Lost Her Job, Found Herself

When I started at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, I felt that I was back in high school with a new boss.  The work was challenging and in my position as a processor, I could do extra work to continue to achieve higher pay through getting my underwriting degrees.  I was making a good salary and bonuses like $1600 per month.  In 2004,  I was chosen as 1 of the 1000 Outstanding Wells Fargo Home Mortgage employees and my husband and I were given a Caribbean Cruise.   Life could not have been better.  I planned on working at Wells Fargo until I retired.

 Then something strange happened and it was only until the later part of 2008 that I finally figured out what occured.  A new manager was hired to my department in May of 2004.  I balked when she asked me to do something unethical. She looked me straight in the face and said that I was to do as I was told —no questions as things are busy and we have to complete things fast.

 The next day, I put in my two week notice. It seems so weird to think that in 2004 I knew something strange was going to happen with the mortgage industry and I did not want any part of it.  For years, I wondered what was going on and it was not until last year that it finally came out that these poor mortgage practices have caused financial hardship globally. 

During the two weeks, I read a lot of books and decided that I was going to find a fun job.  Since I had been making bonuses, I had money saved up.  I read a book called Making  a Living Without a Job by Barbara Winter.  It changed my life.

 I decided the one place that makes me most happy is being with dogs and cats.  In October of 2004, Aloha Pet Care, a dog walking and pet sitting service formed and it has been going great ever since.  I make twice the amount per year that I did when I worked for Wells Fargo and every day I feel fulfilled and joyful.

 In May of 2008, I finally got to meet Barbara Winter at a conference she put on for entrepreneurs called What Would the Entrepreneur Do.  It was all about creating that business for yourself that fulfills all of your needs.  Through this conference, I discovered my long desire to be a pet portrait artist and my new business, “Images to Smiles” was formed. 

 Aloha Pet Care is going strong and I had an Art Show at the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis on March 29th which will be a fundraiser for a pit bull rescue group.

 My passions of dogs, art, fundraising, and working with people have all come together in this new business.  Had I stayed at Wells Fargo, I would have kept being an employee and never would have found out who I am.

 Lisa Sellman, Pet Care Extraordinaire

Aloha Pet Care

 

Joyfully Jobless? Speak up

When Liz de Nesnera noticed the front page story in the New Jersey Star Ledger, she was excited. After she read it, however, she felt she wanted to get into the conversation. Here’s the letter she wrote in response.

I wanted to send you a note regarding your article “Wall St. survivors: Former financial executives reinventing themselves as entrepreneurs” which appeared in today’s Star Ledger. While I applaud the five people you featured, and wish them the very best in their new endeavors, I felt that your article was a bit skewed. Every person you wrote about bought into a franchise.

While this is one way to start your own business, it’s not the only way, nor is it necessarily the most feasible way for everyone who gets laid off. Those that get laid off may not have the $15,000, let alone $100,00 available to buy in.

I was laid off in May of 2005 from a job I held for 9 years. Like many of those you mentioned in your article, I decided that it was “now or never” for me to take that leap and go out on my own. As the primary caregiver to my mother who had a stroke 14+ years ago, I started a resource website for Caregivers  which I still maintain as a labor of love.

Then I went back to my love of voice over and recording and am now a successful a full-time freelance bi-lingual (English/French) voiceover artist with clients all over the world. After almost four years I can say that I am making a living, able to pay my bills and LOVE what I do! (You can see what I do and hear my demos at www.HireLiz.com) My initial investment of a website host, new computer, professional microphone, professional recording equipment and software, as well as the sweat equity of setting up my recording space and websites were MUCH less than the lowest $15,000-franchise-buy-in quoted in your article.

 With the help of friends I have made along the way, plus a lot of networking, joining relevant professional associations as well as online sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, I am living my dream of  being my own boss. Like many of those featured in your article I work long hours, but frankly it doesn’t feel like work because I’m passionate about what I do.

 I’m thrilled that the people you mentioned have found their niche. I just wanted to provide an alternate non-franchised perceptive  from someone who has been there, and is now happier than ever working for themselves.