A divorce, Loss of Job, Economy recession....My Story!

For the longest time I had no idea what I was going to do with my life.  The direction of my future was uncertain.  Every day was the same as the day before and I had no desire to fight.  My dream of having my own business was just that…”A dream”.

I remember driving to my corporate job every morning wondering if I would ever own my own business and if so, where would I get the money to start?  I was excited but, scared at the same time.  It was so far out of my reach that I didn’t believe it was ever going to happen for me.  Then one day, I woke up determined to take the first step so I went online and spent days researching how to start a business.  At the end of each day I would go to sleep sad because the reality was I had no money.

One day, I drove into work and Human Resources called me into the conference room for a private meeting.   Our call center was being moved to Canada so I was given two options.  Option 1: I could transfer to a different department.  Option 2: I could leave the corporate world with a severance package of 13 years.

It was at that moment that I felt scared, but hopeful thinking this was the ONLY opportunity I had to start my own business.  I chose Option 2 and signed the severance package at that moment without hesitation.  That day I walked out the door with a sense of HOPE and determination to conquer the world.  Excited about the future ahead of me I started researching different business opportunities, I paid off some debt and I was ready to take on this new business venture.

A few months later, I found myself unemployed with no income, no new business and no husband.   I had no stability in my life.  I felt hopeless and broken.  Life was unfair.  The money I had set aside for my new business was now being used for monthly bills.  I was in survival mode.  Having a mortgage on my own every month was not an easy payment to carry on and my savings kept getting low day by day.  It was a breaking point in my life.

Three years later, I still had no new business, no job and finalizing divorce. The economy had crashed and things just weren’t going well with my financial advisor consulting services but, I remember waking up one day with a renewed sense of determination to open this new business.  While day dreaming, the idea to open up my own travel company came to mind.  That’s when I said “It’s DONE.”   I had 15 years of past experience in that industry so why not?   I immediately got on the phone, made a few calls and started the process.  I only had $40 in my bank account but knew I had a check coming in the mail for $1,200.  Right away I thought I could use that money to start the business plus I was not going to stop moving forward with plans.

Two months later, I opened my very first business offering vacation home rentals.  It was a success.  I had finally achieved my long-life dream.  Even with all the obstacles and odds against me, I pressed on. When I received my first bank statement with net profits I said to myself “I vote for you, you did it!”  I started the business with just one property then slowly contracted other homes. Today, we have over 150 vacation homes in Orlando and vacation rentals in Puerto Rico.  We now offer theme park tickets, cruises, and airfare. We now expanded our business to Brazil and have many more plans for the travel company.

Today I am grateful because even when things were not the best, I believed that one day I would have my own business.  I enjoy helping others GO after their dreams because it is possible! You decide! J

This is GOALYGO!

 

 

 ALY J