Have you ever felt like God reached down and just slapped you upside the head? Did you do anything about it?
Recently I’ve been a little disgruntled at my day job. There have been a lot of changes and I’ve felt like my career has stalled. The dissatisfaction has been so deep that I’ve actually started sending out resumes. The real problem is that I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. I really don’t want to jump from one frying pan into another one.
Sitting around doing nothing to change my situation just isn’t my style. Sure, I may sulk a little bit but I firmly believe that when we’re faced with a situation we don’t like we have two options. 1) adjust our situation or 2) adjust our attitude. Typically I try to do a little bit of both.
Over the last few months I’ve shared with you my participation in an investment club (or as we like to affectionately call it The Mile High Club and no, it really isn’t what it sounds like). What I haven’t been able to go into details about though previously is we actually started a new blog called Chick Chat This and That. Be sure and check it out! These ladies have done a lot to motivate me!
On the professional front, the couple resumes that I sent out didn’t produce any results so I decided to adjust my attitude as well as branch out and try some other things to “round out my resume”. In addition to working with the “Chicks” on the new blog I started volunteering at our local domestic shelter and Habitat for Humanity.
Where does the head slap come in, I’m sure you are wondering. Here’s the deal. While working at a brat stand (if you don’t know what a brat is you can read about them here) for Habitat for Humanity I shared a batch of my cupcakes with my co-workers. Women that I’ve never met before. As they were oohing and aahing over how beautiful they were and how awesome they tasted one of the ladies looked at me and said “Do you sell these?” Ummmm – no! Where would I find the time to make them and who would buy them? I’m not in the cupcake business!
“You really need to sell these” she said “and I’ll tell you why. I need 200 cupcakes in a month and I want you to do them”. Huh? 200 cupcakes when I don’t even have a cupcake business. Yup, that was the first slap I felt.
Even though I poohed poohed the idea a little bit I did take her name and number. I felt the slap and while I thought I was going to ignore it I figured I better at least have a way to get a hold of the woman.
I”m sure some of you can relate to what comes next. A little bit of bargaining and “prove it to me”. I decided that if I could 1) find a commercial kitchen to rent 2) get licensed by the state 3) get everything else set up within one week I would take that as a sign that I was meant to do it. Come on, who really gets a state license in three days?
Yup, you guessed it. Monday I found a kitchen (right down the street from my day job) and it just so happened that the state inspector was going be there on Wednesday. The state inspector who was getting ready to leave for a two week vacation and who would be more than happy to see me and get me a license yet that week.
Ok, there was the second slap. A little bit harder that time. I think it may have been followed by a kick in the pants but I’m really not sure.
Soooo, guess who’s in the cupcake business? Within a month I’ve managed to get my business up and running. I’ve already done two shows, the dinner and booked a wedding. Oh yeah, I’m now looking for a location closer to home because, are you ready for this? Another baker approached me and wants to work with me.
I really don’t know what the future holds regarding the success of my little cupcake business but I do know this. During a time when I was dissatisfied with my life, all the pieces fell into place for a business that I’ve dreamed about but not felt motivated to start. At this point I guess all I can do is hold on and enjoy the ride!
I’d love to hear about a time when you too were slapped upside the head.
