How I quit my job to start my own business

I started working right out of high school. I graduated when I was 16 and worked at a small cheesecake bakery for a couple of months until the owner could no longer afford to keep me on as an employee anymore. My first big lesson in the workforce. You are never guaranteed to have your job tomorrow. Nothing is forever and you're kind of on your own. So not too long after the bakery I turned 17 and landed one of my favorite jobs I ever had at Starbucks. I worked there for a year and a half and left for another job at a day spa that I thought was better only to leave that job for another job at a cardiologist that was even worse. At 19 I found myself back at Starbucks for another year and a half and started school at the Aveda Institute of San Antonio to study aesthetics. You know facials, skincare and all that jazz. I really enjoyed it but working late nights at Starbucks and partying a little too much began to take it's toll and I ended up not finishing school. A big regret but I believe everything happens for a reason and I took a lot of knowledge with me when I left.

Needless to say and without naming every job I have ever had, and there are many, I kept noticing a pattern. I would start a job and within six months or less, I would always realize, this is not where I want to be, not what I want to be doing or who I want to be spending my precious time with. I was never satisfied no matter where I worked. I had a hard time dealing with authority. I am a natural leader and a dominate, organized, take-charge kind of girl and I realized time and time again that I was extremely unsatisfied with every job I had. I got in trouble often for not following the dress code, not wanting to take my tiny little nose stud out and questioning or arguing with authority when I felt something was wrong or if I felt under appreciated or overworked. I always felt like I needed to be somewhere else than where I was. I knew that this can't be it. This is not what my life is supposed to be like. I always came to the table with great ideas that were shot down. A lot of jobs that I had I was over worked and under paid. I was taken advantage of. Some jobs sexually harassed. Some jobs verbally abused by my boss. I may have had a lot of jobs for my young age but I can say one thing for myself, I always took up for myself and spoke my mind. Employers hate employees like me. They don't like being questioned or challenged. Employers want you to come to work and just put up with whatever they throw your way and of course, keep your mouth shut. I just couldn't do that. That is not who I am.

So I began to see that I was simply not going to change and not because I don't believe in change, because I certainly do, but because I felt like this lifestyle was not right for me. People around me would say, "deal with it" or "that's life" and my response was always "maybe for you but not for me." Society has ingrained in us that we are to be slaves to a job and we are not to question it. Society has everybody thinking that this is how we have to live and that there is no other way. I called Bullshit on that whole thing. I knew there had to be another way. I was tired of feeling bad when I or my child was sick and I needed to take a day but was made to feel bad about it. I used to feel sick the night before I went to bed because I knew I had to go spend 40+ hours a week at a job that I hated, with people that were cruel, judgmental and could care less about me, for a measly amount of money per hour. I always seemed to have those jobs were I did everything for the boss. I answered phones, scheduled their meetings, organized their files, wrote their correspondents and letters, did their research and much much more. I could literally do their jobs for them. Yet, they made the big bucks. They got to come and go as they pleased. They got to take 2 hour lunches while I stayed behind to answer phones. I often thought, "why am I doing all the work so I can make this person richer?" I know that company owners all have secretaries and assistants to help them be more successful at their jobs and that is great. But I realized that I wanted to be the boss. I could do it. I did do it.

The older I got, the bolder I got. The more I learned at these jobs, the more confident I was that I could do it on my own. The older I got, the less crap I would take from an employer. The last "job" I held was an office manager for a furniture company. I was real ballsy at this point in my life. The manager who had no kids and had no life outside of work (also a sexual harasser) would leave the doors unlocked after we were supposed to be close at 7pm in the evening and would expect me to stay late to check any left over customers out. Financing people for furniture and doing all the paperwork and scheduling deliveries is a lengthy process. How was it fair that I stayed an hour or two later to check out his customers, of which he could make hundreds of dollars off commission, just so I could make less than 30 dollars for my two hours? I knew why he wanted me to stay late but I wasn't going to. $30 wasn't worth my time when I had a small child to get home to. I started telling him NO. I am not staying late, but I will train you to check out your own customers or I will do it first thing in the morning. Needless to say, he did not like that. The more I stood up for myself, the crappier he treated me and the harder he made my job. I knew at this point, I could no longer do this. I was fed up and knew from experience that it would be this way no matter where I worked. No one should have to be harassed or abused at a job. It is just a job. Something that means absolutely nothing to me except a small paycheck. Maybe the rest of the world was okay living this way but I was not. I knew I was worth more and deserved more.

