Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
On my 30th birthday, I felt it was an apt opportunity to reflect on the past decade, and especially the last year of my life. Before you click away in the expectation of a reflection that only a few select people will care about, stick with me as this is a story of curvy paths and peaks and valleys leading to eventual clarity and unshakeable belief.
Honestly, I had sat down to write a completely different blog article that I’d already outlined and planned out, but it dawned on me that this particular blog would be posted on my 30th birthday. So this blog is coming completely from the heart without any planning or outlining. We’ll see how it goes…
So what has the last decade taught me….
Curvy paths really are more fun
Throughout my 20s, I was afforded the opportunity to experience many different roles. While I was in college, I was part of the sports medicine team while also getting to pursue my degree in accounting. After that, I began to pursue a career in teaching only to end up back in the business world. In the corporate world, I was fortunate to be able to serve in a variety of roles in corporate finance, operations, and project/program management.
At 28, I decided I needed a corporate break, worked at a local small business, and decided soon enough that the break would be more than a break and that I’d be starting my own business in writing and coaching.
I’ve spent the past year building up my writing and coaching business, and while it seems like it really gained traction in the last couple of months, this traction was really the culmination of the efforts from the past year but also the years of experience beforehand.
You may wonder if I regret my degree in accounting, my brief stint with teaching, my Masters in Finance, my Project Management Professional certification, or all of my corporate experience. My answer would be absolutely not.
From those opportunities, I gained a wealth of valuable and relevant experience that I wouldn’t have gained had I tried to start my own business straight away. Not only that, I had the privilege of meeting some people who have been and continue to be incredibly impactful on my life. In my eyes, all those curves were exactly what I needed to start building my foundation.
Forge your own path
Society is riddled with expectations for you. And everywhere you look the expectations will be different. You may think that meeting expectations will make you happy, but in reality, you’re more likely to feel that you achieved something. Maybe you’re happy, but if meeting those expectations wasn’t really what sets your soul on fire, chances are slim.
The past couple of years I’ve taken forging my own path to a new level. I left my corporate job without another one lined up after having already earned two degrees and a professional certification, decided to start my own business in a seemingly unrelated field, build my own house as a single woman, and loved every minute of it.
It’s not instant though. It takes some time to become comfortable with not having to justify why you don’t have a corporate job or why you decided to build a house as a single woman. But let me tell you, once you put in the work and get past that, it is the most freeing feeling.
Only you know what makes you happy and the key is to create a life for yourself where you enjoy the entire journey, not just a destination that you visit for a point in time before setting the next destination.
My gratitude for the support that I have from those around me in forging my own path is incalculable.
It’s never too late
By the time I hit 28, I very easily could’ve resigned to the fact that I already was well-established and accomplished in the corporate world and had devoted a lot of time and money to the education and certifications that I earned. And I almost did.
I very vividly remember sitting and drinking a margarita at the base of Vail Mountain wishing that I could just move into the mountains, be a server, and escape the onslaught of emails that were still coming in despite the out-of-office message and all the other stress that I knew I’d be coming back to upon my return. This thought was quickly followed by the thought that I was being ridiculous and that corporate life was what I should be doing and what I was good at.
I owe my ability to clear my head to my corporate “break.” I was able to take a step back and assess what were really my priorities for my life. This is difficult when you’re in the heat of the battle.
While I don’t necessarily recommend my approach to creating the space and clarity, the point is that it is worth the effort to carve out that time to invest in yourself as you go through your busy daily life.
My point also isn’t that corporate is bad. I had some wonderful experiences there and was well taken care of. It just isn’t what suits me at this moment in my life. That’s what comes with creating the space for clarity though. You will know what you love and want to start creating for yourself!
Maybe you’re thinking, “28 is really not that late, but it’s too late for me.” But in my pursuit of this dream of my own writing and coaching business, I’ve encountered several other incredible individuals who have chased their dreams in almost every different decade of life, and I’d be willing to bet that they’d all tell you the same thing. It is never too late.
It is never too late to chase that dream, buy that house, be in that dream relationship… this list goes on and on. All you have to do is start taking those small steps toward your dreams that eventually add up to big leaps.
Getting off my soapbox
As I wrap up this impromptu blog, I’m quite sure that I’m missing several lessons that I’ve learned along the way, but I’m sure those will continue to make their appearances here so stay tuned.
Subscribe to my email list to see what I have in store for the decade ahead and to continue to hear what I’ve learned along the way. Cheers to 30!
Disclosure: I only recommend products/services I would use myself and feel might benefit you as well. This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.