January 1, 2015 marked the official four year anniversary of me launching my lifestyle PR firm, House of Success.
I had a different post planned to note the occasion but that changed last night after I put up a business-related status on my personal Facebook page. I mentioned the four year anniversary at the bottom of the status, sort of as an afterthought, not thinking that many people would see it or comment on it.
I was wrong.
A friend who saw the status mentioned that she still remembers the email that I sent announcing that I had just quit my job. I was so excited, and went to go look for it in my inbox but before I could find it, she sent it to me!
I sent that email to a select number of family and friends on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 2:36pm. I had already given my two weeks notice at my last job and would be starting the new year as an entrepreneur.
As I was reading the email I was transported right back to that day and remembered being terrified, excited, and hopeful even though I hadn’t even secured my first client. But I knew I was ready.
Here’s the email I sent:
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Date: Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Subject: New BeginningsNote: This message is a little long, but every word is important. Please take the time to read through to the end.
In a week, I am leaving my role at Prudential Financial to pursue my dream of owning a public relations and brand management firm, House of Success. What you may or may not know is that the seeds for House of Success were first planted during the Summer of 2006. After taking the first step, I have been steadily moving forward ever since.
My experience to date has led me to and through boutique firms, global agencies, the non-profit world, consultative roles and finally to an in-house corporate setting. Over the last 18 months, my time at Prudential has been eye-opening and I am thankful for every memory good, bad or indifferent as these lessons will further shape the excellence seeking communications professional I am becoming.
The reality of my decision to quit my “good” corporate job during an economic recovery was both difficult and extremely easy. It was difficult because it goes against logic as we know it and because the bills don’t stop. It was also extremely easy to leave because I believe in the saying, what you risk reveals what you value.
I value…
…the opportunity to in some small way change the world.
…setting examples that encourage and inspire others to believe in themselves and to see the possibilities in every challenge.
…history and the sacrifices my grandmother, great grandmother and others have made to make sure that one day I’d have career options.
…job and wealth creation.
…truly living and experiencing life in a way that would not be possible if I stayed on someone else’s clock.
…you and the fact that at some point you believed in me and most importantly have always held me accountable.It’s hard for me to quantify just how much your support has meant to me. The fact that you see potential in me has been the strength and energy I use to keep moving forward. Everything that I’ve ever had, I’ve had to work and fight for. I’ve been fighting my entire life for something. I still feel like I’m the little girl that filled the enormous void of absentee parents with even bigger dreams. And now after years of dreaming I’m finally stepping out on a cloud. Thank you for giving me the courage to take the first step.
This journey will be long and hard. I’ll need a lot of help. But, I won’t give up.
Please update your records with my contact information: [REDACTED]
www.hos-pr.com will be live on January 1, 2011
Please send well wishes, words of encouragement and monetary or PR-related donations (magazine subscriptions, org memberships, etc.) to the address listed above. To learn more about how you can help, shoot me an e-mail.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for everything.
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If you’re reading this right now and you’re thinking about taking a leap of faith in any area of your life, do it! Leap and the net will appear.
Re-reading this email and reliving how I felt reminded me of why I started and it really uplifted my spirit to think about how far I’ve come since 2011.
When you’re in the thick of it, the trenches, it’s easy to forget how you got there. Why you got there and why you wanted to get there at all.
This email reminded me that I am a living example of someone who has been able to manifest and create the life that I want based on the seeds of a dream or vision.
I continue to be in awe of that. In awe of myself. Because we truly do have the power to create change in our lives.
You just have to believe it.