year old's, chill out with the dirty glares if she's melting down because of a napless afternoon and too much running around. "If that we're MY daughter I'd teach her not to have outbursts!" If she was your daughter you'd be the luckiest person on the planet, you would hear you are beautiful and loved every day, you would get pretend meals and coffee every morning, and you would get an endless supply of hilarity. And even though she's a genius princess rock star she would still go all "three years old" on you and lose her cool over three year old things. Sucker.
Having an autistic child has made me an incredibly sympathetic parent. My son has a silent, unrecognizable diagnosis. People who look in his beautiful eyes have no idea at first glance what he's had to overcome. Likewise, I don't know what invisible problems other parents, or people in general, are overcoming.
I'm looking for appropriate ways to tell people their advice or criticism is unwanted, unnecessary and to put it bluntly, rude, uninformed and obnoxious. It's not something I deal with often but it would be nice to have a zippy one-liner for overzealous advisers.
I'll continue to have compassion on people with the two year old son screaming about candy in a WalMart. That kid is probably a sweetheart doll baby when he's rested and not out grocery shopping in the pits of hell that is a discount super center.
Or maybe he's a selfish, loud, annoying brat and sucks at life. If that's the case his parents are already too aware that their kid is a punk and don't need your help pointing that out to them on the canned food aisle.
Until you've walked the endless miles of scaring away monsters, finding the right stuffed animal, attending therapy session in the middle of your workday, praying for your kids sincerely every night or teaching them every minute that you can, in MY very capable shoes, then keep your comments to yourself. Until you have raised my kids day in and day out, you are not allowed to have a negative opinion unless they stab someone or steal a car.
I had a theory that parents are rough on other parents to disguise their own child's shortcomings. The more experience I have with other people who spawned life, I'm pretty sure that's the case.
So let this be a lesson to all those difficult, critical, quick to judge parents out there: If you give me grief about my kid I'll assume that yours will end up on Bay News 9 for larceny or psycho tantrums or drunk driving to elementary school and also go ahead and instantly come to conclusion that my monkeys are way better than whatever you are raising.
My kids are the Powerball of all munchkins - they are adorable and smart and they love me like a best friend, caregiver and comedian. I'll take those odds any day.
10.04.2011
Today I
Cuddled with two adorable, warm, soft, pj'd kids. Twice. Morning and night.
Chitty chatted with my Mom and Dad when I dropped of the kids, had a laugh and felt tons of love. Realized their home will always be my "safe, happy place". Hoped I provided the same thing for my kids.
Worked hard while drinking coffee from Tara and Mike in a cup from Tara and Mike.
Felt the breeze and the sun that comes from the start of a Florida fall.
Kissed the most handsome charm-machine in the world.
Taught a class of 2nd-5th graders about living in space.
Made plans with Laura to make spooky cupcakes with the minis.
Laughed at pictures of my crazy Stephanie and lived vicariously through her antics.
Ate chili that Adam made for lunch.
Celebrated Amanda's new job by clapping to myself.
Window shopped for my almost-here nephew, Sebastian.
Stared at Dustin and Metta's lovely Irene and made mental plans to visit super soon.
Flipped through pictures of my husband's family Christmas gathering from last year and got excited about the holidays.
Took advice from my daughter on what to wear.
Had a knowing smile exhange with my son.
Tucked both of my kids in and couldn't wait to see them in the morning.
Blogged about my blessings, got really mushy after such a beautiful day, prayed for my loved ones, tried to save this moment in my heart hard drive for a forever pick-me-up and went to bed a very grateful girl.
Chitty chatted with my Mom and Dad when I dropped of the kids, had a laugh and felt tons of love. Realized their home will always be my "safe, happy place". Hoped I provided the same thing for my kids.
Worked hard while drinking coffee from Tara and Mike in a cup from Tara and Mike.
Felt the breeze and the sun that comes from the start of a Florida fall.
Kissed the most handsome charm-machine in the world.
Taught a class of 2nd-5th graders about living in space.
Made plans with Laura to make spooky cupcakes with the minis.
Laughed at pictures of my crazy Stephanie and lived vicariously through her antics.
Ate chili that Adam made for lunch.
Celebrated Amanda's new job by clapping to myself.
Window shopped for my almost-here nephew, Sebastian.
Stared at Dustin and Metta's lovely Irene and made mental plans to visit super soon.
