The Adventure Begins

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started” (Mark Twain). How true! Getting started sounds so easy, but taking that first step can be incredibly difficult.

For me, the road to entrepreneurship has been long and winding. After college and without much thought, I got a traditional job with a typical benefits package. Most people I knew had gone this route, and it never occurred to me that there might be anything different. I probably wasn’t ready to be a entrepreneur then anyway.

As the years went by, I continued working in the non-profit sector. I never mapped out a career trajectory, but I was always looking for opportunities to learn and grow. I started as an executive assistant and moved on to being an editorial assistant, desktop publishing specialist, office manager, executive liaison, and production manager. I liked these jobs and was blessed to have excellent bosses, great colleagues, and diverse work experiences. This type of career trajectory was “safe,” so I stuck with it.

But, somewhere along the way, the entrepreneur bug bit, and the dream of starting my own business began to take shape. In my twenties, I started doing freelance editing and document layout for a few clients, and I really enjoyed it. I didn’t intentionally try to grow my business, but people heard about me, hired me, and liked my work. In 2000, I considered becoming a professional organizer and joined a regional organizing group for a year but ultimately decided the timing wasn’t right. Still, I filed the idea away for later and used my skills to help friends and family declutter and get organized.

Fast-forward to 2020. When the pandemic hit, my coworkers and I shifted to remote work. I had always longed to work from home, but I had questions: Was I disciplined enough? Did I have enough focus? Would the technology work? The next few years proved that yes, it was possible, and yes, I could do it. In fact, I loved it!

As the world began to reopen in 2022, it was clear that things had changed. The pandemic had devastating consequences across most industries, and healthcare, where I worked, was no exception. As part of its cost-recovery measures, my employer closed my department, and my colleagues and I were let go. So much for job security.

Barely one year before, I had stepped into a role that capitalized on my creative abilities and project-management skills. The learning curve had been steep, but I'd found my groove and was enjoying the challenge. And yet, changes on the home front prompted me to consider whether a traditional, in-office, 9-5 workplace was best for me. Because I believe everything happens for a reason, I decided to view the unexpected job loss as my opportunity to do something different.

Now, the FabCrab adventure begins. Am I scared? Yes. Do I feel ready? No. I’m acutely aware that there’s a lot I don’t know. Then again, is anyone ever truly ready for change? No matter how much you prepare, you’ll never know everything, and no matter how much you learn, you’ll always wish you knew more. With my introvert personality, staying in the “getting ready” phase is very appealing. I’d much rather sit at my computer doing research, watching how-to videos, tweaking my website, and taking online classes than try to market myself and my services. But unless I put myself out there, my business won't grow, and neither will I. As the saying goes, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

As my little business sails out into the big sea, I would be so grateful for your support. Offer words of encouragement. Share constructive feedback. Pray that I'll make good decisions. Refer people to my website. Recommend me and my services. Maybe even become a client yourself! I’m excited to finally start this journey, and it’ll be a lot more fun with you along for the ride.