This is an archived posting from my previous website “Chips Antidotal Wanderings” – a personal blog about family, creative moments, and pain management activities in my life. That blog was active from 2004-2011.

I have held off on posting my thoughts about this for a while as I have been struggling to get my hands around a final decision.  Our youngest daughter leaving the nest and moving onward with her life has freed up more time and energies for me to pursue some career changes that have been on hold – just waiting for this time in our lives.  Wahoo! 😀  Changes are on the horizon and are already being put into place.  I’m going back to working for myself again!

My GS World

I’ve been working for the government as a data Analyst/IM Specialist far too long.  I’ve enjoyed the ride and the comfortable paycheck that goes with it too.  But I have missed (so very much) the entrepreneurial world I left ten years ago.  Making the decision to shoot out on my own again isn’t what I’ve been struggling with.  That has always been part of the master plan.  When I sold our consulting business to my partner in 1996, it was with a great deal of hesitation.  I feared I wouldn’t be able to “make it” in the government work world.

You see I’m not a very corporate minded person.  A career in government doesn’t hold any “tickle” or sense of inner joy for me.  It does hold learning opportunities and a steady paycheck along with a juicy benefit package as well.  All things that I knew would make life more comfortable for my family. As it has turned out, during my time as a public servant I’ve worn several different hats, all within the path of a Data Analysis/Program Management with an IM Specialty attached.  Each turn around the bend afforded me new opportunities for both personal and career growth.  Each offered me the same or higher pay.  Each an adventure that proved to be one I was not just capable of meeting  – but always exceeding the expectations and goals.  So I was wrong about fearing I couldn’t hack in this career field.  It’s actually quit easy.  Much easier than I ever thought it would be.  Although there have been challenging moments I’ve experienced along the ride – it hasn’t been enough of a challenge to satisfy my inside yearnings and I’m happy the ride is coming to an end in (hopefully) the very near future.

Self Employment Again?

Maybe it’s due to the entrepreneurship of my parents and the household I grew up in.  Maybe it’s just a gut feeling thing.  I’m not sure.  But I have always known that I’m a small business type of gal who prefers not to get wrapped up in the political battles that play out in the corporate world.

Working for me is what leaves me feeling satisfied, the most comfortable, and the happiest.  It’s the work environment that I “thrive” in.  So I knew and planned ahead to approach my job with the government as just that – a long term, but temporary job.  Not a career.

Knowing that after my kids left the house I could return to my true calling.  Self employment has always held a sense of dare-devilness to it; a sense of adventure and most importantly a place where I can be creative.  Honestly, I think it’s the free-flowing creative side of things that’s the root of my inner drive in this direction.  There’s never been any doubt that the lack of financial stability is the only thing that has kept me away!!!

 Which brings me back to the first thought I shared with you – my decision struggles.  The things that I’ve been tossing around in my head and trying to decide is what, specifically, I want to do as an independent, now that “my time” is here again.  For months now I’ve been toying with ideas and researching various avenues in planning my career move.  Two very prominent goals and one pain-in-the-butt requirement stand at the base of my final career path decision.

The Brass Tacks

Some of the important things I’m looking at as I make these decisions: The bulk of my daily activities must allow me unlimited opportunities for self-driven expressions of creativity.  Then there’s also the very real requirement (that I totally hate) for my new career to be conducive to what my health will allow.  Because pain management plays a constant role in my life – it simply can’t be ignored.  Dam it!  I wish pretending it wasn’t there was an option.  However it isn’t and it sucks that this fact is a driving factor in so many life decisions.

So with those two factors in mind I’ve just about made up my mind on which new path to take.  But since this has turned into a much longer post than I expected, I believe I will wrap it up today with the message that – I’m happy.  I’m excited.  I’ve got some mojo working inside me like I haven’t felt in a very long time!  I’ve got my career options laid out in front of me and I’m thinking seriously about jumping into a new adventure.  What will it be? Tune in next time when this story really begins to unfold in the continued series of Chips Antidotal Wanderings.

ROFLOL – oh don’t you just hate those sequel shows that continue right when it’s at the peak of excitement?

~Cindy

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