Megan and I met what seems like lifetimes ago. Thatās probably because weāve gone through so many phases of life together. From her still being in high school to us graduating college, to me getting married and having a kid. She and I have been friends through it all.
To continue our focus on Denelleās quote Jeff delved into this week, I want to keep focus on the āmoreā.
Megan just entered her thirties and has just found her footing professionally, but it hasnāt been a walk in the park. All she could see was the āmoreā life had to offer. It comes in its own time, and we cant force it to be ready for us, until weāre really, truly ready for it.
This week we encourage you to be more like those that seek out and find the āmoreā.
Name
Megan E
Occupation
Representative with Empire Distributors
Habitat
Savannah, GA
Soundtrack
When I graduated college with my degree in Early Childhood Education, I walked out of that gymnasium with every confidence in the world that I just secured a degree for my lifelong career choice.
I graduated wanting to make a difference in the lives of the kids that struggled in certain areas, much like I had done in my schooling. I was excited to implement learning strategies that helped me and try new things. You know the lightbulb moment we all have when we finally understand something? I strived for seeing that epiphany on the kidsā faces.
The two and a half years I utilized this degree were a rollercoaster. Except that rollercoaster was more like a straight shot downward. I started high and ended low.
The best moment in teaching was seeing the success of a young student finally understanding their letters enough to log in to their online profile without assistance. Itās such a small accomplishment but for him and I, it was huge. The good moments were short lived when I spent more time being frustrated with my environment than I enjoyed teaching. I found more joy and relaxation in my second job. A simple cashier position at a liquor store right around the corner from my house.
Between contract negotiations for less pay, the volunteer hours, and the money I was hemorrhaging to make my classroom and teaching the most effective, I decided that this, in fact, was not the place for me anymore. I made the decision to move on and along came COVID immediately after. Maybe it was a sign, maybe it was the universe giving me grace to slow down. Who knows?
I just wanted more. There had to be more. Something more enlightening, challenging, fun, moreā¦for me.
Iāve always had a knack for numbers. I was taking real estate classes and took a job as a mortgage loan officer assistant to learn the math side of real estate while focusing on getting my real estate license. I did this while still maintaining my position at the liquor store.
My time with the mortgage lender was short lived, but it opened my eyes to more promising things on the horizon.
The owner of the liquor store Iād maintained employment with for nearly 6 years pulled me aside and told me I needed to find a career and something that I loved doing. He said as much as I loved being around people that I needed to look into something in sales. He of course, had all sorts of connections and it wasnāt long until I was in touch with the hiring manager for United Distributors.
United distributes wine, beer, and spirits to just about any place that sells those items in our area.
To avoid conflict of interests, I had to leave my position at the liquor store. This was sad but, two months in I was feeling good, I even had my own route. To put the cherry on top, I was making more money than I was teaching. I had finally found something that I enjoyed doing and there was never a day I woke up and decided I didnāt feel like going to work.
About eight months in to my career with United, I felt the need for more of a challenge. My route and my sales were only focused on wine but I had the need to learn more. Shortly after thinking this, I caught wind of an opening at a different company that would afford me the opportunity to have access to their complete portfolio. Iād have access to learning about beers, wines, liquors, and non-alcoholic beverages.
I jumped at the opportunity and didnt look back. The doors had been opened, showing me the āmoreā that there was in the industry I was already in, and already loved.
I am now currently working a lot closer to home and I get to provide product for the store that I spent so many of my nights and weekends in. I have goals, both personal and professional. I get to the see the numbers side of the industry, which feeds my soul.
I donāt see myself going anywhere else. I am still learning new things which keeps things fresh for myself providing new things to focus on and excel at.
Sometimes the things we set out to do turn out to be not what we thought they would be. But there are also times where the things we donāt even consider at first glance turn out to be far better than expected.