I knew I had to make a change and I prayed about it heavy, hard and consistently for over a month. I didn't want to find another "JOB". I didn't want to work for someone else for their pay and their hours ever ever again. I talked it over with my boyfriend who was deployed at the time and he agreed I should quit. I felt a complete peace come over me and I knew what I had to do. During my prayers, I felt like God was telling me to have faith in him. Of course, faith. God does say in the bible not to worry about tomorrow. He says I will provide for you today, so why worry about tomorrow. You can call it whatever you want, the universe, God or whatever but it is all in the same to me. I trusted and had faith that God would provide a way for me if I just followed my heart and stayed true to myself. So I did it. I quit my job. I should have been scared but I wasn't. I actually felt this release or this weight lifted off of me for the first time in years. I felt free. I didn't know what I was going to do but it didn't matter. I just trusted in God and that he would provide and I jumped.

Two years later, I am still surviving and I have started my own business. I have grown so much. I have spent a lot of time alone, reading, learning, growing closer to God and growing as a person in general. I have learned a lot about myself and what I am truly capable of. I may not make a lot of money but that is okay. Money had never been my motivation or what I was after in the first place. I wanted my time back. My time is worth so much more to me than money. I wanted my freedom. So it only seemed appropriate that I Started a company called The Freedom Co. I wasn't sure what my company would necessarily be about or what I would do, offer or make, but I knew what I wanted the foundation to be built on. Freedom. I continued to pray and ask God for guidance and ask him what he wanted me to do. I prayed and asked God what his will for me was. I believe that it isn't about what I want but what God wants. I thought I wanted a lot of things in my life, only to find out I was wrong. But when I let God be in control of my life and when I tried to fulfill God's will for me, everything worked out so much better. God knows my heart better then I do and he knows what I need better than I do. God always provided for me in some way or another. I never knew how I was going to pay my bills, but they always got paid. It was my faith that kept me going and trusting that today I had everything I needed and I did not worry about the next day. I know releasing control is hard for some people and especially for me. I am a control freak and I honestly don't allow anyone to have control in my life. But God, God is the one being that I have no problem completely giving control to. He has never let me down and I can't imagine trying to do it all on my own. I lay it all at His feet.

After about a year of tinkering with different ideas and trying different things and doing odd jobs here and there to support myself, it finally came to me. I wanted to make natural beauty products. Products that were "FREE" of harsh chemicals and unnatural ingredients. See how this is all coming together. Why not? I had a background in baking and natural skincare. I also realized that all these jobs and hobbies that I had done were actually for a reason. I knew how to bake and make recipes. It came natural to me. I knew a lot about skincare and natural products from working at the day spa and my training at Aveda. I knew a lot about how to run a company and all that it Intel's, from all the office jobs I ever had. I finally realized that everything happens for a reason and nothing is a mistake. I was grooming myself to own my own company all of these years and never realized it until now. Everything that I had ever learned from all the jobs I ever held were only setting me up to be successful at running my own business. I always knew I wanted my own business and I have started several different businesses on the side, aside from my regular job. But none of them ever worked out and I was never truly in charge. I make my own products now. I make an amazing lip balm. I was surprised at how good it actually came out. It is the best lip balm that I have ever used and not just because I make it, but because it really is. If it wasn't great, I would have kept trying until I got it right. I felt divinely inspired to do what I am doing now. I do it all on my own. My business is still small, but that is okay. I am growing and I will keep trying and won't quit.

My goal is not to make a lot of money and be filthy rich. All I want is my freedom and when I say that I mean, I want my time. I want to know that If my babies are sick that I don't have to ask permission to stay at home and take care of them. If I need to get personal stuff done, I can take the day. If someone needs me, I have the time to help. If I want to go on a vacation, I don't have to get approval. I could go on and on about what freedom really means to me but I think you get it. The Freedom co isn't just about making all natural, chemical free products but it is about any kind of freedom for myself. It is a way for me to do something that I am good at and feel good about myself for doing it. It is a way for me to give back and If my business gets really big one day then I plan to do more and maybe offer people the same opportunity to have a little more freedom in their lives. I plan to do good things with my business. I know people say that all the time but I really do.

