New Career Opportunities

So, in my never-ending quest to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, I made the decision (and the investment) to open my own business. Yep, I now have the opportunity to make unlimited amounts of money with only working a few hours a week. Yeah, right. Who thinks up these weird little catch phrases?

My new business? I've become a distributor for Slumber Parties. Yes, that's right. I now sell sex toys and novelties to the masses via home shows. It's actually quite fun and I have a good profit margin.

The problem? Making time in my life to drum up business. I'm kind of busy as it is, what with a full time job and pretty much full time school, and then to add the start of a new business on top of it? Well, needless to say, there is now officially always something to do!

You never realize until you actually start doing something how much it really costs. There was the expense of the initial kit from the company, then there's the requisite tax and business licenses from the city and state, then there's the cost of things like pens and lapboards and presentation materials. Not to mention paying for demo products and then there's inventory. The nice thing (for the customer and for the seasoned distributor) about this company is that when you attend one of these shows and make a purchase, you get to take home the items that night. This is a completely different philosophy from most other home show businesses. Usually, you go to a party, spend money and then wait to get your stuff. So, why is this bad for the new distributor? Because you have to invest in inventory, and when you've already shelled out for the kit and all the aformentioned stuff, your funds are very low. Now, all of my other "slumber sisters" (as we all affectionately refer to each other as) are very sympathetic to my plight, because they were all in my shoes at some point, and advise to just build slowly. And that's the truth, and it will work. But it still will make the first few parties a little awkward - what with all of my literature touting that the ladies can take their stuff home that night - and me actually having to correct that and say, "but I'm new, so. . ."

I'm not too worried - I have 4 parties for the month of March (only one short of my goal, and it's still February) and three possible recruits (it is, afterall, pretty much a pyramid scheme, and I'll make even more money if I have people under me). So, I'm very encouraged and looking forward to having more time to devote to this after I graduate in May. Have I ever mentioned that I graduate this May?

I can take a hint!

At several points in my life, I have taken different apptitude tests that tells a person the type of career that they should go into, based on their interests, personality, temperment, etc. I took one in 5th grade and it said either a lawyer or a veterinarian. Well, a lawyer sounded boring, so I started to get interested in being a vet. Until I watched my dog's vet do a procedure on my pooch, and I immediately decided that wasn't for me.

Then, in 8th grade, I took another one (you know all about these - your school makes you take them every few years). This one said a lawyer or a teacher. Lawyer still = boring, so I started to think about being a teacher, but I was told by several people that I wasn't good enough in school to be responsible for other people (even though I made honor society that year), so that idea went out the window.

My senior year of high school, I took an in-depth apptitude test, roughly 300 questions. This one reported back that I should go into the performing arts, or into law. Well, my mom convinced me that there was no way that I was smart enough to be an attorney, but the parentals also made an appointment to meet with the school counselors to deter them from encouraging me into a music career. The counselor told them that based on my scores, that I should consider being an attorney in the music industry. This enraged my mother and she left the office in a huff.

Well, I decided to go to school to become a paralegal with the intention of having that serve as a bit of pre-law. I LOVED the classes. But alas, the job market was very tight and I never got a job as a paralegal. So, I worked a series of jobs that I never really liked, including the insurance industry and several different stints as an admin. None of this to my liking at all.

So, recently, I've been trying to decide what to do with my history degree that I will be getting in May. I've thrown the idea of law school out to a few different people and they have all been terrifically encouraging. So, I checked out a book called "Do What You Are". Another in a long line of apptitude-type things. And guess what? This book points out that I would be good in law enforcement, or, even better in law school. Are we sensing a theme yet?

So, here's the kicker! I'm out there on the big huge internet, where I happen upon several fun little apptitude tests to see what kind of higher education degree I should get. Know what this goofy little thing said?

Here ya go:

Yep - once again, a lawyer. Think I should start listening to the signs, and ignore the dissenting opinions? Only one person, one, that I've ever told about my interest in being an attorney (besides my mom, but I think her reasoning was based on the "dream big, possibly crash and burn big" philosophy) had flat out told me that it's a bad idea. I think he didn't get accepted to law school.