2010 - the year I turn 30 has recently begun. Scary? No... Overwhelming? Yes.
I am a goal setter & typically accomplish the goals I set out for. Looking back over the last 10 years is an eye opening experience for someone on her way to 30. Some goals met, some set without full knowledge & later abandoned, others pushed back for future accomplishment.
When I was in college, I started a business called E-Spring Works (later known as Sisarina). E-Spring Works did a great job at helping local businesses with their websites (a rather new thing to do in 2001) and showed me that running a business was definitely something worth pursuing. This month marks the 9th anniversary of my being a sole proprietor. I was able to have that be my sole income for 2 years before deciding to work for 'the man' for more real world experience. I started my business at 20 in the year I was to turn 21. My goal was to be successful enough to purchase a newer car - a few months later, I hit my goal & upgraded my 1989 Chevy to a 2000 Olds Alero in cherry red. Mission accomplished.
As a high school student, I had set my life plans to go to college, get a job, get married & have babies before I was 25. I very quickly realized that I was behind in the getting married part, so I moved across the country and at 23 jumped at the chance a little too quickly, later realizing how uninformed I was of myself & what I really wanted. The children part of my plans was also set aside when I divorced and found the company of a dog much more enchanting than the company of children. I started to change my goals to seek out a career that made me happy instead of people.
I later became a homeowner due to having the dog and feeling like it was a very adult thing to do but failed miserably when the economy went into the circular file. It was just not the place I was meant to be. I then moved across country again to continue a career I wasn't happy in only to find the field I had majored in during college & a company that fit my life goals. My ultimate goal once again was to become a business owner by 30.
Mid-2009 found me in the perfect opportunity to enjoy sole-proprietorship once again along with partnerships that allowed me to be completely on my own. By the time I hit my 29th birthday, I was in full swing ready to show the world my stuff. Sisarina was launched again in full tilt, hiring staff, growing partnerships & local relationships and obtaining & renovating office space in the rich DC suburb of Bethesda, MD.
In early 2008, I started running, signing up for races of all shapes & sizes with the intent to hit the goals I had set for myself. Stepping up to the starting line of each race is the intent to finish, however it is that may happen. I've now finished two 5K's, two 10K's, one 10-miler, and one Half-Marathon. I am training over the next 3 weeks to complete my second Half-Marathon on the C&O canal trail. It's different training in the middle of winter for a trail race compared to training for anything else but I plan to complete it, fast or slow.
My current goals have now all been accomplished - and over a year earlier than expected! I am 29, successful, have a very loyal staff and am thoroughly enjoying the blessings God has presented me with. The trials to reach this point have not been easy but God never said He would make it easy - He just said I'd never have to do it alone. I am reminded daily, even by those in my office, how much God loves me & is obviously taking care of me. He's blessed me with an incredible family of friends and those relationships are my biggest accomplishment.
A few months ago, I realized that I knew very little about my religious beliefs. I know I am a woman of faith & that God is my purpose for being here but I found that I wanted to know more. I do a daily devotional for women who are busy, which gives me snippets to think about throughout the day but I didn't feel that was enough. Even being a very active member of my church caused me to find I was missing something. My church is doing a bible study for the next few months on Daniel L Migliore's 'Faith Seeking Understanding'. It's a captivating book allowing you to be a thinker, not just a doer. I have never been one to be told what to believe & then just accept it. I've always challenged the things others believe but want to know more about how my faith is challenged and upheld. I don't feel I know it all but I feel like God has some things to show me this year.
My goal for 2010 is not to work out more, eat healthier, be a better person or find true love. I'll try to do all those things but I don't feel they are goals I need to set. My goal for 2010 is to find out more about my faith & understand it enough to be able to have a conversation about it. To know why I believe it and not because I was told to. My second goal this year is to live my faith, not just talk about it. Living worship is key... and I intend to unlock it.
Happy New Year!
