Feef

Believing in Myself

A feef story:

It's shocking this is the first time that I've participated in a blog.  However, what a great way to get started, right? 

Here's my story.  After 7 years working for advertising agencies, I had lost my passion and interest in working like a dog and having no financial gains to show for it.  So, I followed my gut and decided to explore a job in media sales - where I had very limited media experience and definitely no sales experience.  I cast the net very wide with hopes that something would stick.  I was able to secure many interviews and go the final round for four different positions.  I was very excited and I felt my chances were very high, as I only needed one offer. 

Then, Friday came - doomsday.  I received 3 phone calls on the same day - all rejections because of my lack of sales experience.  I was crushed, felt defeated and thought I should just go back to focus on my crappy job and making barely enough money for pedicures...

However, there was one job that I was still in the running for - and I was able to put my chin up and put everything I could into getting that job.  I had to dig deep to find my feef.  And, I did.  I can proudly say that 4 years later, I am still at that job and am as happy as I was when I began. 

I knew it would be hard to make a career change into an industry that was very competitive.  But, I really believed in myself and knew I would do well in this job - and enjoy it thoroughly - if someone gave me the chance.  So, I guess when it comes down to it, I had to find my feef to gain the courage to make this all happen.  And I am very glad I did.

-Courtney, Chicago IL

San Francisco to Ohio

A feef story:

I freed my feef in 2001 - one month after 9/11. Actually, the decision to free my feef happened in February of that year.  I was living in San Francisco working for a venture capital firm (part-time living in Maryland).  Prior to that I started a company, raised funds and experienced the internet bubble.  We were carnage of the internet bubble and closed operations because we could not raise any more money.  Starting that company was my exodus from the slave life of investment banking. 

So there I was living mostly in Maryland and traveling back and forth to San Francisco when it occured to me that I like being part of a business, not just talking about business.  I went to a wedding with my family and got up early that morning to meet my parents for breakfast.  It was at the bfast, I told my father that I was ready to move home and get involved in the family business.  His response, "Well how soon..."

To this day, I can't explain how happy I am that I freed my feef.  I am now in Ohio, running the family business with my father, have a beautiful entrepreneurial wife and am as happy as can be.

... Yes, even though I gave up San Francisco!

-Steven, Canton OH