Happy “Don’t Go To Work Unless It’s Fun Day!” Think I’m kidding? Just Google it. In honor of April 3, I wanted to spend some time chatting with you about careers, and how I feel about them.

 

I grew up in a family that encouraged pursuing a career that provided a stable, reliable income. Which is completely understandable- your parents wanting you to have a safety net and be secure- makes sense, right? Well I was always the oddball, it never made the least bit of sense to me if you weren’t doing something you loved. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the idea of pursuing a career that will always give you job security with a healthy, steady paycheck. It’s completely logical (so how could you not understand that mindset?!), but that was never what I was chasing, and it wasn’t until my mid 20’s that I really accepted that about myself and started meeting others just like me.

 

Let me give you a little background: I’ve been working steadily since I was 13 years old. I have consistently had a job for, what is now, over half of my life. Not until this year, after 14 years of doing jobs I didn’t enjoy just to get a paycheck, I am finally doing what I love. Believe me, it’s not easy- the entrepreneur life is really not as glamorous as Instagram makes it look. It is hard. It’s long hours, almost too much alone time, and a whole lot of learning about the technical and legal sides of running a business that most of us do not find fun… but the flip side of that? Feeling like I’m finally, truly, living my life for ME and only me. There are no words to describe how incredible that feeling really is.

 

So, I wanted to write this blog as a sort of letter to anyone out there who is unhappy in their job but scared to venture into an “unsecure” job path. I’ve been in your shoes. I know how you feel and, let me tell you now that I’m on the other side, I couldn’t imagine ever going back.

 

Maybe your dream job is a promotion in your current office. Maybe it’s going back to school to get a degree in a completely different field. Maybe it’s working for yourself. Or maybe you want to be an actor or something in the arts. Whatever it is that you feel your soul is calling you to do, don’t ignore it. Look y’all, I have my own set of beliefs as far as religion goes, but I also know that we don’t *really* know what happens when our time is up. As far as we know, this time we have right now- that’s all we get. Why would we want to spend it doing something we aren’t happy doing? Because society tells us we need to? Because your friends or family or partner is pressuring you to because it’s what they think is best?

 

I’ll be honest, it took me YEARS to work up the courage and skillset to get to this point, and do I have it all down? Heck no. Thank God for my assistant Sarah because, without her, I am not sane and things 100% slip through the cracks. I’m also figuring out a lot of it as I go, and THAT’S OKAY. Just like it’s OKAY if you’re not ready to pursue a career you love. It is OKAY that you’re still daydreaming about that day. It takes time. Everyone talks about “taking the leap”… well let me tell you I “took the leap” over a very long, slow, and exhausting 5 years. I’m not here to paint a pretty picture for you, but I am here to tell you that you can do it. If you feel that nagging in your soul to chase after something you love, or something you are passionate about, don’t ignore that because, to quote my girl Joanna Gaines, “the world needs who you were made to be”.

 

So there you have it, that’s my inspirational post for the week. If you need permission to chase your passion, I am giving you permission. If you need a sign to show you that the universe is guiding you somewhere- this is that sign. If you need a reminder that you can 100% do this, I am telling you without a single doubt, YOU CAN. If you need to know that it’s okay if you’re not ready, that is okay! More than anything, don’t forget that this life is yours- so go live it doing what you want to do with it. And if it’s not fun, don’t go to work today!

Happy April 3rd, Friends!

 

XO,

Paige