From Job Loss to Life's Greatest Gain: How Losing My Job Last Year Was the Ultimate Blessing!

Hey LinkedIn fam! ?? Can you believe it's been one whole year since I lost my job? ?? ♀??? Time really flies when you're hustling and owning your own business! ???? So, I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on this crazy journey and share some hilarious moments along the way. ??

Let's rewind the clock to that fateful day when I got the dreaded pink slip call. ???? I remember feeling like my world was crumbling and I was absolutely terrified.

Was I going to lose my home? Would I be able to pay our bills? Mind you, my losing my job came on the heels of my husband having lost his job the week before.

But little did I know, that was just the beginning of something awesome! ????

I spent about 2 months looking for work. I think I did about 100 interviews in the first Month. There was a job that I took for a week and a half and it made me realize how organized I was in my own business, prior to working for the supplier I worked for. Whew... that was a week and a half of pure torture trying to find a starting point. And that company was working with multi-billion dollar companies that were spending MANY millions per year on Promotional Materials and Apparel.

So, with the realization that if THAT company could do it, so could I. Only better.

I made the jump. ??I restarted my business that I'd left to go to work for the supplier a year before with so much more knowledge.

Restarting my own business was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. ???? I went from having a boss to being my own boss! Talk about a major power move!

???? Now, instead of dreading Mondays, I jump out of bed like a caffeinated kangaroo, ready to tackle the day! ???

Even working for the supplier I worked for, I worked from home. So, that transition was pretty seamless. ?? No more awkward Zoom calls with a few co-workers who weren't the kindest, you know those "mean girls" who feel like their ??doesn't stink and that they're better than you, even though they don't have the years of experience that you have.

???? Instead, I can blast my favorite tunes and work on my feeble attempt at gardening! ?????? Trust me, you might want to feel sorry for my plants! ????

Of course, being an entrepreneur has its fair share of challenges too. ???? I spent the first 6 months or so working about 18 hours per day getting my processes, designs, and systems set up.

I put in the hard work at the beginning. Lots of it. I swear, I worked weekends,???? nights, mornings, all day. No naps, I was ON it NON-STOP. Now, as we grow, we're still expanding our systems and processes, as we need. But, I've got my base systems set up. ???? ♀?

I also set my minimum target market goals. THIS was a game-changer for me.

Working on the other side of this industry is something that I'll never regret. I learned so many valuable things that I never would have learned without having taken that job. I'm absolutely fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn what I've learned from the perspective of a supplier!

So, something most people may not know about me, I'm a stickler for organization.?? The lack of organization drives me CRAZY! ???? In fact, it's part of what led me to not work for my former employer! LOL

Over the past year?, I've gained so much more than I lost when I lost that job. I gained time? with my husband, Scott Williams who now works with me. I gained a friend in Susan Collins , who joined the company at the beginning of the year. I've gained the support of some AMAZING suppliers, like John Short , Tommy Scully , our amazing staff at Sage, David "DC" Castellano, TAS , Ryan Hanchey , Rachel Magee (She/Her) , industry friends like Nick Augustine and so many more. ????

The clients ??that I had when I worked for the supplier became my support ??♀?system, my friends, and my colleagues. We bounce ideas off of each other, we support each other when times are tough, and we give each other advice when we're struggling in different areas of owning our own businesses. Zachary St Peter , Tammy Wisell, MASI , Danielle Steinberger , Danielle Belvoix, MSDM , just to name a few.

Did it suck losing my job? ?? Of course! My ego took a big hit. My feelings were hurt. ????Financially, I was terrified of the future. ????

Not anymore.?? I've gained so many wonderful clients this past year.?????? I've learned so much about my heritage, where I come from, and who I am as a Native American, Wife, Mom, Woman??♀?, Nana, and businesswoman.

??♀?The support I've felt from most of those around me has built my confidence and reminded me that I am strong, skilled, knowledgeable, and more than capable of handling my own business. ??

??Sadly, there have been some who fell to the wayside. I lost the woman that I thought was my best friend and I miss her on a daily basis. I wish she could have believed in me the way that others did. ??

In hindsight, losing my job on May 31st, 2022 was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. It's been a year full of learning, adjusting, goal setting, achieving goals, setting more goals, and working towards more and more growth.

????So, here's to the next year of success. I'm claiming it! I love what I do, I love my clients, my industry, my suppliers, and all of you who have been my cheerleaders and support throughout this tumultuous last year. ????????

Thank you for helping me succeed!

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