Flipped through pictures of my husband's family Christmas gathering from last year and got excited about the holidays.
Took advice from my daughter on what to wear.
Had a knowing smile exhange with my son.
Tucked both of my kids in and couldn't wait to see them in the morning.
Blogged about my blessings, got really mushy after such a beautiful day, prayed for my loved ones, tried to save this moment in my heart hard drive for a forever pick-me-up and went to bed a very grateful girl.
9.12.2011
Powers
The other night Jared asked me a typical late night Jared question: If you could have any super/mutant power, what would it be?
Too many commercials for X-Men First Class had him fantasizing about walking through walls and throwing Jeeps through black holes or whatever it is that thirty-something men would do if they had limitless power.
For as long as I have been asked that question I have always had the same response. "I would want to read minds."
I can't say that I've ever thought I would use the power for good, I usually imagined myself exploiting people Jedi style with a wave of my hand uttering, "This is not the checking account you want to deduct that payment from," and "you will install movie channels for me free of charge," and watching people bend to my superior will which apparently, mostly involves me getting things for free.
Moving magnets, shape shifting, invisibility and teleporting were topics fiercely debated between the two of us when I suddenly thought out loud, "But...what if I could read Dylan's mind."
That would be the greatest super power.
The other night he was annoyed that I needed him to come upstairs to get changed which meant he would need to be dragged away from The Clone Wars ( I empathize, Dyl, I do!) and snapped, "Don't touch me!" I could have cried tears of joy!! I mean, not exactly the words that every mother wants to hear, but they were appropriate words for what he was feeling at the moment and that is something that we don't get to experience with Dylan often.
Could you imagine the possibilities if I could touch my temples and suddenly be one with his thoughts? His feelings? I wonder if he thinks in words, or in emotions, or pictures. I would love to mind meld with him and figure it all out.
I know he completely understands most of what I tell him becuase I see the compliance in his eyes when he doesn't mind doing what I ask and the defiance when he's not in agreement with my requests. I can see beyond the challenges he has with verbal communication and can read his body language and his tone of voice. I can tell that sometimes he completely ignores me on purpose and it makes me smile becuase it's so completely typical of a four year old, it makess me aware that he and I speak the same langauge, even if that language is just between the two of us.
So, maybe I've already harnassed the power of my favorite mutant power. Dylan and I, and those who love him in and out and know his cranky sigh from his mischevious squint, can read each others' minds. I think it's definitely reciprocal. I can communicate with Dylan in raised eyebrows, pursed lips, giggles and large grins. We don't need words for either of us to feel the love that we so obviously have for each other.
As much as I would love to literally read his mind and put all the puzzle pieces together to satisfy my own curiosity, there's no need. I can already see his thoughts and see into his heart, and he is telling me right now that he is happy, loved, learning and silly.
And if he continues to make the progress he is making, in not too long, he'll be able to tell me word for word what's on his beautiful mind.
Hopefully it's something more insightful than "Don't touch me!"
Too many commercials for X-Men First Class had him fantasizing about walking through walls and throwing Jeeps through black holes or whatever it is that thirty-something men would do if they had limitless power.
For as long as I have been asked that question I have always had the same response. "I would want to read minds."
I can't say that I've ever thought I would use the power for good, I usually imagined myself exploiting people Jedi style with a wave of my hand uttering, "This is not the checking account you want to deduct that payment from," and "you will install movie channels for me free of charge," and watching people bend to my superior will which apparently, mostly involves me getting things for free.
Moving magnets, shape shifting, invisibility and teleporting were topics fiercely debated between the two of us when I suddenly thought out loud, "But...what if I could read Dylan's mind."
That would be the greatest super power.
The other night he was annoyed that I needed him to come upstairs to get changed which meant he would need to be dragged away from The Clone Wars ( I empathize, Dyl, I do!) and snapped, "Don't touch me!" I could have cried tears of joy!! I mean, not exactly the words that every mother wants to hear, but they were appropriate words for what he was feeling at the moment and that is something that we don't get to experience with Dylan often.
Could you imagine the possibilities if I could touch my temples and suddenly be one with his thoughts? His feelings? I wonder if he thinks in words, or in emotions, or pictures. I would love to mind meld with him and figure it all out.
