Lemonade in a Pandemic
“Loving God, today, I continue my new journey. A journey that began with a yes. A yes to choosing a job and it choosing me.”
In May 2018, I was laid off from my job. It was the second time in my career that I could not leave a role on my own terms.
The funny thing about this layoff was that I secretly prayed for it, not for the dismissal but for something different. I wanted my life to switch up or spice up. I wasn’t specific in my prayers, but I knew I no longer could deal with the pressures that came with my workload and low pay nor the anxiety that I had every 6-months when revenue was down, and I would hold my breath to see if I would survive another layoff.
Prayers were answered, just not how I envisioned.
So I sent an SOS to my peers, frantically trying to figure out my next move. Every one of them said breathe. Take the time to figure out what’s next. I didn’t find that helpful. I appreciated how much faith people had in my abilities to be an entrepreneur, but honestly, I never was about that life.
However, I decided to attempt to embrace entrepreneurship full-time. Maybe I’d write a book. Perhaps I’d write a TV pilot. Maybe…
From the outside looking in, many of you thought I was thriving. I was taking L2L on tour, traveling each month, getting speaking engagements and writing more articles. I’m not going to lie, it was great, but with that came sacrifice. That sacrifice was my independence. I lived with my parents. My income was sporadic, which didn’t help with savings, I could not pour into L2L to help with growth, and my health changed and medical bills became a norm.
It was at this point when I realized I don’t like the freelance/trying to be an entrepreneur life. I love having something I can count on consistently. Every quarter, I’d have a meltdown and this panic to land a job. I continued to apply for jobs narrowing down to what I would want to do, content management. For the first time in 2019, I saw D&I content marketing roles pop up at tech companies. The job description was L2L in a corporate setting. It was ideal for me, but once again, I had a difficult job search.
After the 2019 L2L tour, my dad handed me a newspaper and told me a call center was hiring. I knew he was tired, and it was his way of him saying you got to get something. I cried my way through the application, but within a week, I heard my first “yes.” While training for the role, I interviewed to be a HelloFresh ambassador. I got my second, “yes.” I needed those yeses more than you know. I started selling meal-kits and gained health benefits, and it provided flexibility to write. I never planned to tell anyone that I was selling meal-kits. It wasn’t shame, because no one could look me in the eye and tell me I haven’t tried my best. I knew where I’d been. I had hope for where I was going. However, admitting that it was my way of life was more of a disappointment that my greatness was untapped. COVID-19 hit, and HelloFresh became the most steady source of income, but now I had to rely on my network to continue working there. (Thank you to those who supported me during that time.) It was the most humbling experience. Then something happened that put everything in perspective.
In May 2020, I received a job offer for a branded content role in the middle of a pandemic.
Wow. (sheds tears)
Two years later, and it finally happened.
I did not do anything different in my outreach, interview, resume, or follow-up. This role was truly meant for me.
I wish I could explain my career journey thus far. I wish I could tell you actually why I had a hard time. People will say to you to hold out and wait, but be realistic. You can do what you need to do and make room to pursue what is perfect for you. These last 2-years have taught me to put your best foot forward even if it’s not your ideal role or company. Sometimes you have to do what’s best for you at the moment. The minute I humbled myself, things started to turn around.
I’m not at my ideal company, but I’m in my ideal role. However, I’ve regained a new hope in what I see so many people achieve. There is a right fit for you somewhere. Whether it’s a job or entrepreneurship, the opportunity will be perfectly made for you.
I’m no longer that young, bright-eyed woman who moved to the Big Apple and was hit with 100 interviews in 8 months. I’ve moved past it, but I know it’s a small part of my story. I’m ready for my next chapter and what’s to come.
I’m making lemonade.