Change what you want or change what you do!

My district manager would be so proud that I am quoting her in my blog. Time for me to get on my little philosophical soap box for a moment and talk about careers, jobs and life! With the craziness of the economy, it is a good time for all of us to reflect on life. Some of you might be out of a job and looking for something new. Some of you might might have shorties that are going to school now and you are looking for something new to do during the day. Whatever your stage in life, it is always good to do a check to make sure you are doing what you want to do. Another great quote from an AMAZING movie...Revolutionary Road, it takes a lot of backbone to live the life you want.

And I know, I am single and it is easy for me to say that since I don't have to support a family. But let me tell you a story...long, long ago when I was married, I started teaching Jazzercise in 1998. And it was a side job for me, a way to stay fit and earn extra money because I was teaching for another owner. I had my biggest F*%# YOU fight with my now ex-husband over future careers. You see, at that time, I was in school getting my MBA in Marketing and I told him that I wanted to open my own Jazzercise Fitness Center someday. It really didn't matter to me if it was before or after we had a family. He couldn't understand why I wouldn't want to be the VP of Marketing for a company, I mean, why would someone want to get their MBA if they didn't want to be a VP??? OH and he also told me I was the most selfish person in the whole world, but that is beside the point. Well, of course, we know the answer to that question, (he didn't and it is ONE of the many reasons why we aren't married anymore) my MBA taught me how to run a business. This was in 1999.

When I got a divorce, I decided I wasn't going let anyone influence my future again, so I finished my MBA and became an owner of a small Jazzercise franchise in the city of Chicago. But my goal was always to be able to support myself off the Jazzercise business and not have a corporate job. So I continued to work, save some money, and look for a way to do it. In 2006, the opportunity finally came, I had a chance to purchase the largest franchise in Illinois, which I did. And I subsequently grew the business and opened not one, but two Jazzercise Fitness Centers and quit my corporate job in 2007.

Now, I am not going to sit here and tell you that it is so easy and that everything is coming up roses, because that is not true. The economy crashed about the time that I opened the second center and it is HARD financially (especially when you live in downtown Chicago, condo payments don't pay themselves and the cat is certainly not contributing to the family income). BUT I would rather be doing what I love..teaching Jazzercise for a living and providing an amazing program for women to meet their health goals, than making a lot of money, working a job that I don't like. I truly believe that I am doing what I am supposed to do! Plus I get to work with the most fabulous women, my associates, class managers and babysitters.

So here it is, ladies seriously, please make sure that your job is something that you LOVE doing. You spend more time doing that than anything else in your life, including spending time with family and friends. If you don't love what you do, CHANGE IT (change what you want, change what you do). And that change might not be easy, and it might take time and probably money, but isn't it so much better when you realize one of your life's dreams doing what you love? Make sure you have a family that supports it, but trust me, they will be happier if you are happier.

So here's to life and all the joy it brings (a Jazzercise song, BTW). Cheers and CIAO BELLAS!