I quit my job today, and here’s why…
My move from employee to business owner was unintentional, but turned into one of the best decisions for myself and for my family in 2020.
Let me back up a bit and explain what’s been happening over the past several months.
In February I started looking for a job, my first job in 10 years- I’d been a SAHM / Student working my way through design school for a very long time and was excited to start my career. I spent the past 2 years telling myself that I didn’t want the responsibility of owning my own business. What a hassel, who would choose that ? I told myself that I’d work part-time, have a nice balance between family, and work and time for myself, it would be great. I wouldn’t have to worry about the administrative side of business, or maintaining accounts or being the point of contact for clients. Easy breezy, that was my plan.
I’d also started a non-toxic beauty business with Beautycounter in 2019. It was super important to me that my family was using products that weren’t detrimental to their health. This was a great way for me to educated friends and family and earn money to put toward our household. I told myself it wasn’t really “owning” a business because they make it so easy to start, they track everything, they have amazing customer service, so I wasn’t a typical business owner.
So, in March I had some interviews, and a solid lead to work for a kitchen and bath showroom. Also in March the U.S. was introduced to COVID-19, and most industries came to a halt. I thought for sure the design industry would tank. People were out of work, losing their livelihoods, and there was no way that they were going to spend money on a luxury like interior design. I was actively working with our daughters at home to figure out the new school-at-home plan but, I maintained my relationship with the kitchen& bath firm that I’d interviewed with, and hoped that things would get better.
Through April and part of May I kept up my relationship with my future boss and started working remotely. It was so nice to use my skills and my brain for design. Using a design program, having virtual meetings, and setting up times to get to know some of the employees I’d be working with was awesome. This is what I’d been building towards.
By the time July and August rolled by I was working part-time in the showroom learning the kitchen and bath industry – both design and sales- and feeling confident in my design skills. For the most part I was teaching myself the 3D software, and the processes that had been put in place for the firm’s projects. Our firm was so busy that people were overwhelmed with work, and there wasn’t time to get one-on-one direction. It was obvious that training wasn’t going to happen on a daily or even weekly basis. People were getting more and more complacent about mask wearing, and cleaning where I worked, and I began to feel more insecure about how protected I was against the virus.
As we moved into October I started feeling like I wasn’t in the right place for me or for my career. Do you know that feeling? You’ve gotten yourself to a respectable job, you’re learning, you’re doing what you’ve told yourself you should do. Still, it doesn’t feel quite right. It was a job, and I should have been happy to have it given the climate. I was grateful, but felt that there could be more to my career if I pushed myself.
I wanted to explore multiple ways to make money in design, but also in my Beautycounter business. How could I reach clients in my area, but also around the country? What would I need to do to market myself? Could I find someone to teach me the things that I don’t know? Could I work whenever and wherever I wanted?
So l left. Early in November I gave my notice and decided to open my own design firm. It felt both scary and like a huge relief. The relief was stronger. It meant that I could create a work week that worked for me and for my family. I could put processes in place that made sense for the way that I design, and would improve the client experience for their project. I could be interested in more than one thing! Maybe I’d flip a house or teach people how to decorate their bedroom for maximum coziness, or buy a vacation rental. I could document everything that I was doing and share it with future clients.
I realized that the reason that I’d opened myself up to owning a business was because it would give me the freedom and ability to make money when and how I want to. A really tough decision, but so right for the way that I want to live and create in 2020 and in the future.
Today I’m doing it. Doing it all. I’ve signed on with a business coach. I’m learning how to market myself, my brand. I’m filing the tax documents, and opening the accounts and taking care of expenses. Many, many expenses. I’m in the process of hiring a webdesigner — I can’t wait until that’s done!!
More importantly I’m doing it on my own terms and in my own time while being here for my family. I’m so grateful to be in this season of my life.
