The Journey

“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” — Anonymous

Lily setting out on another bike adventure along the Great Allegheny Passage heading towards Pittsburgh

The journey I think about is in my recent past, more specifically the last twelve years.

Everyone’s career arc is different. You often hear, “I never dreamt in my wildest dreams I’d be where I am today when I look back on what I studied in school.” In my case, I spent almost fifteen years after college working as a public relations professional, steadily climbing the corporate ladder. At some point, that arc hit a ceiling, and downsizing and the imminent closure of the agency I worked at loomed on the horizon. This was a pivotal turning point. On one hand, it was hard to give up what seemed to be my lifelong career path; on the other, the thought of starting over was scary to contemplate.

Eventually, I chose the latter. It became not only a challenge to become a first-time small business owner, but also an opportunity to dive into a whole new world of insurance education. What made the decision easier were two things:

1. Being closer to home to make childcare a little easier
2. Most importantly, being able to spend time with my preschool-aged daughter

The two of us spent the better part of a few months enjoying the crisp fall weather while adventuring outdoors—bike rides, hikes, geocaching, and more. As the weather grew chillier, we moved indoors to rock climbing, ice skating (most days just the two of us on the sheet of ice), visiting museums, and so on. What made this time so special was simply being together. It seems like only yesterday, yet now twelve years have passed. I wouldn’t trade that time for the world—it wasn’t about jumping into the next job or being away from family with a city career. It was about being there for my daughter and building a relationship.

So, what does this have to do with selling insurance, you may ask? This “new” career path has given me the chance to be present for life’s special moments with my family—whether traveling, cheering at my daughter’s first ice hockey game, a golf match, or a cross-country meet. It has allowed me to enjoy watching the little girl in the cute cat bike helmet grow into a beautiful young woman with lofty dreams and an amazing soul.

Sometimes the destination isn’t what you expect or can predict, but it’s the journey along the way that shapes who we are, how we view success, and how we evaluate one’s life’s work.

Enjoy the journey,

Eric