I know he completely understands most of what I tell him becuase I see the compliance in his eyes when he doesn't mind doing what I ask and the defiance when he's not in agreement with my requests. I can see beyond the challenges he has with verbal communication and can read his body language and his tone of voice. I can tell that sometimes he completely ignores me on purpose and it makes me smile becuase it's so completely typical of a four year old, it makess me aware that he and I speak the same langauge, even if that language is just between the two of us.
So, maybe I've already harnassed the power of my favorite mutant power. Dylan and I, and those who love him in and out and know his cranky sigh from his mischevious squint, can read each others' minds. I think it's definitely reciprocal. I can communicate with Dylan in raised eyebrows, pursed lips, giggles and large grins. We don't need words for either of us to feel the love that we so obviously have for each other.
As much as I would love to literally read his mind and put all the puzzle pieces together to satisfy my own curiosity, there's no need. I can already see his thoughts and see into his heart, and he is telling me right now that he is happy, loved, learning and silly.
And if he continues to make the progress he is making, in not too long, he'll be able to tell me word for word what's on his beautiful mind.
Hopefully it's something more insightful than "Don't touch me!"
8.19.2011
Work Life Balance. I Have It.
I have never been more exhausted in my life, but I've also never felt so in control or so balanced.
There are days I get up at 5am to start my work and don't close my laptop in triumph until 2am. There are times when I have so many meetings that the commute alone ties up my most productive hours of the day. There are moments that I'm certain I've over extended myself and I eat several donuts and pasta dishes to slow down my panicked heart rate.
I love it.
It's a blessing to have this opportunity and even though it all worked on paper beforehand, I'll admit that with every paycheck made out to Rumore Has It, LLC I am slightly surprised and amused that this is working!
I am working more hours, and the hours are more non-traditional than most people keep, but that means that I can spend my time with my family during the hours that it makes the most sense. Before starting my own business I got to see them at night and on weekends, and now, I have an option. I'm free to volunteer at Dylan's school every week and to take Lylli to Mommy and Me classes.
I'll work at 2am for the rest of my life if it means that I can have the flexibility to be with my family during the hours that matter most to me.
I'm completely exhausted from work, but for the first time I can say that I am getting sincere satisfaction from all of my efforts.
The greatest benefit is being able to be there for my precious babies and gorgeous husband whenever they need me...but the paychecks are pretty sweet, too.(Duh. Mama's got bills, y'all!)
-Kel
There are days I get up at 5am to start my work and don't close my laptop in triumph until 2am. There are times when I have so many meetings that the commute alone ties up my most productive hours of the day. There are moments that I'm certain I've over extended myself and I eat several donuts and pasta dishes to slow down my panicked heart rate.
I love it.
It's a blessing to have this opportunity and even though it all worked on paper beforehand, I'll admit that with every paycheck made out to Rumore Has It, LLC I am slightly surprised and amused that this is working!
I am working more hours, and the hours are more non-traditional than most people keep, but that means that I can spend my time with my family during the hours that it makes the most sense. Before starting my own business I got to see them at night and on weekends, and now, I have an option. I'm free to volunteer at Dylan's school every week and to take Lylli to Mommy and Me classes.
I'll work at 2am for the rest of my life if it means that I can have the flexibility to be with my family during the hours that matter most to me.
I'm completely exhausted from work, but for the first time I can say that I am getting sincere satisfaction from all of my efforts.
The greatest benefit is being able to be there for my precious babies and gorgeous husband whenever they need me...but the paychecks are pretty sweet, too.(Duh. Mama's got bills, y'all!)
-Kel
7.27.2011
July 15th, 2011 is the birthdate of my business, Rumore Has It, LLC! Already I am so proud of what I have created that I find it appropriate to give the business a "birthdate." In the same way I made people, I made a business! Say what?? I know. I can't believe it either.
I can't take nearly as much credit as I would like, however. It wasn't even my idea. My former supervisor who was let go the same day I was from my corporate gig tossed it out there at lunch one day. I thought about his suggestion that I become a professional assistant with great hesitation, knowing deep down I wasn't going to pursue it and I was going to nab another "real" job.
Still, the idea nagged at me for the remainder of the day and eventually into the night. I stole Dylan's iPad at around midnight and started researching starting my own Virtual Assistant business and to my astonishment, I started to get excited about going off of the beaten path and doing my own thing.
By the time I got up the next morning I was comitted to learning more and introducing the idea seriously to Jared, who was immediately 100% supportive. And so the journey began!
