Blog#1 - Side Hustles Becoming New Career

I've never been a crafty person, as I've never had the time, being essentially a single parent. My focus was on my kids, addressing their needs and concerns, and striving to be a good role model by pursuing my college education. Ultimately, this led to me earning a rewarding degree, which I was able to demonstrate to them.

After my children were grown, I pursued my dream job as a nurse. It took a few years because my kids continued to need financial support, which slowed me down. I initially attended college for a biology degree with the aim of becoming a doctor, but life's unexpected changes altered that path. Due to my age and my desire to care for others, besides my children, I set a new career goal: nursing.

I ultimately earned my Practical Nursing Certificate, obtained my license, and am now an LPN. I had to sacrifice a high paying, fulfilling career to achieve this. I realized that you can't have everything. I wished to retain that position while adding nursing to my qualifications, but it wasn't possible.

I work as a nurse, but I don't find it fulfilling, especially because of the politics involved. Nursing today feels like high school, with cliques controlling everything—it's just a job, not a career. To relieve stress from my dissatisfaction with this new career and family issues, I've discovered my true passion: being an artisan. I enjoy creating soaps, candles, lotions, creams, lip balms, bath bombs, and other products.

I've realized that I am highly skilled at crafting beauty products using the highest quality raw materials. Although I am inherently nurturing as a mother and grandmother, and I enjoy giving, I've observed that people love my products. However, I tend to give them away instead of selling them. To thrive in my new eCommerce business, I need to change this aspect of my nature. This doesn't mean I can't continue to use healthy, natural ingredients in my products. My focus for my products is on quality.