A Year Without Paychecks, Part 2
September 16, 2008 by akemi
After spending 1264 words in this post examining the paycheck mentality that I found in myself hidden deep under the surface, I feel I still haven’t told the whole truth of my year since I quit my corporate job at the end of last September. That post was like reviewing myself from the current vintage point and didn’t really describe what it was like to live this year. So here is my follow-up.
(Photo by Michael Dawes)
How blogging changed my life
The first step was blogging. I tell you, blogging is dangerous. On September 9th, 2007, I started a blog called Gratitude Magic (it’s gone now. Gratitude Magic was mostly about the Law of Attraction, and I wanted to focus more about entrepreneurship, so I started this Yes to Me in February. I didn’t know how to do the transition, so I closed Gratitude Magic. Sorry.)
In mid September last year, I wrote a post titled “What Can I Give to the World?” Here is the whole post:
What I give determines what I get. This is the basic of Law of Attraction. Send out good vibes, and good things echo back to me.
I am thinking about my job. I do well as admin, managing my boss’s calendar, making travel arrangements, processing passport and visa applications, managing corporate identity program, administering corporate credit card programs, supervising housekeepers, and so on. But is this the best I can give?
I feel I have higher values I can give. Currently, I am helping only the people in my company in certain defined ways. If, however, I can inspire more people with my writing, assisting them to have better life, I serve the world better! I feel better by giving more, and surely I receive more from the Universe.
And yes, I have grown to believe my writing is worth to be shared.
When I truly believe “What I give determines what I get,” the opportunity to give becomes a gift. It is like being given the opportunity to invest in a fund that is guaranteed to yield big. So thank you for reading this blog!
Gee, I wasn’t very good at writing back then, huh? I had a good idea, but the writing was so underdeveloped. Anyhow, I had the aspiration to serve bigger audience with my special gifts - or what I thought to be my gifts. Again, my gifts were not well developed yet at the time - I’m still working on them - but I took them seriously. This is important.
You may have great talents, God-given gifts, but until you yourself take them seriously and use them, they are just there.
I still don’t make my living from writing. But writing is an important part of my current business and its marketing. And I do inspire more and more people to have better life - that is the point of my Akashic Record Reading.
How I jumped
Now this is something I can’t recommend to others but I did it myself anyway: I took the leap of faith and quit my corporate job without real plans.
At the same time, I moved to Oregon. I pretty much hibernated during the winter. Sure, I was blogging faithfully, and was trying many things to build my business. But nothing much was happening. There were mornings I woke up and wondered what to do. Occasionally, I thought of looking for temp jobs. Then I thought why the heck I would get another admin job in Oregon - if that was what I wanted to do, I didn’t need to quit. Duh.
I’m going to skip the details of how I started my life coaching business and then my soul reading service because you probably don’t relate to these specific details. Maybe you are interested in starting other kinds of businesses, and that is great - I love diversity. My point here is simple.
Sooner or later, you’ve got to take actions.
Again, I think it is a better idea to prepare better than I did. But there is a point you just have to jump. Naomi Dunford used the analogy of having a baby. You can never be 100% ready, for a baby or for your ittybiz.
Sense of service is empowering.
Looking back, I think my sense of service helped me a lot. If I quit my job thinking, “This job sucks. I hate my job and my boss. There must be a better way to make money.”, I don’t think I could go through the down time during the winter to spring. But I really believed I had something to offer to more people. Of course I still believe this today, even more so than back then.
The reason I blog on this Yes to Me is to encourage those of you who may be at a similar point of life that I was a year ago. Maybe you sense there is more to life. Maybe you want to pursue what you love to do but feel hesitant. Maybe you want to connect with other like-minded people for support and inspiration. You are all welcome.
Or maybe you already have your small business. What have you learned? Share with us!
BTW the tagline of Gratitude Magic was “Uncover Your Magical Power Within”. Now I’m updating the tagline of this blog to “Nurture The Entrepreneurial Spirit Within”. Hmm . . . do you think this is some kind of reincarnation?
I’m happy and proud that I lasted a whole year, and counting. Let me know what you are seeking in life and what you expect to read in this blog.
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Congratulations on not only surviving, but thriving, over the past year - you’re an inspiration!
I love your new tagline (and I also love the sense of continuity
).