Truth be told, the set up was harder than I thought. The easiest part was getting a company name becuase I didn't have to do it. The lovely and endlessly talented Tara sent me the text that really set me on fire and motivated me to tackle this! "Rumore has it" should at the very least be your tagline."
I looked up at Jared and said, "That's it! She's a genius!"
So basically, my experience with starting my own business went something like this: Get laid off.
Get super, super depressed because you poured your lifeblood into a company that laid you off and made you pack up your office which had an embarrassingly large pantry of food and two floor lamps. TWO!
Wallow around in sadness for three days. Eat icecream at the community pool and openly cry.
Enjoy all the time you have with your beautiful children. Drink iced coffee at 10am at the park.
Apply everywhere. Include excellent references. Have everyone tell you that you're overqualified. Murmer, "I am not overqualified to TAKE YOUR MONEY!" under your breath at every interview.
Let your old boss come up with your business model.
Let your close friend come up with your business name.
Start working from home.
Cry tears of joy as you hit "send" when emailing your very first invoice with your company logo from your company email.
Nearly faint when you tell people that you have clients. With an s! PLURAL!!
So far the most difficult hurdle, aside from the depression, was all the legal mumbo jumbo and buying the equipment to get started. It made me feel so vunerable to invest in something when I had no steady income. I believe in what I am doing, but even so, self doubt and annxiety plauged me the most the day I bought my office equipment and paid for my licenses. "You have to spend money to make money," I told myself half-heartdely. The other part of my brain screamed, "YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY TO FEED YOUR FAMILY, YOU IDIOT! PUT THE DEBIT CARD AWAY!"
But, before I had the chance to suffer at the county tax collector's office getting my occupational tax receipt, or take the time to visit three of my bank's branches to properly set up an account in an LLC, I had clients that wanted to pay me to do things that I am very good at doing. Knowing that there was not only demand for my skill set but demand for me personally gave me so much confidence and is a source of comfort when I do deal with doubt.
It's wonderul and terrifying to know that everything is on me this time around. I trust me as a person and as a professional to do an outstanding job for my clients. I am very excited to grow my business and I have a beautiful vision of what this will mean for our family.
I feel so blessed to even have an opportunity to start this adventure and even though if I'm honest I haven't shaken off all of my nervousness and anxiety yet, I am excited and confident that I will succeed.
Tomorrow I am signing another client contract and I also am interviewing with a potential client. I still can't believe how in control I feel!
I'll leave you with this. So far the worst parts of having your own business is:
The stress
The stress
The stress
The best part of having your own business is:
Being in charge of the thermostat
Eating pizza rolls for breakfast without being judged
Working outside in the breeze or inside in the recyliner
Spending so much more time with what recharges me: my family
Here's to me writing "How I Became a Ridiculously Successful Business Owner in One Year," on July 15th, 2012.
-Kel
I can't take nearly as much credit as I would like, however. It wasn't even my idea. My former supervisor who was let go the same day I was from my corporate gig tossed it out there at lunch one day. I thought about his suggestion that I become a professional assistant with great hesitation, knowing deep down I wasn't going to pursue it and I was going to nab another "real" job.
Still, the idea nagged at me for the remainder of the day and eventually into the night. I stole Dylan's iPad at around midnight and started researching starting my own Virtual Assistant business and to my astonishment, I started to get excited about going off of the beaten path and doing my own thing.
By the time I got up the next morning I was comitted to learning more and introducing the idea seriously to Jared, who was immediately 100% supportive. And so the journey began!
Truth be told, the set up was harder than I thought. The easiest part was getting a company name becuase I didn't have to do it. The lovely and endlessly talented Tara sent me the text that really set me on fire and motivated me to tackle this! "Rumore has it" should at the very least be your tagline."
I looked up at Jared and said, "That's it! She's a genius!"
So basically, my experience with starting my own business went something like this: Get laid off.
Get super, super depressed because you poured your lifeblood into a company that laid you off and made you pack up your office which had an embarrassingly large pantry of food and two floor lamps. TWO!
Wallow around in sadness for three days. Eat icecream at the community pool and openly cry.
Enjoy all the time you have with your beautiful children. Drink iced coffee at 10am at the park.
Apply everywhere. Include excellent references. Have everyone tell you that you're overqualified. Murmer, "I am not overqualified to TAKE YOUR MONEY!" under your breath at every interview.
