A Moment with Dana: Taking Chances

I am thrilled and honored to have Dana from Pellerini Proclaims sharing her words on the blog today. Dana's story is one that so many can connect with, one where we've stopped for moment in life and realized that something just isn't....us. Read more of Dana's story about taking a chance and chasing her dream.

Ever since I can remember, I have always worked for someone. I started babysitting at the age of 12 – every Saturday night. At the age of 13 I got my worker’s permit and started working at a local pizza place (where I subsequently lost my taste for pizza and garlic rolls for many years) – and babysat on Saturdays. 

My love of fashion brought me to my next job, at a children’s clothing store, where I worked until I graduated high school – and babysat on Saturdays. 

I didn’t work my first year in college as I needed to get acclimated to my new surroundings and wanted to focus on my studies; but once Summer rolled around, I was once again working. 

I know this sounds a bit like a resume here, but stick with me as there is a reason to this!

Once I graduated college, I decided to set my sights on even bigger and better things.  I broke away from the security of “the known” and applied for my first “career position”.  Year after year, I slowly climbed up the corporate ladder.  My last position as Director of Marketing ended abruptly in 2014, when the company I worked for dissolved their marketing department.  My husband was on a business trip in California when I called him to tell him the news.  I was a bit numb as I usually had the foresight to plan accordingly, but this occurrence really took me for a loop.  I’d been laid off before, but was given ample time or foresight to plan and acquire my next career move. 

Being the supportive man that he is, my husband told me to take a break for a little while.  I had always complained that I wish I could stay home with my boys; that I was one of the very few of my friends that was a full-time working mom.  Now was my chance to be able to bring my boys to their doctor appointments instead of my husband taking them.  I could volunteer at the school, instead of sulking behind a desk wishing I was with them on their field trip.

At first I didn’t know what to do with my newfound time.  The thought of going to the mall during the day instead of grumbling that I couldn’t go while working was novel, for a few weeks.  I went to lunch with my stay-at-home mama friends.  Trips to Costco and Publix during normal business hours were a reality to me. 

The newness and excitement of not working slowly faded.  This wasn’t ME.  I didn’t realize until that point, that I truly enjoyed working, communicating with people other than my husband and my dog (no offense, but you know what I mean), and being creative.  I love taking a project from a thought in someone’s mind to a reality – whether it is a logo, website, print advertisement, social media account – the list is endless. 

I needed to find something that would afford me the flexibility that I wanted for my sons’ events but something that made me feel more like “me”.  That is when I took a leap of faith and started my own marketing company.

I was scared, don’t get me wrong.  I am usually the traditional, conservative one in my marriage, and here I was putting it all out on a limb.  I was the one that needed to take home the consistent paycheck every week and the health insurance provider.  Now I was going to be an entrepreneur – hitting the pavement on my own and working for myself.  At first I thought, “Holy crap”, but there was something deep down inside that was pushing me to just do it.

Fast forward to the present.  I am still a bit in the “holy crap” thought mode but for different reasons.  I did it!  In a little less than a year, I have a few clients under my belt.  I work super hard because I want to succeed, and have the flexibility I’ve always wanted.  If you were to ask me 5 years ago if this scenario would be a reality for me, I would’ve said, “No way.”  I am my own boss and hold my success in my own hands.  It took me years of working for everyone else and then abruptly stopping to find out what I truly love.  It was like my “a-ha” moment and I grabbed it by the horns. 

Dana is a thirty-something year old who owns her own virtual marketing agency, with her most important job being a mom to two gorgeous boys. She's always loved to journal her day to day events and LOVES to share advice on fashion, travel, parenting, and more. She blogs over at Pellerini Proclaims, and you can follow along with her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!