I you take away anything from reading this, I hope it is that you know that you are worth more. Have faith in yourself and most importantly have faith that God wants more for you. God wants you to be happy and do what makes you happy. Have faith. never quit. Trust that as long as you are provided for today, then there is no need to worry about tomorrow. Believe in yourself and let God move you. Let God guide you and allow him to work in your life. I think God just wants to know that I trust him and If I ever waver in my trust, It shows in my life. I know that it is easier said than done, but for me it wasn't a choice. It is what I had to do and now I know it is the right way for me and the only way for me. Jump. Take a leap of faith and see what happens. No matter what, it will be okay and the world will not come to an end. You might just find out you are made of a lot more than you give yourself credit for.

If you are interested in trying out my lip balm and/or learning more about the product you can check out my Lip Balm Page on my blog and it also has a link to my Etsy shop where you can purchase your own. It really is theBalm. Blessing to you all and good luck in your endeavors.

Ideas to save money and make a little extra

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I don't know If I am going to have enough money to pay all my bills this month" or  "I really want that new swimsuit I saw at Victoria's Secret but I just don't have the extra cash to spare this month"? I think most of us can relate to not having enough money every month whether it be simply to pay the bills or just buy something nice for yourself or someone you love. It seems like no matter how little or how much money we make there is never enough after the bills get paid. If you are like me and ask yourself these questions from time to time (it's a lot more for me) then you probably wonder how you could get your hands on a little extra cash.

When it comes to dealing with money and finding ways to make a buck or two in a time of need, I seem to have a gift. I have to give credit to God. I trust the Lord will provide for me and low in behold, he never fails me. God never lets me down when I put my unwavering faith and trust in him. I know that may not be the same for everyone but that is okay. That is how I choose to live. We don't judge here. Back to the gift... I feel like God inspires me with ideas and a creative personality, which help me to come up with crazy ways to provide for myself and family. Takes for instance this blog. ( It's a way to make money) I love to talk and write. It's a win win. I quit my job two years ago to start my own business and work for myself. You would think that would be a hard decision, but for me it was not an option and after several months of prayer and meditation on the matter, I had complete faith that the Lord would make a way for me and that I was doing the right thing. Two years and several business adventures later, I am still doing okay and managing to survive as a stay at home mom. I don't make a ton of money but I do manage to make a living by being creative and making smart decisions when it comes to saving, spending and making money.

This is by no means about getting rich. Getting rich usually takes time, planning and a lot of  hard work. These ideas are for the average person who needs to make some modest extra money.

Get Creative and Crafty

If you have any bit of creativity in you then you should utilize it. There are so many crafts, projects and artisan products that you can make to sale at a craft show, farmers market or a specialty site like Etsy. Let me help you get your creative juices flowing by giving you some examples. If you like jewelry you can make your own unique jewelry line and sale it at craft shows or online. I have dabbled in this area a bit and I do enjoy making my own pieces. It is also a way to save money on buying your  jewelry and what a great way to advertise your very own line of one of a kind, handmade pieces of art. There are many tutorial videos online that can help you learn the trade if you need a little practice and sometimes the local craft stores may offer jewelry making classes for a small fee. It's worth looking into. You can make your own jams and jellies and sale them at the local farmers market. If they are good enough products then you could talk to the local grocery stores about trying them out on the shelves if you are looking to go big. Hey, it's worth a shot. There are an endless amount of crafts and handmade items that one can specialize in from candies and pastries to clothing and furniture. You don't even have to make the furniture. I have been known to refinish or repurpose FREE furniture pieces that were given to me and then turning around and selling them for a profit. People are always looking to get rid of furniture for free if you are willing to just take it off their hands. Swallow your pride and take the old beat up table and chairs. It may look like a Goodwill find now but when you are done with it, it's going to look like an expensive vintage treasure. You could easily make a couple of hundred bucks on doing this alone. The creative ideas are starting to flow freely now, aren't they?


Blogging and Freelance Writing

Blogging is a very popular trend these days. Kind of. Writing has been around from the beginning but blogging in particular is a new way of being heard and expressing one's self. There are lots of ways to make money by blogging from advertisements to sponsors and many more. You can do freelance writing for the local paper or online papers and contributor sites like Yahoo or Examiner. There are really tons of things to write about and endless opportunities to get yourself heard and paid if you just look for them and do a little research. If you can think of a topic to write about there are always some like-minded people out there who wants to read about it. Writing can also be very therapeutic and relaxing. If you are into that sort of thing!

