Peanut butter and bacon on toast might just be your next best thing!
Who ever came up with peanut butter and jelly really understood how flavors can compliment each other - salty, delicious, creamy peanut butter and sweet berry jam - smooshed together between two pieces of dense yummy bread - mmmmm mmmmm!
Then somebody came along and added something new (think weird) like bananas and marshmallow fluff! But you know what? It worked! Little something sweet - check! Little something rich - check! Same peanut butter - check! Yummmm.
My dad taught me about the all powerful, mouth watering, pinnacle of breakfast sandwiches - peanut butter toast with bacon! Before you go refusing to try it - I implore you to give it a go - it's one of my very favorite breakfast treats - trust me!
Thinking about these combinations & their evolutions into the next yummy iteration had me thinking about other things that shift over time - because we try something new, experiment with something similar, or go all out on something crazy that turns out to be the best thing on sliced bread.
Right now, we are living through the next evolution of so many things - and I think we are all feeling the shifts. Some feel the burden of caring for ageing parents, others have small children taking all their attention. Many of us have college tuition bills stacking up, or graduates with loans coming due. In spite of the low unemployment rate being reported, many people are looking for new jobs right now - in the throes of being unemployed, under employed or unhappy at their current workplace. There is a lot of change happening.
We all have a few choices when it comes to navigating the changes swirling around us. We can complain, we can remain stoic, we can cry, we can power through - but for most of us - sitting still and just letting the change swallow us up isn't an option. Well, maybe we can wallow and mope for a bit - but eventually we're going to have to find a way through.
About a year ago, I was deep into a stretch of unemployment after my role as head of corporate communications was eliminated. My unemployment benefits were over - severance was long gone, my second daughter was gearing up to start college, and in spite of applying to hundreds of jobs - I had no offers on my table. I was sad, feeling useless, and being consumed by rejection after rejection. My self esteem was garbage, and though I am an optimist by nature, I was experiencing some very low moments.
After a very casual conversation with an acquaintance in a swimming pool parking lot, I got serious thinking I could actually start working for myself. I began to believe I might just be able to start my own business doing what I loved. I had decades of experience - I had always been a hard worker. I was really good at each job I held - even the one I lost the year before. I dug into what I would need to do, did a ton of research (Google, the Ohio Secretary of State website, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, COSE, and more) - signed up for a few free workshops, and got myself and shiny new LLC.
Turns out, it's not that hard to get an LLC & it doesn't cost much to get started when you are offering a service-based business.
Hardin Heights Communications, LLC was born and I got started being an entrepreneur. This journey has been challenging - but you know what was harder? Feeling sad and mad and powerless! Once I got started - excitement started to build inside me. I got to work on some really cool elements of my new business; things like my website, a logo, core services, messaging. Launching was super fun and very scary!
Would anyone even see my announcement?
Were there actual clients that would hire me?
Did I have what it will take to make this work?
The answer was YES - everyone saw and each and every comment buoyed my confidence and made me feel GREAT about my choice.
Yes - there were clients that would hire me. A lot of them, actually!
YES - I have what it takes - because I decided it was time to stop being sad and helpless and DO SOMETHING!
And so far - the rest is history!
I am rapidly approaching my 1 year in business-iversary. I'll be posting more on that in July - because I have so many things to share and celebrate, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
So for anyone feeling low, struggling to figure out what's next in their world - don't be afraid to step into doing the next best thing for you. When I finally took that leap of faith it was because I realized doing SOMETHING was better than nothing. So what if it didn't work - it would be an experience I could enjoy while it lasted. And mostly it reminded me what if it DID WORK? What if it was the very best thing for me?
Only time will tell, but as of today I am perhaps the happiest I've ever been. My kids see it. My husband says it all the time. My friends can see the change in me.
TL; DR - Take the leap - doing something is better than waiting for life to happen to you. Don't be afraid to find your peanut butter and bacon sandwich!
