After blogging for nearly eight months, I’ve finally decided on a focus at least for a portion of my posts. I invite you to join me as I embark on the journey to small business ownership and entrepreneurship. It is sure to be, if not an exciting journey, at least not a boring journey. My journey is scheduled to officially begin with the coming new year but it has, as necessary, already begun. As with any journey, I must make sure I pack everything I think I may need and account for all weather variations. Of course I realize I will inevitably forget something but the more I can plan and prepare, the less I will have to interrupt my journey to find a store where I can purchase whatever I forgot or didn’t think to pack.
My journey began a little more than three years ago. At that time, I didn’t really know where I was going. As I was peripherally witnessing a friend at work battle breast cancer, I began to examine my life and wondered if something happened where I couldn’t complete my life or I was sidelined from participating in it for a significant time what I would leave undone. I had written since I was a pre-teen myself and had always wanted to write a book. So I just hopped in and took off. My book of for pre-teen and teen girls, Crush and Other Love Poems for Girls, completed publication in December, 2007. In 2008, despite the lack of Twilight-proportion sales, I found myself enjoying promoting my book. I enjoyed the book signings, appearance on a local television news-magazine program, building my web-site, and creating business cards, bookmarks and other promotional materials.
This year, I completed a manuscript for a young adult novel, began research for a young adult historical novel and an outline for a young adult how-to book. This fantastical of idea of making my living out of writing festered and grew into a puss-filled abscess which if it didn’t burst, would eventually sicken me. I reduced my hours at work to thirty per week starting in July, 2008. As most of this year progressed, I tried to devise a way to write more without it overpowering my time or dragging me into financial ruin because though the hope is to eventually make enough money from writing to live, I knew if it ever happened, it would take a long, long time.
As autumn of this year approached, colon cancer took control of another friend and fellow paralegal at work and won the war twenty years after the death of my cousin on September 5th. I saw this as a sort of sign and calling. I had the what but still had no how. Then I came up with the following.
On January 1, 2010, Jodie Toohey Information Innovations will open for business. It will be comprised of two divisions, Writing Innovations and Paralegal Innovations. Through Writing Innovations, I will produce written material, including but not limited to, novels, non-fiction books, articles, brochures, and manuals. I will work as a Freelance or Contract Paralegal through Paralegal Innovations. This proverbial light bulb ding sounded toward the last third of September, this year. It took me until November 4th to submit my proposal and resignation to my current employer. My hesitance was due to fear. I knew people would think I’m crazy–quitting a good, good-paying job at a stable company to go out into the unknown–and I thought they were probably correct. And despite my over eight and a half years with the company, their fair treatment in the past and our mutual respect and loyalty, I was afraid they’d say “No.” Then I’d be without a job and a built-in initial client and, on principle, wouldn’t recant. However, after a couple of meetings by the management committee, I learned last Tuesday my proposal was successful and sent the following to my co-workers:
“I am writing to advise you of my resignation as of December 31, 2009. Starting January 1, 2010, I will be available to perform tasks on an independent contractor basis through the Paralegal Innovations division of my sole proprietorship business, Jodie Toohey Information Innovations. I am in the process of developing my web-site, business cards and an assignment form which I will distribute as the end of the year approaches.
I have made this decision for a variety of reasons but essentially it is a compromise I’ve negotiated with myself to allow more time for my writing endeavors but not jump off the cliff without a security rope. In answer to some of the questions you may have: Yes, I’m afraid I’ll fail; Yes, I know good & good-paying jobs are at a premium in this economy; Yes, I’m taking a big risk; Yes, I know I will most likely need to work harder owning my own business; and Yes, I just might be crazy. But I also know I only get one chance to live my life, that life may be shorter than I ever thought possible or would have hoped for, and that even if it all blows up, I can say I at least tried and gave it my best shot. And that will make for an interesting chapter in my memoir. Actually, it makes good financial sense to utilize a contract paralegal and I don’t feel like I am leaving anyone “in a lurch” or not pulling my paralegal weight.
This arrangement will also allow me to stay connected with the firm and its people which have been a significant part of my life for the past nearly nine years. The one quality I have appreciated the most about this company which very few other companies have is the fact the people who work here want and strive to do the best job they can do, not because of raises or fear of discipline but because it is an intrinsic quality and part of who they are. Of course, this company and its people have numerous other admirable qualities which I will miss but I am so glad to be able to continue our relationship on a contract basis and not have to completely sever our ties.
Thank you for all of the assistance, guidance and opportunity you have provided to me over the years. Thank you in advance for your continued support. I looked forward to our new relationship.”
Next week: How the preparations for JTII are progressing.
