I am going to give you some background info so ya'll understand how much this story means to me and how hard I worked for this goal I just recently achieved.
In the summer of 2003, I started college in Conway, South Carolina (just a few miles from the beach). Leaving Pittsburgh was something I knew I wanted to do when I was 17. After a couple years of living on a college campus, I just couldn't do it any longer. I didn't like having roommates (especially not 3 other people). I have been an introvert for my entire life. Living with other females that were strangers just wasn't my jam. I wanted to live on my own and I couldn't afford to do so. There was no way that I was going to make it another 2 years of living with roommates so I packed up my bags and moved back to Pittsburgh. When I left SC, my sister said to me "I knew you wouldn't last long being away from home." I laughed. I was hurt, but I laughed it off. Just because things don't work out the way you plan sometimes doesn't mean you shouldn't try something different. You won't learn unless you take yourself outside of your comfort zone.
In 2005, I enrolled at La Roche and finished off my Bachelors degree while I lived at home in my parents' house. While attending La Roche, I started hanging with the "wrong" crowd. I was in a couple toxic relationships that lasted way longer than they should have and I became depressed. I lost myself for a long time. After college, I got my first job in downtown Pgh at an accounting firm. To say I disliked that job is an understatement. I only lasted 10 months so I threw up the deuces to that company. My family and friends thought I was nuts to take a 10K pay cut, but I knew my happiness was more important than money.
Sooo let's fast forward this a bit to where this story starts to get better. In 2007, I found a company close to home that I stuck with for 11 years. When I started there, I worked in the accounting department. I never really liked accounting work, but it was all I knew how to do (so I thought). Finally after several years of hard work and proving myself to this company, I decided to inquire about a position in the sales operations department. Soon after I inquired, I started my new position that the company created for me as a "Sales Operations Specialist". I learned that role simply by trial and error. I had support from peers and guidance from my boss, but no formal training.
In 2013, I was really focused on eating healthy and working out routinely. I was trying my hardest to get rid of toxic habits and toxic relationships. Going to church also became a part of my routine. I wanted to work on my relationship with Jesus Christ. Reading personal development books and the Bible helped me mentally. After working on own lifestyle, I felt passionate about wanting to help other women become their best self. I found out about a nutrition course that was available online to become a Certified Health Coach. I mentioned it to my family and some friends. Most of the responses I received were similar to this "You already have a career and won't make any money being a health coach." I said F*** it. I signed up and paid the tuition so that I could gain the knowledge I needed to help myself and help others, whether I made a living out of it or not. I also studied and became a Certified Personal Trainer. I was very proud of myself for receiving both of those certifications. Did I make a career out of it? No. Do I regret taking those courses? No.
Again, things don't always turn out how we hope or expect them to. However, I still use that knowledge to keep myself healthy. I still help others when they ask for it even though I am not profiting from it. Will I ever become a health coach? Maybe - I don't know exactly what the future has in store for me.
Towards the end of 2015, I began to feel complacent with my career. I knew I wanted to get back to the South also so I started applying for jobs in the Carolinas all the way to Georgia. As soon as I was receiving some callbacks, I found out I was pregnant in March of 2016. OOPS!! I also found out I was going to be a single mother. So moving away was no longer an option. I had to get through my pregnancy and learn how to be a mother before I could even think about moving or starting another job. Most people thought my life was over and that I would be stuck in Pgh until my son was at least 18. However, I knew that wasn't the case. I knew that God had good plans for me. I made a promise to myself that before my son turned 5 years old, we would move to the South. I wanted stability for him so I knew I didn't want to make him switch schools once he started Kindergarten. I wasn't going to give up on my dream, but I needed to put his best interest first.
In 2018, things began to settle down. My son was 1.5 years old. My job was still the same, and things were stagnant. I knew I needed to get out my company if I wanted to advance and be motivated each day. I decided to apply for jobs in Pgh (2 companies were located downtown). I hated the city and the commute, but I knew they were good opportunities. Within 2 days of sending in my resume, I received a call to come in for an interview. Within less than 2 weeks, I was offered a job as a Senior CRM Analyst. I didn't want to go back downtown for work, but I knew I needed this opportunity to grow. I was able to negotiate two days a week at home. BABY STEPS! Got to start somewhere to get where you want to go! I accepted the offer and never looked back. This company paid for me to become a Certified Salesforce Administrator. This company challenged me to overcome my fears and learn so much about not only sales operations but about myself. I have learned to push myself out of my comfort zone and take risks.
In 2019, I figured I was ready to start searching for jobs again the South, but nothing was panning out. I was having phone interviews and flying to Charlotte NC for some interviews, but the money wasn't in my ballpark. I needed the salary to match my worth. I needed to be able to provide for my son and I without living paycheck to paycheck. I turned down a job offer in July 2019. I was bent out of shape. I was sad that I wasn't able to get out of PA even thought I was trying so hard. I decided to pump the brakes on the job search. My son was still only 2.5 years old so I knew I still had 2.5 years to leave. I put my faith in God and stopped pushing so hard for a little while. