You can do it all. You don’t have to explain and neither do I.
This morning, I was taking down my 2020 vision board and looking at ‘all over the place’ ideas up there. I couldn’t help but think that 2020 looked NOTHING like I thought it would but like most of us, I figured it out.
I have spent the majority of my life trying to explain how I can do it all. I walking to a friend the other day and he told me to ‘enjoy my break and not think about it.’ In past years, I would have said ‘thanks’ and let it go. But I responded that simply wasn’t me. To which he responded “I know, you will spin up three businesses in the next two weeks.” There is no hiding it and I sort of like it.
My first job out of college was in Engineering. But I felt like I had a pull to be more creative, so while I worked, I went back to school for an M.B.A. I pivoting to product management and then into product marketing with a focus on high tech. Changing career and going to school while I worked full time was challenging but it was my first glimpse into realizing I could push beyond my comfort zone.
Sometime in all that, I start saving dogs. I fostered over one hundred dogs and I started to learn how to fundraise to save the dogs. I branched out and applied my skills to other rescues and starting helping them.
Then, I caught the bug for entrepreneurship and started my own health and fitness business. I started learning how to help others live their best life as well as help them start their own businesses. I learned the art of story telling and how to use social media for good.
I had my life-changing crash. I felt called to do more with my story and started volunteering with Safe Roads Alliance and was part of the group that passed the hands free bill in MA. I had learned how to stay positive and it was hugely impactful in the way I was able to fight for hands free.
I went on to apply these social media skills to help other small businesses, do pro-bono work and this year I even helped a college student start a business. And not for any profit, just because I wanted to help.
Part of my goals for this year involved getting better with and presentations. However, due to Covid my opportunities for in person presenting didn’t happen. So, I started authoring for Pluralsight. I have written 20+guides and taught five courses.
Did I mention I went back to school this year at MIT? That was not even a blip on my vision board. But it was something that seemed to fit in with the chaos.
So let’s review:
- Demanding 9-5 job in high techÂ
- Running my own health and fitness business
- Helping others start their own businesses
- Pro-bono social media work
- Advocating for safer roads
- Pro-bono og rescue fundraising
- Brainstorming and launching a virtual tutoring business
- Going back to school to complete an executive education degree at MIT
- Being a kickass Mom and Wife
It is crazy? Maybe. But I do ‘it all’ and contrary to what most people believe, you CAN do it all. You don’t have to explain your passions and neither do I.
I am going into 2021 embracing the crazy and remembering that is me. I can’t change it and I can do it all.