I am a goal setter & typically accomplish the goals I set out for. Looking back over the last 10 years is an eye opening experience for someone on her way to 30. Some goals met, some set without full knowledge & later abandoned, others pushed back for future accomplishment.
When I was in college, I started a business called E-Spring Works (later known as Sisarina). E-Spring Works did a great job at helping local businesses with their websites (a rather new thing to do in 2001) and showed me that running a business was definitely something worth pursuing. This month marks the 9th anniversary of my being a sole proprietor. I was able to have that be my sole income for 2 years before deciding to work for 'the man' for more real world experience. I started my business at 20 in the year I was to turn 21. My goal was to be successful enough to purchase a newer car - a few months later, I hit my goal & upgraded my 1989 Chevy to a 2000 Olds Alero in cherry red. Mission accomplished.
As a high school student, I had set my life plans to go to college, get a job, get married & have babies before I was 25. I very quickly realized that I was behind in the getting married part, so I moved across the country and at 23 jumped at the chance a little too quickly, later realizing how uninformed I was of myself & what I really wanted. The children part of my plans was also set aside when I divorced and found the company of a dog much more enchanting than the company of children. I started to change my goals to seek out a career that made me happy instead of people.
I later became a homeowner due to having the dog and feeling like it was a very adult thing to do but failed miserably when the economy went into the circular file. It was just not the place I was meant to be. I then moved across country again to continue a career I wasn't happy in only to find the field I had majored in during college & a company that fit my life goals. My ultimate goal once again was to become a business owner by 30.
Mid-2009 found me in the perfect opportunity to enjoy sole-proprietorship once again along with partnerships that allowed me to be completely on my own. By the time I hit my 29th birthday, I was in full swing ready to show the world my stuff. Sisarina was launched again in full tilt, hiring staff, growing partnerships & local relationships and obtaining & renovating office space in the rich DC suburb of Bethesda, MD.
In early 2008, I started running, signing up for races of all shapes & sizes with the intent to hit the goals I had set for myself. Stepping up to the starting line of each race is the intent to finish, however it is that may happen. I've now finished two 5K's, two 10K's, one 10-miler, and one Half-Marathon. I am training over the next 3 weeks to complete my second Half-Marathon on the C&O canal trail. It's different training in the middle of winter for a trail race compared to training for anything else but I plan to complete it, fast or slow.
My current goals have now all been accomplished - and over a year earlier than expected! I am 29, successful, have a very loyal staff and am thoroughly enjoying the blessings God has presented me with. The trials to reach this point have not been easy but God never said He would make it easy - He just said I'd never have to do it alone. I am reminded daily, even by those in my office, how much God loves me & is obviously taking care of me. He's blessed me with an incredible family of friends and those relationships are my biggest accomplishment.
A few months ago, I realized that I knew very little about my religious beliefs. I know I am a woman of faith & that God is my purpose for being here but I found that I wanted to know more. I do a daily devotional for women who are busy, which gives me snippets to think about throughout the day but I didn't feel that was enough. Even being a very active member of my church caused me to find I was missing something. My church is doing a bible study for the next few months on Daniel L Migliore's 'Faith Seeking Understanding'. It's a captivating book allowing you to be a thinker, not just a doer. I have never been one to be told what to believe & then just accept it. I've always challenged the things others believe but want to know more about how my faith is challenged and upheld. I don't feel I know it all but I feel like God has some things to show me this year.
My goal for 2010 is not to work out more, eat healthier, be a better person or find true love. I'll try to do all those things but I don't feel they are goals I need to set. My goal for 2010 is to find out more about my faith & understand it enough to be able to have a conversation about it. To know why I believe it and not because I was told to. My second goal this year is to live my faith, not just talk about it. Living worship is key... and I intend to unlock it.
Happy New Year!
I'm not a shopaholic nor do I spend outside my means. I'm a big giver when I do have money and often find great things for my friends or family and give more to the church when I have it. Every once in a while I'll go on a little splurge but I've never been in debt. I have no credit card debt, no outstanding loans... I also never have any money.