Working 9 to 5

Haven't done this in a minute. There's been a lot going on. Since my last post, I've gotten a job, started the job, and considered quitting the job! A lot in a little over a month right? I was offered a position December 11, 2007 with a non-profit in Chicago. I get to work on behalf of youth and I love it! The job falls perfectly in line with the purpose I have chosen for my life, but the challenge of being back in the workforce is present as well.

I told myself I always had options, but what I found in the past 2 years is that there are things I am simply not willing to do again. Having been down that road, I have no desire to return, so now what? This is my first time since college working for a major corporation. I was having flashbacks of my time as an engineering intern and General Motors and wanted to run screaming from the building. The thought of a life of cubicles, water cooler gossip, and all the bullshit that goes along with a JOB got me scared. Then I remembered why I wanted a job in the first place. I missed being with people. I wanted steady income so I could get move forward on some of my other goals like real estate investing and traveling the world.

Yes I have some very real reasons for going back into the workforce and more specifically for working in the youth-focused non-profit sector. I am learning for my next big thing! So despite the fact that I was livid about having to go to work everyday last week when I felt like hell, and being angry that I spent all day today in bed trying to finish recovering, I am still happy about my new life as an employee. Mostly because I get my first check Tuesday.

5 Year Plan

In five years I will be 34 years old. I will be in a long-term committed relationship. I will have started my HBCU endowment foundation to improve facilities at Historically Black colleges. I will be managing my successful business empire consisting of Entertainment, Media, Events and Real Estate divisions. I will have the ability to travel the world and continue to generate wealth for myself while on extended vacation. I will be preparing to start a family and have a house or residence on three (3) different continents. I will be fluent in Spanish and working on my third language (no ebonics doesn't count). I will have at least two (2) dream vehicles that are cool to drive & look at, but that are also fuel efficent and environmentally friendly. One of my homes (also environmently friendly) will be isolated near a body of water for when I want to get away from it all and relax. - declared April 1, 2005

April 1 - 3, 2005 I took a 3-Day Real Estate Investment Seminar. This was approximately 1 month before I quit my job and decided to strike out on my own. The plan was to use the Real Estate to supplement my income while I built my Event Planning business. I got scared. FEAR is a muthaf*cker, and can really destroy your life if you let it stop you. Anyhoo, a year and a half later, I am ready to do this, so I pulled out my notes (I keep everything and take copious notes) to review and I found my "5 Year Plan" it was an exercise they had us do in the seminar to help us focus and figure out why we're doing this. My plan hasn't changed much, and I am on track! Its good to put it out here like this because I want to be held accountable to myself. So I officially give anyone who reads this the right to check me and call me out if I start losing focus.

If you don't have a 5-year plan I reccomend you you get one ASAP!