Finding our way can take twists and turns we never saw coming.
Over the past 3 years, I have been working on a shift in my work. When I relocated from California to North Carolina, I left a thriving commercial interior design business. I had great clients, and great work, but I was at a place in my life where I was hungry for change, and I was in love with a man who lived on the other side of the country. I said goodbye to my home, my clients, my business, and my friends, and off I went.
I thought I would continue working in commercial design. Instead of building a new business, I would simply get a job with one of the great design firms in Raleigh. I had 25+ years of experience…someone would want me to work with them, right? Wrong! The universe had something else in mind for me. I applied for jobs, and promptly blew every interview, and then my healthy, but elderly mother had a stroke, and passed away. I was stunned, confused, and the executor of her estate. By the time I had finished up the majority of work surrounding mom’s death, I had sold 3 homes, and 3 pieces of land in a year. It felt like the universe was trying to tell me something. I was good at real estate. And wow, people can make good money if they take good care of their real estate. I decided I wanted to help people with real estate. If I did it correctly, I could help them build long term wealth with real estate as one of their retirement strategies, and I could bring design along with me for the ride! Eureka!!
Well, it’s not that easy to start a whole new career in a new area where you don’t know anyone and building a business takes TIME! Patience isn’t one of my virtues.
Did I incorrectly interpret the signs I was receiving? I don’t think so. I love helping people with real estate, and I am good at it. I’m just not as great at traditional real estate marketing. And then there is interior design. It is my calling, it is in my DNA. I fell in love with design when I was 12, and people trust me with design a lot more than they trust me with real estate. How can I do both? Luckily, I met a great group of women teachers in Boldheart who are helping me become the type of marketer and business woman that I aspire to be.
In some ways I feel like I am back at square one. After a very busy first part of 2019 helping both real estate, and interior design clients, my business is quiet. I am working on my interior design website, and updating my real estate website. I am reassessing, and rebuilding again. This time with more of a focus on design. But, WAIT! I don’t want to leave real estate behind.
Sometimes, I feel like if I don’t get focused, I am going to lose the plot and sometimes, I believe I am focused, and I am working towards my goals of helping people in my own special real estate/interior design way. I know I can do this. There is more ahead for me and for the people I am meant to help.
What is your calling? Do you love two careers? Is it confusing for you at times?
Jean Mathieson is an Interior Designer and Realtor® living and working in
Holly Springs, North Carolina.