The Way

Yesterday, the Laverne and Shirley  theme song popped into my head:

Give us any chance, we'll take it
Read us any rule, we'll break it
We're gonna make our dreams come true
Doin' it our way

I've never considered myself a risk-taker. At all. Yet, I took a big chance in December when I walked, no ran, away from a job with an organization that had proven it didn't value me as a person. The words flowing out of our top leaders' mouths tried to convince me I would be a "hero," but I felt more like a pawn in a chess match.

The first call I made, oddly enough, was not to my husband. It was to a friend who had boldly stuck both middle fingers in the air as she walked, no marched, away from a situation she didn't like to strike out on her own.

"Now will you come work with me?"  she implored.

She had been asking for a couple of years. We have a great synergy, and although I helped her with her venture for free throughout the summer the year prior and wrote blogs for her here and there, I had never been ready to leave the "stability" of my job at the district.

My next call was to John, who to my relief, gave me the "permission" I didn't have to have but needed nonetheless to quit.  I suddenly felt free, in control, when just minutes before, I felt like I had no say in the path my career would take.

Nothin's gonna turn us back now
Straight ahead and on the track now
We're gonna make our dreams come true
Doin' it our way

 Kathleen was ecstatic when I approached her about forming a partnership. I was excited, but admittedly a little anxious about the whole thing. Do I really want to be part owner of a business? Should I try to get a teaching job somewhere I wouldn't mind being? Should I go back to school? Could I swing just staying home?  

 I'm all about stability and following guidelines;  she's all about mixing things up and shattering rules. She is truly the Laverne to my Shirley.


I decided to throw caution to the wind and give this thing a whirl.

There's nothing we won't try
Never heard the word impossible
This time, there's not stopping us
We're gonna do it

 And we have. What we thought would be a chill little ACT/SAT prep company has grown into helping with college-level testing, especially, but not limited to, teaching certification exams. I had a vision of coaching students of all ages to instill the habits of successful students, and that part of the business has picked up. We have been invited to do a lecture series at a local college.

We have some pretty big visions now but have learned that no matter what picture we see,  being willing and able to pivot when opportunities arise is the key to success. Our business model is simple: fill the voids.

It's working so far.

On your mark, get set, and go now
Got a dream and we just know now
We're gonna make that dream come true
And we'll do it our way, yes our way
Make all our dreams come true
For me and you

 This got me thinking about other areas of my life. Then, I began thinking about friends who are struggling with major life-changing decisions.

Sometimes the universe sends you the dramatic slap in the face you need. More often, the messages are subtle.

Listen. Respond. Act.

You can make your dreams come true.

Most importantly, do it your way.
Yes, your way.



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