When I was 14 years old, I got my first ongoing babysitting job. I took the bus 20 minutes away to a really nice part of town that had nothing but great, big houses. I babysat for an eight year old girl that lived in one of those great, big houses with her parents. She was an only child. I remember marveling at the immense amount of food in their refrigerator and pantry. They had all the things I wished my mom would buy us, like Hot Pockets and ice cream bars. I was also confused by the formal dining room … what was the purpose of having a table to eat at in a separate room when they already had a perfectly good table in their kitchen? I had only lived in apartments my whole life and all my friends lived in apartments, too. None of us had formal dining rooms.
The mom worked outside of the home in Manhattan, the dad surprisingly worked from home most days from an unseen office. I remember wondering what they did for a living to be able to afford such a home. When my shift was over, I’d walk home marveling at the tree-lined streets and make up stories about the kinds of families that lived in all of the enormous houses I passed on the way to the bus stop.
Fourteen years later, at 28 years old, I started my business with $300 and a busted laptop.
I wondered what it would take to replace my $41,000 per year salary that I had had as a judicial law clerk, my first job out of law school. I wasn’t sure I could do it but I was hopeful and willing to at least give it a try.
To my surprise, I did replace that $41,000 per year salary by year two. And in year three, when I was pregnant with my second child and feeling the pressure of needing to provide for my family, I increased my overall business revenue to over $300,000.
Even then, I did not imagine that a million dollar business was possible for me. And it took me a couple more years to make that happen, mostly because I kept doubting myself and sabotaging my own success with my intense fears.
But happen it did, and now I am building my own great, big house in a really nice part of town.
Last weekend, my husband and I went to see this great, big house that we are building. None of the workers were there, we had the place all to ourselves. For the first time, most of the boxes, tools and equipment were removed. And we could really see the house without all the construction clutter. We stood in the kitchen, in front of our big island and the apron sink my husband always wanted. We looked at the spot where our double ovens would go and the spot where our four kids will soon sit at the island to eat their breakfast, and we were amazed. “We did it,” I said to my husband. “Yeah” was all he replied.
There was a time in my life where I did not even dare dream of having the full and beautiful life that I have right now. I was too scared to imagine what it would take to afford my own dream home and to be able to have a big family without constant worry about how I was going to provide for my children. That fourteen year old girl couldn’t have imagined that she’d one day be able to work from home doing something she loved, send all of her children to private school, and fill her refrigerator and pantry with all the food she wants.
But she can.
She did it.
And so can you.
It all starts with a dream. What have you been dreaming of since you were a little girl? What is your heart’s true desire that you’re too scared to even say out loud? Say it today. Share it with someone. And if you can’t think of anyone to share it with, hit reply and share it with me.
Cause here’s what I now know: your dream is not only possible, it’s completely within your reach. Believe.
xo,
PS: Whenever you’re ready, here are two ways my team and I can help you grow your business this year:
1. Join the Hello Seven Group and connect with women entrepreneurs who are scaling too.
This is our new Facebook community where badass women learn to get more income, impact, and independence. Click here to join.
2. Schedule your free Scale Session.
Complete the Hello Seven Quarterly Review and then schedule your free, 15-minute Scale Session. My team and I will help you figure out your next best move to reach your goals faster.
