It was the Fall of 2008. The US economy had just crashed. A friend of mine canceled our trip to Portugal last minute due to visa issues. And there I was $600 out on a non-refundable plane ticket wondering why I had chosen to go on an international trip with less than 1K to my name. In truth, I was longing for an opportunity to escape my life. Instead, I was forced to face it.
Around that time I was working part-time as a Freelance Teaching Artist barely making enough to pay the bills and living at home with my parents. I was upset at my friend who bailed on me, upset at losing slightly over $600, and upset at the world. On top of it, I felt like such a loser.
That's when I found myself willing to do whatever it takes. For years, I had been telling my friends and co-workers that one day I want to own my own arts organization. It had been a desire for a many years. In fact, I had sketches of what I imagined my business to be; numerous notebooks filled with ideas, my vision & my passion to work with children. I was a BIG DREAMER, but not so much a DOER.
But now it was DO or DIE. And I wasn't ready to DIE.
It was time for me to make my dream a priority.
I started paying attention for clues.
And from out of nowhere my boss at the time suggested I rent out a space she co-owned to run my own theater arts class for kids.
BOOM!
Thus, began my journey towards entrepreneurship.
I made flyers.
I made phone calls to schools.
I talked to everyone I knew about what I was upto so they knew I was serious.
I also worried if anyone going to spend money on a drama class when they probably just lost their homes, chunks of their retirement savings, etc.
Some of the folks I told were encouraging. Some were fake nice. But no one could stop me.
I was on my way and I haven't looked back since.
9 years later, I have a six-figure business I'm very proud of and thousands of students who have graced us with their creativity, imagination, and courage.
The crazy part was I didn't have a business degree, a fine arts degree, or a degree in education. I had a passion, a vision, and a sense of determination to make it happen.
But did I almost have to "DIE" to get there?
What do you think? Where does your motivation come from? And what will it take for you to turn your DREAM into a REALITY?
Around that time I was working part-time as a Freelance Teaching Artist barely making enough to pay the bills and living at home with my parents. I was upset at my friend who bailed on me, upset at losing slightly over $600, and upset at the world. On top of it, I felt like such a loser.
That's when I found myself willing to do whatever it takes. For years, I had been telling my friends and co-workers that one day I want to own my own arts organization. It had been a desire for a many years. In fact, I had sketches of what I imagined my business to be; numerous notebooks filled with ideas, my vision & my passion to work with children. I was a BIG DREAMER, but not so much a DOER.
But now it was DO or DIE. And I wasn't ready to DIE.
It was time for me to make my dream a priority.
I started paying attention for clues.
And from out of nowhere my boss at the time suggested I rent out a space she co-owned to run my own theater arts class for kids.
BOOM!
Thus, began my journey towards entrepreneurship.
I made flyers.
I made phone calls to schools.
I talked to everyone I knew about what I was upto so they knew I was serious.
I also worried if anyone going to spend money on a drama class when they probably just lost their homes, chunks of their retirement savings, etc.
Some of the folks I told were encouraging. Some were fake nice. But no one could stop me.
I was on my way and I haven't looked back since.
9 years later, I have a six-figure business I'm very proud of and thousands of students who have graced us with their creativity, imagination, and courage.
The crazy part was I didn't have a business degree, a fine arts degree, or a degree in education. I had a passion, a vision, and a sense of determination to make it happen.
But did I almost have to "DIE" to get there?
What do you think? Where does your motivation come from? And what will it take for you to turn your DREAM into a REALITY?