On this past trip back to NYC, I had a serious heart-to-heart with my good girlfriend, A. We talked about our goals and what makes us happy. I've thought about many times before, but discovered more about myself as by discussing it out loud with A.
If you talked to me a few years ago, I would have had a very different definition of happiness. It would not have included having kids or being my own boss. At the time, I was content with 'working for the man' and just enjoying life with E. Without kids, we could still go on our travel adventures, go out to eat every day without thinking about finances or babysitters, and have friends over for poker nights without dealing with bedtimes and such. It seemed like a great version of happiness.
Somehow, as I got older, I started to think about children more. I'm not sure if it was my biological clock ticking or the fact that I worked at Scholastic and was surrounded by mothers, expecting mothers, and tons of kids's stuff. Either way, the idea of having kids now seemed like it would be kinda fun.
Around the same time, a new and exciting entrepreneurial spirit started to grow inside of me. Yeah, it's nice to work for someone else and not have to worry about hiring, firing, accounting, etc. but there was something really intriguing about working on something was entirely your own. Something that you created and had complete control over.
In 2006, I started a handmade greeting card company and was up all hours of the night working on new designs, logos, a website... and it didn't feel like work at all. It was something that I was passionate about and enjoyed doing. At first, I made custom-designed cards for friends and family to celebrate their birthdays, new babies, weddings, promotions, etc. Then I started selling my cards in a small shop in the L.E.S.
Fast forward to the present, and I now live in Florida with E. My handmade greeting card business was put on hold when we were wedding planning and then moving, and now it has morphed into a new business. I loved making cards because I saw the delight and joy it brought to each recipient. I still love to make cards, so I am developing a line of designs that I can print so that more people can enjoy them. I have also expanded my product line to include a wider spectrum of wellness. It's great combination because my cards promote personal wellness, while my other products help people to achieve physical and environmental wellness!
Before I moved to Florida, I had thought about looking for a regular 9 to 5 job. Then, I thought about how I'd like to have kids in the near future and how I'd like to be able to stay home with them -- to watch them grow, to teach them, and of course to play with them! Spending 8 hours away from my kids each day to work in an office (plus commuting time!) was just not going to fly.
I'm now working hard to build my business, but I'm happy because it gives me the flexibility to still travel home to NY because I can work remotely and set my own hours. I also know that when I do have kids, I'll be able to be there for them. It will still be a juggling act to balance a business with kids, but at least it's doable. (I heard about a woman who I used to work with that had to quit her job because they would not allow flexible work hours for her to be with her children!)
In addition to flexibility, another huge plus for my business is that I'm helping to make the world a safer and healthier place for future generations. I know that I will be providing my family with a safe environment and take great pride in knowing that I'm helping others do the same.