For more than a decade, the Corporate Finance world was where I earned my living.
Although I generically hate math & numbers, I was π£ at dissecting all kinds of different types of financial deals, and identifying problems, errors, mistakes, delays, etc.
Eventually, (mind you this was before, during, and after, the 2008 financial crisis), I was working for a HUGE International Financial Institution, in their Foreign Exchange division.
For those who may not know, or understand, large-scale trading in currencies:
π is BIG business - it was not rare to handle deals where $ BILLIONS were being bought/sold, in a single transaction.
π carries huge risks & rewards - this market can be very volatile, meaning exchange rates can change quickly, and are also affected by domestic and international happenings.
π has extremely tight, and specific timelines - each market, (country), has their own
"end of day" cutoff. Any deals not processed in time would incur potential fees/charges.
The bigger the transaction amount, the bigger the potential loss.
π can be RIDICULOUSLY stressful - there are MANY moving pieces, each with a
different person and/or department responsible. That's not including the traders, the
relationship managers, ( essentially the customer's liasion), and any of the
department heads responsible for staff who may be touching the deals. Add on top of
that, reliance on technology to work appropriately, potential language barriers, AND
super tight deadlines...
AHHHHHHHHHHH - I am kinda twitchy just writing this!
Anyhow, I was really good at my job.
Like - REALLY fucking good!
Which, anyone who has ever worked in Corporate America before knows, brought more work, responsibility, projects, etc.
I was not adverse to that; I loved what I did, and thrived on the additional workload, and pressure for a long time.
Until...
The state of my mental health was dropping faster than Biden's approval rating.
π I even took a leave of absence when I had a little breakdown.
After returning to work, I knew that unless something DRAMATICALLY changed, I was either gonna burn it all down, or kill everyone around me.
Neither are very sound ideas, so...
I switched jobs.
Fast forward through several years of working for the worst boss in the history of employment, and again, I found myself perilously close to being featured on a special episode of "Snapped".
So...
π I pulled an Office Space, and decided I wasn't gonna go to work anymore.
Ummm hmmmm - I'm sure you are reacting inmuch the same way that my husband did, and also asking the same question, "Are you fucking crazy?!?!?"
For me, the answer to, "Are you crazy?", is ALWAYS a resounding, "That is a very real possibility!" π€£
It was simultaneously, pants shittingly terrifying, and unbelievably freeing.
Ok, wait -
Let me back up a little...
During those years, we had began volunteering and fostering for a local Pit Bull rescue.
In volunteering, I began helping another volunteer, (who was a dog trainer), work with one of the rescue's dogs.
π I fell head over heels in love, and started learning ALL.THE.THINGS about dog behavior, dog training, behavior modification; if it had to do with dogs, I wanted to know about it!!
The dog trainer volunteer and I became good friends, and she sorta took me under her wing.
OK --- back to my Office Space moment...
After taking a little time off from working in general, I began working with my trainer friend at the dog daycare she managed.
I fucking loved it!!!!!!
It was disgusting, gross, hot, cold, sweaty, slobbery, urine soaked, poop shoe, work, but it was sooooo MF'n fun.
From the work I was doing there, I just KNEW that I was on this Earth to work with dogs.
Period!
Fast forward a bit, and I was no longer at the daycare, but I worked at a veterinarian hospital.
THIS is where everything came together for me in my head.
I got to put all my knowledge, experience, training, and expertise, into practice EVERY SINGLE DAY!
I got to make a real, and very tangible difference in the lives of animals, AND their families.
The Universe began nudging me, gently at first, and then increasingly harder, to start putting the pieces together to start my own dog-centric business.
So I did exactly that.
I was in no hurry, but did start to slowly make things happen, (I had no plans on leaving my position at the vet hospital).
Then The Vid hit.
Life was CRAZY:
π How we worked, was no longer. Everything was turned upside down.
π Dylan, my 15 year old son, was distance learning.
π My husband was working insane hours.
December 2020 I lost my job at the vet.
Although it was hard, I immediately knew that this was the Universe bitch slapping me to get my shit together and start MY business.
So, I did exactly that.
π― Right before New Year's 2020, Rebel Paws Pet Care was born!
It has been a rollercoaster ride since, but I am 100% certain that I am doing the work I was put on this Earth to do!
That's a far cry from wanting to burn it all down, and kill everyone, on the regular!
I call that a win!
Don't get it twisted, there are days that I wanna pull my hair out, and punch the shit outta things,
BUT
I wouldn't trade this for anything!
MORAL OF THE STORY:
If you have a dream on your heart - just make it fucking happen!
Life is too short and far too valuable to spend it miserable AF.
XOXO,
Patti