Secret Shoppers, Taking Surveys and Testing Products

It can be hard to find a good secret shopper job but they are out there. I have been a secret shopper a time or two. I honestly didn't make much money but it is a way to eat out modestly and get reimbursed for it. Also most companies reward loyalty. If you do enough shops for a company and submit your reports consistently on time they are more likely to offer you more jobs. Plus it's fun. A little tip, you will never have to pay a fee to be part of a legitimate secret shopper job. If you are asked to pay to sign up it is probably a scam. Be aware. If you have the time and you like taking surveys then you should look into different websites that specialize in survey taking. Again, there are many survey companies out there and it can be hard to find one that is actually worth the time, but you can find them if you look and always make sure to read the fine print before you go spending hours taking survey after survey. Again, you should never have to pay a fee to be part of these surveys. I love to cook. I love gadgets and do-hikkies and thingamabobbers. So naturally I am part of a company who sends me products to test out, rate and review. As long as I am doing my part and rating the products, I get to keep them. It's like shopping for free. There are several different kinds of product testing opportunities out there if you are lucky enough to get in on the action. Good luck in your search.

Barter Service

Straight up, this is strictly professional. Don't get any ideas. We all have something to offer and the Lord commands that we help thy neighbor. So trading services, whichever they may be, is a great way to fulfill our brotherly duty as well as get stuff done for little to no money. Let me give you some examples of services that can be bartered between family members, neighbors, friends, etc. Let's say that you are a single mom and you need your yard mowed but don't have the money but you happen to be a guru in the kitchen. You can arrange to have a neighbor mow your yard in exchange for a dinner for their family homemade by you. People don't always think about these little things. I would never say that if you provide a service that someone always must return the favor. That is not what doing favors Is about. In this instance, it is important to have an open dialog about the transaction and expectations before moving forward. Communication is always important and this keeps the situation on the right track and no one gets let down or upset. A few more example of services to trade are tree trimming, house cleaning, picking up someone else's kiddos, running errands, grocery shopping and really anything that you can help someone out with. If you think about it from a helping aspect, it makes it much easier to think of things we can do for each other. We all win in this one.

Work From Home Jobs

If you have the discipline to work from home and are lucky enough to find a good position then you can save a lot of money in gas and childcare.  Working from home isn't for everybody. You do have to have a certain level of discipline and good time management skills. If you happen to have these qualities then this is a great way to make some decent money from home. There are transcriptionist and medical billing and coding jobs. I have come across different internet data positions where you work on making the internet better by going through tons of data and make sure the users are able to find the proper information in their internet search. I had a modest but regular job a while back of posting ads for various companies on certain advertisement sites. It was an extra $100 a month. Everything helps. If you are willing to do some research you can probably find a pretty sweet gig on the internet, but beware of the scammers. They are everywhere and they are ruthless. Always be cautious and good luck hunting.

A Newspaper Route

I know I know. You're saying, "this is really old school and only kids do paper routes." Actually a paper route can put a good chunk of change in your pocket. It is a job that is a little more time consuming but if you aren't looking for anything with a big commitment then this could work. I don't know the exact schedule of how things work, but if you are interested it is worth some research. You would have to be up early to drop off papers before everyone else wakes up, but then you get to go back home. You don't even have to ride a bike anymore. You can sit in the comfort of your own car with the heater on, in your jammies and drinking a cup of coffee. Sounds pretty good to me. Check it out.

Couponing

This is a great way to save a little money and possibly a little more if you are hardcore. Have you seen the shows? Basements stockpiled with rows of free goods. Heck yeah. There is a method and system to being an extreme couponer. If you have the time and organization skills then this could really be beneficial for you and your family. I don't know the legalities of it, but you could always resale items from your stockpile to family and friends at a lower cost. If you are a blogger then you would have endless amounts of free giveaways. I have seen people go to the grocery store and leave the register without having to pay a dime and sometimes the store manages to have to pay them  a modest few dollars. That's crazy. Those people are really good at it though. Couponing can not only save you money if done properly, but it can even make you a little money too.

I hope these ideas have sparked some ideas for you to save a little or make a little extra money. There really are an endless amount of ways to save and to make some extra cash. All it takes is some creativity and a will to get the best deal for your time. Get a journal or notebook and write down your ideas when they pop into your mind. Do a little research and see what you can come up with. I know you can do it. Happy hunting!