Everyday I'm Hustlin'

Today I'm partnering with TheLadders to give you a glimpse into my first jobs and what I've learned from these experiences--which ultimately led me to where I am today!

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My first jobs were anything but glamorous. The very first "job" I remember doing was basically hustlin' my dad for extra allowance. I was around eight years old at the time and wanted to save up for some super cool 90s toy (you can fill in the blank--although in all honesty it was probably a WonderBall. Does anyone else miss those chocolatey, candy filled miracles?).

So, I volunteered to help with yard work, for a price. I would pick up "gum balls" that fell from the sweet gum tree, pinecones, and scoop dog poop.

My dad made a special arrangement that I'd get paid by the pound of whatever I picked up. It was probably somewhere around $0.25 per pound of pinecones and $0.10 per pound of poop.

Told y'all. NOT GLAMOROUS!

I distinctly remember scooping extra mud and dirt with every scoop of poop so it would weigh more and I'd get more money. See? Hustlin'. I also, to this day, have an IOU that I've saved detailing how much my dad owed me for all of the poop I scooped--I even had a line item for interest! I've been a hustler before I even knew what that meant. In a good way, of course.

I also babysat here and there and worked summer camp a few summers. It was while working these jobs that I learned that children are not for me. I wasn't ready for kids then and at twenty-four, I'm still not ready. Maybe one day. 

Throughout these various random jobs, my dad instilled two truths in me that I still reference to this day. (Hey dad! Youdabest!)

ONE. Work hard and Hustle. No one is going to just hand it to you. You have to work for it and you have to earn it. It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it.


TWO. Be able to support yourself. It's important to do something you love, but it's also important to be able to pay the bills and support yourself. I have a boyfriend of almost seven years that I'm going to marry one of these days, but he would always say (God forbid) if something were to happen, you don't want to be left broken hearted and flat out broke!

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Fast forward a few years and I've kept these truths with me. It was hard finding my first job. It sucked getting rejected or ignored a thousand times. But, ultimately, after lots of hard work I found a job (and started this blog in the process) and have not only gotten to connect to an industry that's basically the coolest, but learn a lot along the way!