Mags | Woo-Woo Wisdoms last blog post..The Magnet Conundrum: Polarity And Flow
Hmmm…”Yes to Me: Nurture the Entrepreneurial Spirit Within.” So does that mean nurture the entrepreneurial spirit within YOU or within ME? It’s so confusing!
“I’m going to skip the details of how I started my life coaching business and then my soul reading service because you probably don’t relate to these specific details.”
Well, I’d like to hear that!
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Hi Akemi,
I love how authentic and honest you are in your posts. There is something about honesty that really draws people in and makes us listen. I’d like to hear all about how you began your businesses as well.
Anna
Hi Akemi - you make some huge brave moves all in one go. You quit your day job and moved to another area all at the same time.
Two things really stand out about this story Akemi - you moved towards something - instead of away from something and that is really important - because you will always have new positive goals to achieve.
Also, you didn’t think - what can I do to make money? You were thinking - what can I do to help people get what they want? And that really makes a huge difference in business.
Mags,
Hey thanks. Honestly, I’m not sure if I’m “thriving” yet — just about, maybe. And as I wrote, there were many many moments of doubts — okay, longer than “moments”.
Hunter,
You are teasing me, right? when you say it’s “confusing” Ever since King James pointed out that issue in the drive-by review, I’m over sensitive to that issue . . .
I guess I’m not ready yet to write about how my current business started. I’m finally at the point where I don’t look back to the corporate world, but not quite at the point to calmly review my business attempts — one of which hardly ever took off . . . (ohh, so painful)
Give me another year to do that . . .
Anna,
Some day, yes.
Okay, a preview: I think my reading service is part of the bigger picture.
Cath,
Yes, yes! Thank you for making my points even clearer. I think it is sad that so many people take action to “escape” and then start thinking what they can “get”. Real motivation is about taking responsibility to move forward. And giving is empowering.
BTW, you guys are all bloggers — watch out what your blogs do to you
I wish more folks had the courage to just make the leap as you did. The world would then be better served ad a lot more interesting. You are inspiring because you follow your heart and let the world know it.
Akemi, I appreciate everything you said in your post, I’m delighted by your responses to the comments, and I’m glad you started saying Yes to Me in February
Christopher
Tom,
Thank you. I’m sure you have your own wonderful story.
Christopher,
I just have to say thank you again. I realize I have such wonderful readers! All these comments are so encouraging!!
Yes, I’m just kidding about “you” and “me.” I’ve always thought it was obvious that your blog isn’t a selfish one!
I see. So there is a trend in the comments — maybe it started with the last post — you guys like teasing me!
Akemi, we like teasing you for three simple reasons: (a) you’re loveable; (b) you’e adorable; and (c) we love and adore you. Consider yourself blessed
Christopher
I’ve always admired you for your guts. You dared to take that leap of faith. Oh yes…I followed from your days in Gratitude Magic and am so glad that you’re doing well now.
I also want to thank you for reading my Akashic records for me. Without your site, I would not have gotten on to know Andrea and Irene, two of the loveliest ladies on the blogosphere. Thanks so much!
Wishing you every success, joy and peace,
Evelyn
Christopher,
I know. I’ve always been too cute to be left alone ^_^ And my sincere attitude somehow invites teasing.
Evelyn,
You are so welcome. I’m glad you connected with Andrea and Irene. They are great. Irene even lives near you, right?
Hi Akemi,
Oh no…Irene does not live that close to me. It is just that Singapore is small relatively speaking and it is very easy to meet up. Coincidentally, Irene has a colleague who is a dear and old friend of mine. All 3 of us met up one evening for dinner and yakked for hours.
So how about “attracting” some more money so that you can come down to Singapore and have a blast with us? I’m sure that Irene will agree that we’ll all be in for a great time!
Cheers,
Evelyn
@Evelyn: am I invited? I could dress up as a woman if it’s an all-girls night, or if that’s too embarrassing, I could look and act appropriately feminine for the occasion.
I mean, to meet you, Akemi, and Irene in one place? That would be awesome.
Christopher
Evelyn and Chris,
A big meetup! Great idea!! We need to pick the location carefully though . . .^_^
Chris, I’m sure Evelyn and Irene are non-sexist. You are certainly welcome.
Akemi, you mean I don’t need to be a mangina? That’s wonderful! Thank you
[...] A Year Without Paychecks, Part 2, Akemi Gaines wrote about her life shortly after quitting her admin job in Oregon: “There [...]