<h3>Doing What I Love</h3>

Almost two years ago I set out (again) to be a writer.  With three of four children in school either full or part time, I was more determined and enthusiastic than ever to immerse myself in the career and life I felt most comfortable in.  

So...first I needed goals.  They were (in their most rudimentary form) as follows:

Writing goals:  

(1) Get freelance writing website up and running again
(2) Re-establish my writing business - line up some work

(3) Blog regularly

(4) Edit my book

(5) Publish my book (four and five were long term, but still important goals).

(6) Write, write, write

What really happened?

Well, I did start that website, but instead of writing, somehow my life and career took an unexpected turn.  If someone would have told me two years ago that I would immerse myself in a career in sales, I'd never have believed it.  Really.  Never.  But that's exactly what happened.  About two weeks into setting up my website, I received an email from a family friend asking me if I'd be interested in working as a sales manager for their rapidly growing company, AcousticSheep, LLC.

I was a little torn at first because I knew I wouldn't be able to pursue those writing goals as I had planned, but the product was so awesome and the owners so inspirational, that I couldn't turn it down.  Our CEO, Dr. Wei-Shin Lai, invented SleepPhones in 2007 to solve her own need for comfortable headphones to help her get back to sleep after late-night emergency calls.  See the SleepPhones Story here.

The position was only part time, but I knew I couldn't juggle the demands of a part-time job, being a full time mom, and still be able to funnel the time and energy I would need to reestablish myself in the writing world.  Yet I took the job, and I have never for one moment regretted it.

Over the last 18 months, I've had the pleasure of learning and growing in so many more ways than I ever would have imagined I could - especially in such a short period of time.  It's taken me out of my comfort zone because, let's just be honest here, I didn't know the first thing about sales.  I knew nothing about margins, distribution, price points, Incoterms and so on.  

And I love it!!!  I'm so blessed to be able to work with great people, both within my company as well as those from all over the country and world!  I get to sell a product that's absolutely amazing (and changing lives every day, I might add).  One of the coolest things?  I'm writing every single day - just not quite in the way I was expecting. 

My goals?  Well, they still exist.  I pick up writing when I can - as time and desire allows for it.  Crazy enough, I still get article requests from some of my favorite clients, and I write for them.  And I'm reminded that no matter what path my life takes me on, I am doing what I love and loving what I do.  I'm still a writer - every single day.  I am thankful!