๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, there was a little girl and her mama. They both had dreams that were much larger than they were! They spent a lot of time together, dreaming about the future and chatting about it. Time went on, and while sometimes it seemed the dreams were far away and forgotten, unbeknownst to most everyone – those little dreams were just quietly continuing to grow.
That little girl? She was Jorjia. I, of course, am the mama. It’s funny lately how when I have the tiniest bit of apprehension, she says to me, ‘mom, this is what we have been preparing for my whole life.’ She’s right, you know. [What have we been preparing for and what is the secret? read on….]
She made the comment yesterday, of how she explained to someone how hard she has tried to fit into the ’employee’ mold, and be able to enjoy sticking with a job for years and years; yet how uncomfortable that has been for her. I know that a good portion of that is my fault (or my example anyway), and I tell her so.
Ken has been an incredible employee for Disney for years. He’s been there 22 years! Prior to that, he had been at his job for 12 years. He has always done phenomenal at becoming indispensable to his employers, and has provided so much security for his family. We have continuously been blessed with insurance and a steady income. The pride I have in him and his job is apparent when he tells me a story from work, and how my shackles get raised if I feel they haven’t acknowledged his contribution enough, lol.
As for Me? Nope. I have that entrepreneurial heart. The heart that drives me to learn more, do more, and become more – you know – on my own dime, without getting paid, not any sort of ‘on the job training’ – just random education that I acquire and put to action. That entrepreneurial heart that says – no, I don’t want to work a 40 hour week with a consistent schedule, instead let me work all kinds of crazy hours and run my schedule by a calendar. That crazy glazed eye look not from sitting around watching tv, but from binge watching YouTube motivational videos.
Mind you, the flexible schedule of an entrepreneur has also allowed me to work things around family, and my mom, and whatever things are currently happening. Sometimes super exciting, like next week taking my cousins to Disney for the day!! Sometimes, being there to take a friend to the hospital and sit with her to learn she has kidney stones and will need surgery.
Throughout this journey, I have enticed our children to think outside of the box. While conventional lifestyles are the tradition that my grandparents and even parents promoted as the lifestyle to strive for, it just never fit me right. My poor husband has had such a rollercoaster of change and chance throughout our marriage, and I am abundantly grateful that he has hung on and at times even jumped in with me.
I have tried community building, and multi-level marketing, child care, home based businesses, tutoring, and honestly a whole gamut of entrepreneurial adventures. Some results were more financial, some were more growth, and some were just a lesson. {Iแด’s แดษชแดสแดส แด sแดแดแดแดss sแดแดสส แดส แด สแดssแดษด – สแดแด าแดส sแดสแด สแดแด ษขแดแด sแดแดแดแดสษชษด’!} Throughout this entire journey – one thing that was prevalent in almost every scenario was personal development.
Obviously, that trickled down through the family. In fact it is not uncommon for all of us to be actively reading, listening or watching something that is motivational, inspiring or educational. Each on our own, no one telling us to do it, no one watching to see if we actually do – just something that has become imbedded in our existence, a supplement per say to our daily living.
The kids have been encouraged to dream of creating and inventing, to not limit themselves to location or circumstance, to look at obstacles as opportunities for change. Neither of them have yet graduated college (although Jorjia is currently pursing a bachelor’s degree online); yet both of them have not only had positions that normally ‘require’ a degree; they both have had positions created for them specifically. This comes from how they perceive themselves and their role in their lives, and those around them. They don’t behave as if they think they are better than others; they continually raise the bar upon themselves to become better humans than they were.
Being the parent doesn’t have to mean that we can not learn from our children. As my fifties came out of nowhere racing toward me, and my life got completely redirected to staying at home caring for my mom on the Alzheimer’s Adventure- I took a page from Jorjia’s book. She had begun going to college online to be able to eventually leave her job that she was in and one day open her own business. I was terrified of being home all day with mom and being exposed to memory loss and not holding myself accountable to something more. So, copying my daughter, I started online college. It gave me structure and something that I could take pride in, as well as exercising my brain. In some ways I loved it, many thousands of dollars later – in some ways I didn’t. I will never regret it, and I am grateful for all that it provided. Plus, now I can add ‘college drop out’ to my repertoire.๐
I chose to leave school as I was seeing my debt load increase, but wasn’t seeing the possibility of financial gain being what I had hoped for; as well as since mom wasn’t going to continue living with us, I would be starting driving Uber. I had been going for a degree in Affiliate Marketing – as I was looking for a way to monetize my blogs as well as a YouTube channel, plus I love great ads, and thought it could be fun. I had no clue that great ads were a part of copywriting and honestly didn’t even learn that from college – it is something I have since learned.
I left school, and began driving. That there could have been the end of the story. I drove Uber, wrote my blogs and began my YouTube. Driving Uber is a great gig for someone that wants to pick and choose the hours they work. For someone that needs a flexible schedule. It worked out good for me for the most part.
Yet, there was something more still calling me. Something that drew me to an ad one day on my social media feed. For a book, that shared a secret to being a millionaire. A book that caught my eye because of a promise of a way that I could learn to build my online business where I could have a chance at those dreams I had still been dreaming.
I had already tried so many things. Did I dare to continue to dream? Did I dare to try again?
I looked at my children. I thought of what I had taught them over the years, of the examples of never giving up, of trying again. I thought of my beliefs. I fully and truly believe that we were created for more. More what? More than just the status quo. More than just surviving until we don’t. It makes me sad to consider dying without ever having really lived, without ever chasing the dream of something more, without stepping up and stepping out.
So. I clicked on that ad and started a new adventure. Then I fell madly in love with their program. My marriage has improved (to the point that yesterday as Ken finished doing dishes, he looked over his shoulder at me with a smile and says ‘I am a great house husband, eh? Just imagine when you bring me home full time to do this!’). My health has improved, in fact this morning as I was up and working out in the pool at 7:30am, I felt pride that I haven’t felt in a long time. I am a much happier and content me.
I am learning so much, and stepping out of areas that I held myself back in. Plus I am so excited because not only are there positives in my personal life, but my businesses are growing! I am making money online and am learning more ways to create more income! My deposits have commas! I am so stinking excited!
Now… the secret? I know you have been wondering and waiting so patiently… Jorjia and I are going in to business together!! It is something we have dreamed of and talked of for years! Yesterday she actually joined the program that I have been doing, and is going to learn and apply herself out of her current job! Her path may be a bit different, as she is considering agency over affiliate marketing, but whatever it takes to free her from her current structured and regulated existence.
There is still a lot up in the air, but one thing we know we have been called to do is step out as speakers – so that is one facet of our business. Can you imagine, the two of us together inspiring hope?!
As for where else this will go? It is going to be exciting to see it play out and believe that we are doing exactly what we are called to do. One of my promises to myself is to ‘Live Out Loud’. To break away from the expected and to have fun living life – so I know that will be incorporated in whatever we do.
I just couldn’t not tell you. You are important to us, and you have been such a vital part of a lot of our journey, and as we start this new chapter – we want to be sure to keep you in the loop! Obviously your prayers, positive energy and support are much appreciated!
The secret’s out…. thanks for being excited for us too!
Stepping up, Amy
Thank you for reading, liking, commenting and sharing – we really appreciate you being a part of our life! Feel free to share this with friends and on your social media – we aren’t shy!๐
Also, if you are curious about that book.. feel free to message me – I would love to share!
photo credit:
us by pool – Jorjia
rollercoaster – Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash
Jorjia & Michael – me
Logo – created by Instagram @42tylermckeown
