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This journey, of discovering and claiming your dreams isn’t easy.  Why?  Because you reach a point where the road stops and you have to make your own path.  Maybe you have chosen to step out and make a change or perhaps change happened to you.

After 32 years change happened to Sheri Miller.  Change rocked her world.  Here is her story.

I spent 32 years in the medical field as a practice manager.  Then I was laid off –  just like that.  Unlike people who are out looking for a change, change happen to me – I didn’t seek it out. 

At first I was in shock. The first thing I did was mourn the loss of the job; the loss of this part of my life really. I gave myself two goals.  Every day to get out of bed and to get dressed. Sounds simple but at the time it was like scaling a mountain.

As the grief subsided and I started to garden which I love but hadn’t had time to do. I took care of my house and husband like I did when we were first married. Many changes were good while others weren’t as good. We lost 50% of our income so we had to tighten our belts.  We stopped cable.  I had to sell the new car I purchased right before I was let go.  We stopped eating out as much.

Then it seemed like one chapter of my transition closed.  Slowly I wanted to do something to contribute and get back to work. I knew I didn’t want to go back into the medical field but I wanted to help people. I thought that “Hey I could start a business!” I thought “ I have all of the skills to start and run a business – why not me?”.

I gave family members a number of business names to choose from.  That is how I came up with my business name –  Another You.  I wanted to help busy people  – like I had been – find balance in their lives.  They needed another them! And in August of 2013 I started Another You and I am loving it! 

Yes as a start-up things are tight.  I have learned not to take on all of the financial burden myself.  I talk to my family and say “Ok this is where we’re at – what do we need to do?”

And you know if this new found freedom includes working harder for a season, I’ll do it! Because now I can live and work on my terms. And you know what else I learned? I will never work for a place again that can throw me away; I value myself more than that now.

Right now success to me is being happy, sleeping at night, having less stress and being closer to God.

These stepping stones in my garden (to the right) remind me of the steps that I have taken in this transition. God has lead me each step of the way and that I would not change for the world.  So if change happens to you use it as an opportunity.

Thank you Sheri for your honesty and wisdom. By sharing your story you give others hope and confidence to share their stories. Sheri owns the business Another You.

Copyright 2014, Mary R Miller