Let your old boss come up with your business model.
Let your close friend come up with your business name.
Start working from home.
Cry tears of joy as you hit "send" when emailing your very first invoice with your company logo from your company email.
Nearly faint when you tell people that you have clients. With an s! PLURAL!!
So far the most difficult hurdle, aside from the depression, was all the legal mumbo jumbo and buying the equipment to get started. It made me feel so vunerable to invest in something when I had no steady income. I believe in what I am doing, but even so, self doubt and annxiety plauged me the most the day I bought my office equipment and paid for my licenses. "You have to spend money to make money," I told myself half-heartdely. The other part of my brain screamed, "YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY TO FEED YOUR FAMILY, YOU IDIOT! PUT THE DEBIT CARD AWAY!"
But, before I had the chance to suffer at the county tax collector's office getting my occupational tax receipt, or take the time to visit three of my bank's branches to properly set up an account in an LLC, I had clients that wanted to pay me to do things that I am very good at doing. Knowing that there was not only demand for my skill set but demand for me personally gave me so much confidence and is a source of comfort when I do deal with doubt.
It's wonderul and terrifying to know that everything is on me this time around. I trust me as a person and as a professional to do an outstanding job for my clients. I am very excited to grow my business and I have a beautiful vision of what this will mean for our family.
I feel so blessed to even have an opportunity to start this adventure and even though if I'm honest I haven't shaken off all of my nervousness and anxiety yet, I am excited and confident that I will succeed.
Tomorrow I am signing another client contract and I also am interviewing with a potential client. I still can't believe how in control I feel!
I'll leave you with this. So far the worst parts of having your own business is:
The stress
The stress
The stress
The best part of having your own business is:
Being in charge of the thermostat
Eating pizza rolls for breakfast without being judged
Working outside in the breeze or inside in the recyliner
Spending so much more time with what recharges me: my family
Here's to me writing "How I Became a Ridiculously Successful Business Owner in One Year," on July 15th, 2012.
-Kel
4.05.2011
Annual Neurologist Appointment
I gleefully left work on this rainy day to pick Dylan from school and felt a surge of pride when I saw him happily sitting in his seat at a table with his classmates.
"That's my baby!" my brain shouted. "That's my special little boy! My word, LOOK at him in his polo shirt! He's just perfect!" I was giddy with excitement as I opened the classroom door. Our eyes met and his said, "What in the world are you doing here, Mom!?" He greeted me with his contagious smile and said, "Heeey!" the way a Dylan Bear does, and gave me kisses as we grabbed his backpack and headed out for the day.
For a moment I forgot that we had a boring appointment on a rainy day deep in Tampa where I always get lost, and it was just me and my boy walking hand-in-hand all alone down empty corridors filled only with the sound of his precious humming.
We drove over in the rain, I got lost, and I giggled at how silly I was for never being able to find his neurologist's office. I got out my umbrella when we found a parking spot not marked "Dr." and skidaddled as quickly as I could in my high heels holding the warm, trusting hand of my beautiful son.
He didn't like the elevator but he held it together very well. "I remember having to hold him the entire elevator ride while he screamed last visit" I thought to myself. This time it only took some gentle reassurance to calm him down and that in itself is so much progress that I am already beaming before we get to the Dr's suite.
He took a seat like a big kid all by himself while I signed us in and quietly watched Max and Ruby with the other children. I took a seat next to him and played with his hair while he laughed along with the other kids at Max's persistence that he play outside in the rain. "Appropriate," I told him, "for a rainy day like today!" "Rain!" he answered smiling. I was glowing.
We were called back and asked the usual questions. I gave honest answers in between Dylan coming up to me and giving me kisses.
Then we were told that he was doing great - so great that we didn't have to come back! He was making great progress and didn't exhibit any behavior that required us to return for observations!
I was thrilled to hear this and gave Dylan some knuckles for being such a rock star. I paid our co-pay while he stood patiently next to me and handed him some fruit snacks to occupy him while I waited for copies of the appointment to give to his teachers. “Hey, handsome!” the reception said to him – she was rewarded with a huge smile and a shy giggle. People who didn’t know our struggles and challenges would never think he had a diagnosis of ASD.
