Read an Excerpt
Live Your DREAMS
By Jean Criss AuthorHouse LLC
Copyright © 2014 Jean Criss
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4969-1085-1
CHAPTER 1
DREAM IT!
(Think BIG)
I was always a fan of fashion and jewelry, my mom taught me to dress well with stylish clothing, designer labels and name brands. So after I had my two children—one was an infant, and the other was a toddler by now, I was in a failed marriage trying to keep my head above water when I realized ... 'there is more to life out there isn't there?'
I worked full-time in media and digital sales, traveled frequently, in and out of state, maintained our home, children, coordinated a live-out nanny, and commuted to two sales offices across two states weekly. Boston and NYC was my weekly routine at that time, and I traveled nationally on occasion, while managing an $18M technology magazine in advertising sales for a large national publishing company in Manhattan while living in Rhode Island (in between the two sales offices). The job required that I entertain clients weekly—over lunch, dinner, business meetings, breakfast meetings, and at industry events. I was used to the hustle and bustle of the days work and morning and evening traffic.
My spouse traveled weekly as he managed out-of-state beer distributors and key accounts for his employer, commuting to Connecticut, Boston, New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire primarily, with an occasional trip to the Midwest or down south on business. I often felt abandoned with all my household responsibilities but with my independent upbringing I managed and knew how to handle a home solo, almost like a solo-entrepreneur then, juggling the day job which goes with the territory of a working mom and persevered with the night job too. It's what most multi-tasking working women learn to do; you just seem to pull through.
So as I put my pedal to the metal and charged forward, I learned how to handle, most of this on my own. My family lived in the Midwest so it was primarily up to me to figure it all out. The daily schedule: day care, pre-school, after school activities, meals, doctor's appointments, etc. Family life was busy needless to say.
Since my family lived in the Midwest after I moved to the East Coast, and my in-laws were scattered throughout the Northeast, we had to figure it out. So while I could not rely on local family to pitch in to babysit or lend a helping hand with the kids, it became a stressful time with much responsibility for me. Though I hired many baby sitters and live-out nannies along the way, it still was exhausting.
During the early morning waking hours, I started a hobby to burn off some excess steam and energy! You might say what excess energy right? Well yes, I did yoga and Pilates regularly but I am not referring to that. I taught myself how to bead jewelry!
I became fascinated at the local retail stores with all the "baubles" and wanted to explore. As I mentioned, I always loved to shop high fashion, styles of all sorts, and so I learned how to craft. I purchased all the proper tools, wires, sterling silver clasps, semi-precious stones—gorgeous stones (my taste has always been expensive, thanks Mom!) and away I went. I glanced at the 'How to books' but I didn't need them. I had learned how to knit, sew, even crochet and needle point as a little girl, thanks again to Mom. Beading seemed so similar, I just jumped right in.
After I mastered creating a bracelet or two on my own, I ventured into taking a class locally in Caldwell, New Jersey, where I officially learned how to bead earrings.
This was fascinating! After that it was smooth sailing. I was well on my own way to becoming an "Entrepreneur" but I didn't know it back then. Never assigned a title to it; it became my new" hobby".
I made bracelets, earrings, necklaces—long and short, beaded rings, ankle bracelets, then branched out with silk belts with beaded fringe, wine charms, beer charms (for the ex and our home parties), small purses and bags, sand art vases, key chains, book markers, and so on. Yes, I had so much fun! When I traveled to the Caribbean and to the French Riviera on vacation one summer, I came up with new bauble ideas—like the sand art vases with stones and shells, colorful sand and flowers, and just kept doing different things. I beaded at nighttime as that was my R 'n R (rest and relaxation). I would bead after I cooked dinner for the kids and cleaned up, and then bead again while watching TV, until I passed out for the night.
If I could not sleep, I would get up and bead some more in the early dawn. It was my nighttime therapy before I became a writer. I was so unhappy in my marriage no one knew it but me. I had so much nervous energy that beading became my self-help therapy, and I cumulated so much merchandise that I did not know what to do with all of it!
I created home shows to start selling my baubles line, and the neighbor ladies invited me into their homes to host 'wine and bauble' parties for LNO—Ladies Night Out celebrations. They also suggested I join the town Street Fairs so I decided to tour Northern and Central, New Jersey that first year. I bought a 10' x 10' pop-up tent and traveled around the communities with the local Chambers. While I did that for one summer at our local town Street Festivals, the heat became unbearable with the long days away from the kids, and it was too much to bear for what I earned. I also would return home to an unhappy spouse. No matter if I was enjoying what I was doing during the day, the pleasure was sucked right out of me the minute I walked through those doors. I decided my mini launch "craft" business wasn't worth the grief I would receive on the back-end. It also was not worthwhile financially since cash flow was only at break even and not yet profitable. It was hardly worth the time and effort with the added grief on the home front. Although the pure enjoyment and distraction, was well worth it and the business experience was a huge plus I must admit. I learned so much in a short period of time. I just could not afford to continue then.
I chose to participate at a women's club in town to sell my jewelry line as a new venture. The first event was a Holiday Bazaar at Twin Maples sponsored by The Fortnightly Club of Summit, in Summit, New Jersey. What a small world. The funny thing is that I lost touch with this women's organization for years during the downfall of my marriage and now I am back involved there, serving on their Board, as PR Chair, and I am delighted to be involved working with so many smart and talented women again! It is a refreshing change putting all the negative things behind me and focusing on the positive, inspirational things with people who encourage me. Putting those dreams back into PLAY my way.
* * *
The next successful event was held at The Grand Summit Hotel where women flocked to this annual Holiday Bazaar from all over nearby towns and that was when I realized I may be well on my way to something very fulfilling while 'living my dreams'. I received front page Press in our local community paper and had strong merchandise sales for one night. That pile of inventory had finally moved! In fact, both events were such a success I moved boat loads of inventory. It was all good and proceeds supported women's charity, even better. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with the business next, but kept driving it forward.
The business required that I put in time primarily on the weekends, since I worked full-time during the business day (week days) for a cable television company, traveling to and fro throughout New Jersey each day, I didn't have a minute to think about this jewelry business with my two small children at home. I just knew I had to move that inventory!
As I continued to build my inventory I looked for someone to sell my merchandise because I just didn't have the time to do that anymore by myself. I really did not want to begin traveling nationally to trade shows to market these items, or anything like that, especially with small children at home and an unsettled marriage. Those events would have been the natural progression or step for me to take in the retail fashion or design industry but with two young toddlers at home to care for, that was out of the question, while I was the bread winner and responsible for holding down the fort. The broken marriage was my top priority so. to stay close to home to support my children and entire family was the main focus.
Beaded Baubles, LLC became my pre-launch, first self—owned business as an entrepreneur, and I loved it!
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Live Your DREAMS by Jean Criss. Copyright © 2014 Jean Criss. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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