This post is an entry to the Ladies of Hive competition #164. I chose to write about my skills and possible ventures in 2024 because this has been top of mind lately.
I am a nurse leader by trade but I’ve come to a point where I detest being just another cog on the wheel. I want to be able to regain my freedom of time back to do the things I enjoy and spend time with my family. I want to take my future into my own hands and explore the financial horizons that can be available to me.
As one would do, I started out researching ways I can make more money online. I found a lot of suggestions. I tried almost all of them. But I have to say that I still haven’t really found the one thing that is for me. I guess it’s because I tried too many things all at the same time and I spread myself too thin. Or maybe I didn’t allow enough time to pass before I gave up on something. Maybe I wasn’t consistent enough or creative enough or original enough. All these maybes made me doubt myself and my ability to make things happen.
However, towards the end of 2023, I had a bit of an epiphany and I decided to try again. First, I looked inward and tried to figure out who I am. I am a mom, a nurse, a leader. Then, I evaluated what I can do. Outside of my normal work, I am a creative. I love designing things and writing. After finding that I enjoy those things, I decided to use those skills in a venture of my choosing. But I also realized that if I force myself to do them to be consistent, I started resenting them too. So I had to decide to cut myself some slack and only do them when the inspiration strikes.
I found myself in Etsy and Shopify, opening my online stores and showcasing my products there. I found some success which motivated me to keep going. Through this journey, I got to know myself more. I was able to accept that there are things I am not good at and so for those, I asked for help.
But life is never just smooth sailing so I still got my ups and downs. I found that it was really lonely being a business owner. It required more work and even though I enjoy it, I found that I was neglecting other aspects of my life. No one around me can understand what I am going through so there was no one to talk to and share my experiences with. That is why I’m grateful for HIVE because I can share my thoughts and dreams and get them off my chest.
I returned to blogging for company. Because here, I truly feel like I am a part of a community, a family. There’s comfort in the anonymity this platform provides and it’s exactly what I need. I still intend to try and grow my stores. I still want to learn new skills and grow them. I still see a successful future for me and my family. And 2024 is one big stepping stone for me.
