I have always had an artistic mentality. Money never seemed to be the main motivator and that used to drive my father crazy. Being creative, having an entrepreneurial spirit meant diving into things for the very first time with no prior experience, just an "I can DO this!" attitude. Way too many hit-and-miss jobs in sales, and other things that sometimes paid the bills, sometimes not.
Then, at the age of about 40, I got what my dad called "a real job". In his mind, I'd finally made it. I had a salary, health benefits, bonuses, etc. Working with the aged in long term care in different factions really was a passion for me, for most of the ten years that I did it. But, as the paychecks got fatter, and the recruiting of me got better, I ended up working for a national respiratory company that was all about numbers, and pushing their sales force.
The last two years I really HATED my job. The money didn't matter and when Monday would roll around, I didn't even want to face the day. The absolute worst feeling for someone who is motivated by passion not by a paycheck.
My wonderful husband was "seeing around the corners" in 2005, and we both knew that owning two homes would not be financially smart with a bubble bursting soon in the economy. We sold our urban home in Beaverton Oregon in 4 hours, I quit my job, "retired" and we moved to our slice of paradise, our then second home at Fishhawk Lake fulltime.
A year later, I entered the real estate world. Many years before, back in the early 90's I'd tried to take a course through the mail about real estate--an utter failure in every way. This was my second chance both at doing something I'd felt a great urge to do and was deeply passionate about and my second chance at making good money, even if it wasn't what my dad would have called "a real job".
Eleven years later, there isn't a single Monday that comes that I don't look forward to what my day, my week, my year holds in store for me as I absolutely LOVE what I do and wow--I make good money, TOO! (Dad, you would be so proud of me...and I know you see it from the other side). The gold at the end of the rainbows!
(My photo of a double rainbow on Fishhawk Lake).
This is my entry for Grant Schneider's second chance do-over contest. Thank you, Grant, for the inspiration!
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