I worked in the financial industry for seven years before transitioning to beauty at an online magazine and then finally as a freelance writer. In 2007, I was working (unhappily--I was initially hired to edit their internal newsletter, only to have my entire job function switch after just a month at the company) at a firm directly affected by the subprime mortgage crisis. There were layoffs within the next couple months and I was lucky to survive them, but instead I inherited another full-time job since they'd let go of so much staff. As I wrote my blog in addition (a part-time job in and of itself, on nights, weekends and most of my vacation time spent on industry events and Fashion Week) I tried to get myself another gig where I wouldn't have to put in such long hours and would have time for my beauty writing. I was lucky enough to land a new gig--and then one month in, the same thing happened. I was spared a lay-off, but the environment was incredibly stressful. And no one knew when the next round of layoffs would occur. We were on tenterhooks.
I was recruited after a year of working at the second financial company by the editor in chief of an online beauty magazine to be their senior beauty editor. I thought it was my dream job! They had massive budgets for events and their blog community, of which mine was a part. I took the job and adored it for--you guessed it--one month. It turns out the CFO was spending way more money than the start-up company was making. She was let go, along with 60% of the staff. Again, I was glad to be spared--but I was now the senior beauty editor, social media manager and the blog community manager. I worked longer hours there than I ever did on Wall Street and every single weekend. My freelance writing for other sites was put on hold entirely and my own blog suffered as I rarely had time to update it.
Finally, after putting in a year, I made an Unapologetically Strong move--I went freelance full-time. I was not about to risk yet another bait-and-switch office experience. I do a combination of freelance financial writing for one of my former full-time gigs, beauty writing for a few sites and magazines and pop culture writing for one of MTV's blogs. Almost 3 years later, I'm making far more than I ever did slaving away in an office and I can work from anywhere--and I do! An unfortunate series of events propelled me to create my own job and I'm much happier.
I believe it's important to recognize when it's important to take risks--even when things seem incredibly difficult. It's vital to push your own boundaries. I was terrified to quit my job and do my own thing with no established bi-weekly paycheck and medical benefits. I spent years of my career writing about fiscal risk and how best to manage it! But I did, and now I'm paid for the work I do. More work? More cash. And I've far exceeded my former salaries doing it because I'm motivated by the work that I do and the assignments that I get--and I never have to fill out another self-evaluation again. Take on that goal you've been harboring. Now's the time!
Initially though? Breaking free from these chains (in the sage words of Wilson Phillips) of corporate culture was a move that required a STRONG deodorant like Degree's Clinical Protection Motionsense. Because it was a nerve-wracking transition at first and this stuff (specifically the Cotton Fresh scent) is the ONLY deo I trust for my sweatiest Flywheel one-hour seshes. Not only am I psychologically comforted by words like "clinical" and "motion activated freshness," but nothing keeps my pits Sahara dry while I'm schvitzing like a mad woman like this stuff. The Degree Clinical Protection Motionsense Deodorant retails for $8 at drugstore.com.
I believe it's important to recognize when it's important to take risks--even when things seem incredibly difficult. It's vital to push your own boundaries. I was terrified to quit my job and do my own thing with no established bi-weekly paycheck and medical benefits. I spent years of my career writing about fiscal risk and how best to manage it! But I did, and now I'm paid for the work I do. More work? More cash. And I've far exceeded my former salaries doing it because I'm motivated by the work that I do and the assignments that I get--and I never have to fill out another self-evaluation again. Take on that goal you've been harboring. Now's the time!
Initially though? Breaking free from these chains (in the sage words of Wilson Phillips) of corporate culture was a move that required a STRONG deodorant like Degree's Clinical Protection Motionsense. Because it was a nerve-wracking transition at first and this stuff (specifically the Cotton Fresh scent) is the ONLY deo I trust for my sweatiest Flywheel one-hour seshes. Not only am I psychologically comforted by words like "clinical" and "motion activated freshness," but nothing keeps my pits Sahara dry while I'm schvitzing like a mad woman like this stuff. The Degree Clinical Protection Motionsense Deodorant retails for $8 at drugstore.com.
Join Degree and take risks and celebrate your strength! Enter the contest by sharing your own Unapologetically Strong story here and participate in my Twitter chat today (I'm @Glambr) at noon Eastern Time by using the hashtag #DegreeStrong. See you then!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Degree, but all opinions herein are my own. Product sample provided.
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