3 Ways To Make Great Opportunities Happen

 

I Wasn’t Qualified For A Good Job, So I Created My Own Business

Elena

 

After having my daughter, I went out looking for a job and quickly realized that finding a good job, with good pay and benefits would be difficult. Actually, the real hard lesson I learned was that the money I would be making from a job would barely even cover the costs of childcare. I was lucky to have a husband who although wasn’t making much was completely ok with me staying home and raising our daughter. We didn’t have much, and I’m very thankful that although he had to put in the long hours at work, that he made it possible for me to be a full-time stay at home mom. In my heart, nothing made me happier than that.

 

I loved being a stay at home mom. I never felt like less because I didn’t have a 9-5 job, but part of me disliked the fact that I knew if I HAD to get a job, it would be difficult to find one that would pay enough to cover childcare and bills. I didn’t graduate college, didn’t have a degree and although there are a ton of opportunities out there, many of them require you to have that degree in hand.

I didn’t have that piece of paper, so I grabbed a blank piece of paper and wrote down what I wanted to do with my life instead. I decided that the best way I could spend my time wasn’t waiting for the perfect job to find me, one that would take away the possibility of being a full time stay at home mom like I loved so much, but instead focus on figuring out what I wanted to do with my life and give it my best shot.

I always dreamt of becoming a photographer, and luckily, a photography career doesn’t necessarily need a degree. Of course, there are colleges that offer photography degrees, but I knew that if I wanted to make it happen, I could teach myself.
I could learn online.
I could build something for myself that didn’t require anyone else’s approval but mine.

The best part about it was that I didn’t have to give up something that meant so much to me, being a stay at home mom.

I got to work, learned as much as I could. I wasn’t any good at first but I never let that stop me. I knew that if I stuck with it, eventually I’d figure things out. I’m so thankful I did because that’s what lead me to where I am today.

Creating my own opportunity made it possible for me to stay a full time stay at home mom while also working as a small business owner on things I’m incredibly passiontate about.

I AM NOW A PROUD BUSINESS OWNER.
I WORK FOR MYSELF.
I HAVE A JOB I LOVE.
I HAVE 100% PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL FREEDOM TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT FOR MY FAMILY AND ME. IT’S HELPED ME CREATE A LIFE THAT MAKES ME HAPPY, INDEPENDENT, AND PROUD.

If you have found yourself in a job that doesn’t really make you happy, or longing to put your time into something you’ll be able to count on longterm, then here are my 3 tips on creating your own opportunity.

PRIORITIZE YOUR LIFE FIRST

First and foremost, start with what’s most important to you. Write down what makes you happiest, brings you joy, and put that at the top of the list. It could be having enough family time together, being a stay at home mom and taking care of your children, or having enough time to do what you love.

These little life pieces should always be at the top of your list. No matter how busy your business will one day be, you should never lose sight of what is most important to you.

FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS YOU WANT TO DO

Next, write down what you dream ideal job is. We live in an incredible time where anything is possible. It doesn’t matter if it’s becoming a professional photographer, home designer, educator, full-time world traveler. Someone somewhere is making it happen, and you can do the same!

The only thing standing between you and your dream job, is the time and dedication required to achieve it.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

It’s easy to see the beautiful side of working for yourself and business. What you don’t necessarily see often is messy beginnings. The start of it all. The crazy circle’s someone had to go in to figure things out and eventually get it right. Keep that in mind, when you start your own business.

The best thing you can decide to do is to simply start. Start now. Embrace the messy beginning, and realize that it’s only a matter of time till you too figure things out, and have a business that allows you to do what you love full time.

COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS

Although I’ve spent the majority of my entrepreneurial life working alone, never underestimate the power of collaborating and networking with fellow creatives.

There’s a whole world of creators excited to collaborate with you. All you need to do is find them and reach out. In the past, I’ve found an incredible amount of inspiration by working alongside of other’s and think it’s a beautiful way to connect to people who can help you with making your dreams happen.

If there is something you love to do, don’t let anything stop you in pursuing it. Go after it. If you have it in your heart, then I have no doubt that you can make it happen. All too often, we let our own self-made limitations and doubts rule in the pursuit of what makes us truly happy.
Go after those dreams of yours and make them happen!