Career and Creativity ~~ Did I Meet My Goals?

Thursday, April 23, 2026 was a big day for me.

I joined a zoom meeting based on the quiz I took on my friend Melinda’s website We Are Wild Ducks. It was all about lining up creativity with career paths. I met amazing people and I tried to relate.

All through my years of working, there was one thought that never left my mind — the need to start my own business. I could never let myself feel accomplished because I had not formed a legitimate business. I spent years navigating seminars and introducing myself to people who had started some type of enterprise. I intently listened to podcasts, purchased domain names, created logos and ultimately built a website. I researched many of the should dos……mailing lists, newsletters and picturing ideal clients. As I was working the steps toward a business, I took on the following jobs:

Cleaning and organizing closets
Organizing office spaces – home and business
Bookkeeping for small companies
Real Estate Agent
Setting up monthly reports and bookkeeping for individuals
Substitute Teacher
Usher at Segerstrom Center for Performing Arts

BUT my risk taking meter is extremely low and even though I found comfort in all of the above projects, I was frustrated that I could not turn any of them into what I thought was a successful business with paying clients, employees and office space. I never created a podcast which was on my bucket list. I listened to many, was a guest on a few and am relieved that I didn’t use too much energy and time trying to be in an already over-saturated medium. The quest for business success continued until last Thursday — some 40 years.

After leaving the meeting, I stared at the blank screen and had a moment of clarity. Most participants were questioning what direction to take next. Through the quiz, they recognized their creative side could possibly meet their career side. They were processing and navigating. They were pivoting into acceptance that their choices would be hard but not impossible. The lightbulb was getting brighter and ideas were flowing about how to take innate talents and relate them into a business model. I sat for a while and realized, I had a business – ME!

I have done all that I listed above. I have been able to keep my schedule flexible since leaving full time office work in 2011. I did not have unnecessary overhead — I once made the mistake of renting a small office space before I had a plan — luckily it was only for six months. I did all the planning and the work. I did not have employees to train and keep busy. I worked closely to align with the office needs of either being an employee or an independent contractor. My income was mine.

I remember creating a bucket list for myself in 2014. In retrospect, that was my business plan. I married young and had my first child at age 21. Career always took a back seat until I went back to college in the 1990’s and graduated in 2006. That gym walk to accept my diploma became my freedom to explore my choices. It has been the most joyful journey. I look back with pride.

I have let go of “career” and have gravitated to “Brave, Curious, Kind and Organized.” I have settled on the four words that have given me the chance to fulfill my “Sherry” business plan.