We went to the elevator and he stopped in his tracks. I asked him to press the button and he did! SUCCESS! He followed verbal directions! We stepped inside just me and him and I could tell how nervous he was, so I asked him to press #1 for the lobby. He did that too! He enjoyed the button lighting up! He quoted Buzz Lightyear as we descended to the first floor, his adorable little voice echoing in the elevator.
We walked to the car in the rain and we waved bye-bye to a place that had put the fear of God in me not that long ago.
I remember hearing, "He needs to see a neurologist," and feeling like someone had stabbed me in the stomach and hearing that neurologist say, "I believe he's autistic. He may never progress," and feeling dead inside, holding back tears the entire drive back to my office, heartbroken and devastated.
And here we are today and the least of my worries was what the dr had to say about my son. The only worry or doom I had at all was about one way streets! And the humidity since I had to go back to work no matter WHAT my hair looked like.
Instead of having a visit that kept me up for nights on end before the appointment riddled with worry and anxiety, I had a wonderful afternoon with my perfect son who is making amazing progress.
And we never have to go back to that dreadful office in Tampa that I can never find on the first try to hear someone ask me questions about my son to which they think they already know the answer. Boom! High-Five THAT.
"That's my baby!" my brain shouted. "That's my special little boy! My word, LOOK at him in his polo shirt! He's just perfect!" I was giddy with excitement as I opened the classroom door. Our eyes met and his said, "What in the world are you doing here, Mom!?" He greeted me with his contagious smile and said, "Heeey!" the way a Dylan Bear does, and gave me kisses as we grabbed his backpack and headed out for the day.
For a moment I forgot that we had a boring appointment on a rainy day deep in Tampa where I always get lost, and it was just me and my boy walking hand-in-hand all alone down empty corridors filled only with the sound of his precious humming.
We drove over in the rain, I got lost, and I giggled at how silly I was for never being able to find his neurologist's office. I got out my umbrella when we found a parking spot not marked "Dr." and skidaddled as quickly as I could in my high heels holding the warm, trusting hand of my beautiful son.
He didn't like the elevator but he held it together very well. "I remember having to hold him the entire elevator ride while he screamed last visit" I thought to myself. This time it only took some gentle reassurance to calm him down and that in itself is so much progress that I am already beaming before we get to the Dr's suite.
He took a seat like a big kid all by himself while I signed us in and quietly watched Max and Ruby with the other children. I took a seat next to him and played with his hair while he laughed along with the other kids at Max's persistence that he play outside in the rain. "Appropriate," I told him, "for a rainy day like today!" "Rain!" he answered smiling. I was glowing.
We were called back and asked the usual questions. I gave honest answers in between Dylan coming up to me and giving me kisses.
Then we were told that he was doing great - so great that we didn't have to come back! He was making great progress and didn't exhibit any behavior that required us to return for observations!
I was thrilled to hear this and gave Dylan some knuckles for being such a rock star. I paid our co-pay while he stood patiently next to me and handed him some fruit snacks to occupy him while I waited for copies of the appointment to give to his teachers. “Hey, handsome!” the reception said to him – she was rewarded with a huge smile and a shy giggle. People who didn’t know our struggles and challenges would never think he had a diagnosis of ASD.
We went to the elevator and he stopped in his tracks. I asked him to press the button and he did! SUCCESS! He followed verbal directions! We stepped inside just me and him and I could tell how nervous he was, so I asked him to press #1 for the lobby. He did that too! He enjoyed the button lighting up! He quoted Buzz Lightyear as we descended to the first floor, his adorable little voice echoing in the elevator.
We walked to the car in the rain and we waved bye-bye to a place that had put the fear of God in me not that long ago.
I remember hearing, "He needs to see a neurologist," and feeling like someone had stabbed me in the stomach and hearing that neurologist say, "I believe he's autistic. He may never progress," and feeling dead inside, holding back tears the entire drive back to my office, heartbroken and devastated.
And here we are today and the least of my worries was what the dr had to say about my son. The only worry or doom I had at all was about one way streets! And the humidity since I had to go back to work no matter WHAT my hair looked like.
Instead of having a visit that kept me up for nights on end before the appointment riddled with worry and anxiety, I had a wonderful afternoon with my perfect son who is making amazing progress.
And we never have to go back to that dreadful office in Tampa that I can never find on the first try to hear someone ask me questions about my son to which they think they already know the answer. Boom! High-Five THAT.
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