It's all about Leslie

A bit of my high school experience

I always liked numbers and new I wanted to do something with this as a career but my brain just couldn't get past Algebra. So, I was given some advice from a wonderful teacher, she said, "Have you ever thought about accounting"? I said, "No". "What is it"? She explained simple bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, accounts payables and receivables as well as a few other various accounting aspects.

I thought about it, researched it and gave it a try. I mean why not? I wouldn't know if it was my niche until I tried, right?

So, I took all the accounting classes I could and believe it or not, passed all of them with flying colors. I did find my niche after all. I even went further into the business world and joined corporate office education and some computer classes. I passed them as well. I graduated with a business diploma. At this point in my life I was very proud of myself.

College years, during and after

I put myself through college and earned an Associates in Accounting degree. I even worked as the assistant to the purchasing manager for a local department store while in college, which helped me tremendously while earning my degree.

After graduating, I had various jobs utilizing my degree over the course of a few years. But then I got bored. So I ventured out into medical billing, insurance verification, durable medical equipment sales and training, and a few other office duties pertaining to DME. I loved it and stayed with this particular company for 14 years.

I changed careers again. I then became an Eligibility Denial Specialist. Boring, but necessary because I have a family to take care of.

Why am I telling you all of this boring career path stuff about myself?

I am leading up to a realization of myself. Something that I hope will inspire you to look deeper into your soul about what you really want to be when you grown up.

I, like everyone, have dreams and goals. But, I put them on the back burner for a very long time because I am a practical person. I knew I needed a job to pay the bills. I felt that at my young age I needed to choose a career path that would keep me sheltered and fed. I had self doubt about my dreams providing for me. I dabbled over the years with what I really wanted to do but just as a hobby not for public view.

When and why did things change for me?

Several things started to transpire in my life that brought me back to my dreams. The company I work for was bought again for the third time within the 5 yrs I had worked for them. It's been almost 2 yrs now since this new company took over and let me tell you there has been loads of uncertainty, non-communication and leaving us feeling like any day now we will all loose our jobs.

Then, I turned 50 in June of 2018, my husband will be 60 in Sept and our youngest child will graduate high school in 2019. While none of these things are bad at all, in fact they are all true blessings, but, it got me thinking. What if I get laid off? It is a strong possibility. My family like most, depend on a two incomes. What if I can't find a job because of my age? What if having only an Associates degree is not good enough? What if my husband and I cannot help our son when he goes to college? What if, what if, what if, that thinking is not going to pay the bills, right?

What happened next?

I started brain storming. I wrote down all my hopes and dreams. Researched and joined several Facebook groups. Asked for advice and help. I started admitted to myself what I really want to do with my life.

One thing I want to do is work from home. Why? Because I want to be in more control of my life, have more freedom, be able to take my kids and myself to appointments without having to use PTO or make up time, and make more money.

I applied to numerous WAH jobs with no response. The groups I joined on FB were all about WAH jobs. Some had websites attached that I joined as well.I realized that I had joined to many and became completely overwhelmed with all the information. I got confused. My brain storming was all over the place. I found to many things and suggestions interesting. I contacted to many people and a few tried to scam me.

What now?

Where do I go from here? How do I get myself out of this messy situation that I alone put myself in? I knew I needed to get focused, stop stressing and take a breath.

How did I correct my situation?

I chose one group and their website to focus on for valuable information. I am currently taking the advice from one extremely helpful and intelligent person. These two decisions alone got me on the right path.

What career path did I choose?

Writing.

I love writing, being creative, inspiring others, and sharing my thoughts. I want to get people thinking, possibly help someone reach a dream or change their current situation.

What else will writing provide for me?

A WAH job, as I mentioned earlier, a dream of mine. I will be my own boss and be able to be one of the two incomes my family needs. You know what else? I still have my current position and I am able to pursue this writing dream without loosing any money, at least for the time being. I am not unrealistic. I know I wont be an over night success and will probably have to keep a job out side my home for awhile, but, I made the first step towards changing my current situation.

In addition

Writing will lead me into other areas of interest, such as, becoming an author. Currently, I am writing two books or should I say playing around with it, but, at least I got started. Poetry is another area of interest for me and I have already submitted my first examples. Writing articles is yet another area of interest. Example: Hub Pages.

I am as new to this website as of yesterday. I am learning, enjoying the feedback and taking the advice.

I really hope you found my article inspiring and that I made you think that it is ok to follow your dreams.