Hey Friends! Today I am so excited to start the “Inspire Me” series off with a bang! The whole goal of this blog series is to tell stories about women, men, and couples who have decided to go after their dreams and work for the life that they really want. It is my hope that as you hear these stories, you will start to believe whatever it is that you want in life is possible!
Our first inspiring story comes from Emily. Her and her boyfriend, Pete, live hundreds of miles away from Tim and I, but their hearts are the same. Take it away Emily!
Last May, I did something crazy. I walked away from an enviable 9-5 job to pursue blogging as a career.
When Kara asked me to contribute a post on my experiences, we discussed that ever-present desire that some people have to love what they do. It’s a radical feeling. If you have it too, I hope you’ll see this as a little inspiration to make steps to make anything happen.
Perhaps the hardest part of the plan to “follow my dreams” was figuring out what my dream path was. I had a good job, a job where I was almost-certainly safe. I was given opportunities, and allowed to own what I worked on freely, my career path was made for Type A’s like me. But still I looked for new opportunities every 6-months or so, interviewing, networking, trying to find something better that I could really be passionate about. And still, nothing clicked; a cubicle-to-cubicle position seemed too lateral for a opportunity that I wasn’t die-hard passionate about. There was something out there, but I hadn’t found it. Can you relate to that feeling?
Enter passion: I consider myself a newbie blogger. When I started this blog (merrypad.com), I was awakened to this whole amazing online world and revolution that has been growing and happening.
While I worked during the day, I maintained the blog at night; it wasn’t exhausting, it was totally exhilarating. I loved the time I spent thinking freely and creatively, and I loved that I could manage my own time and schedule. And that’s when I knew I had found something I was passionate about pursuing.
I reveled in the success of other bloggers, and bounced ideas and dreams off my boyfriend while chugging a venti mocha. We considered all kinds of things, and he was nothing but supportive of what I rambled about. It’s nice to have someone who can be as open-minded as you’d hope when you’re blabbering about doing DIY projects for a living whilst judging the amount of foam that’s on your beverage. The lesson here is: Surround yourself with amazing sounding blocks. And talk about your wildest dreams aloud.
Devising a business plan during conference calls and meetings as thoughts popped into my head, I brainstormed all day, every day.I crunched numbers. I day dreamed, and tweaked that plan over and over into something until it started to make sense, something that I would wake up in the morning thinking about, something that actually started to seem viable and real. This took months. Like, almost a year. There’s a lot to consider, but in the end, what I had on that paper was something I really, really believed in.
Getting the courage and confidence to take a leap wasn’t much trouble at all; the longer I sat in my cubicle unhappy, and the more realistic my plan became, the more I whole-heartedly believed that I could leave and pull through on my own. When I quit, I was following my gut. I knew I could do better, and I knew I could be happier doing my own thing, and by that point, it really wasn’t too scary. Maybe 10% scary. But mostly happy, like the last-day-of-classes-happy, or yay-I’m-retiring-happy.
I had fallback plans if the blogging plan grew exhaustive or flopped. Interviews at both Lowe’s and Home Depot (positions that I would have eagerly accepted if I hadn’t been able to maintain my savings account). A modest picture frame making business on Etsy. Marketing consulting projects as a freelancer. Diversifying my income streams and managing my time was imperative, most entrepreneurs and consultants would tell you that.
Somehow, almost 10 months has passed since I quit. I’ve worked non-stop, morning to night, growing Merrypad Eprimarily, but also working for more and more freelance clients. Because it’s doing what I love and because I’m the one who can manage how much I’m doing, it’s not work in the traditional sense. I have a lot more freedom than I would have in my 9-5 career path. The freedom to sleep in until 9 when I’ve been working until 2AM. The freedom to go to the mall at 3PM just because. Best of all, there’s no Sunday night dread. There’s no debating on how to use my vacation days. There’s no cutting family holidays a day short to sit in the office quietly on the day after Christmas… alone.
It’s a really, really fortunate life, and if you want it, you will find a way to make it work. I don’t know where this whole thing will take me, I’ve never been good at locking down a 5-year plan, but I have no regrets. I’m remaining very positive, planning finances far in advance, living modestly and not above my means, and enjoying coffee at the dining room table every morning.
It’s not something I could have decided to do in one day, but with a lot of careful thought and planning and the right passion, it can become a reality.
Life is good.
A huge thanks to Emily for sharing her story. I hope she has spurred your heart to question what your passion is and even more- to start laying out a plan to make your big move!
You can visit Emily’s blog, MerryPad to get renovation information, DIY tutorials, and detailed project instructions! One of my favorites? The striped stairs below. The paint treatment is both subtle and gorgeous!
See you tomorrow!
wow the stairs look awesome..
we are planning for sammy’s 4th birthday party and we choose rainbow party for him. guess what, most of the decos inspired from ur blog!
I love Emily’s blog! So nice to see her featured here!
This really IS inspiring! Thanks for sharing Emily’s story! I would love to turn my blogging into a full-time gig someday! Love to read the process that led up to it.
Hi Kara and Emily –
I quit my F/T retail display job last January after trying to do that and run my blog. It was scary, but the BEST decision I ever made. I may not be able to buy a $4 Starbucks Latte everyday anymore, but I would not trade this life of working and living my passion for anything. Loved reading your story Emily. I wish both of you truckloads of continued success.
Thanks for the nice comments, all – glad you’re enjoying my story. @InMyOwnStyle, congrats for making the leap yourself. I’d love to read your story too if you have it published anywhere or want to drop me an email! The positive entrepreneurial experiences like-minded people have really continue to keep me motivated.
After chugging along for eight-plus-years in a field I didn’t love, I often longed to walk away from it and pursue my dreams. Unfortunately that wasn’t an option for our particular life at this particular time, but I love reading about others who were able to make the transition. Thankfully I’ve found a career I love and our dreams of a different life don’t seem so unattainable. In the meantime, I’ll continue to be inspired by those who could make it work for themselves. And of course I love Emily’s blog. Thanks for a great feature.
WOW! THAT is what I’m talkin’ bout! Congrats Emily! I long for the day when I am able to sever my corporate ties and pursue my dream head on. I think your story is amazing! I hope that a year from now I’ll be able to share my story (fingers crossed).
Thank you Kara for this series! I love this so much already. I am staying positive and driving towards my dream of doing what I love. I truly hope that I am able to share my story sooner than later but as long as I’m able to get to my goal someday I’ll be happy 🙂
Ely!! That’s awesome! Please send us some photos of your party decor! We’d love to see the festive decorations!
Absolutely Cait, we couldn’t wait to share Emily’s story! I read you have some hard stuff going on in life. Keep persevering and try to find the positive in a crappy situation. Praying for you to find some peace friend.
That is so good to hear Staci! The reason we started this series is to inspire others! If being a professional blogger is your dream- go after it! You can do it! 🙂 So glad you found Emily’s story helpful and encouraging! 🙂
Way to go Diane! I love hearing that you cast your fears aside and went after something you felt would truly make you happy! I’d love to hear more about your story!
Becky, I am very happy that you’ve found a career you love. That is a dream in itself! I do hope that you will continue to work towards your ultimate dreams even if takes a while to accomplish them! I know it will be worth it in the end! 🙂
Lindsey- glad to hear you’re pumped up by this story! And I can’t wait to see where you are a year from now!!! A good friend always says to make sure and enjoy the journey. Very wise words. It’s easy to be so wrapped up in “someday,” but try to enjoy the now as well! These are words I often have to repeat to myself! 🙂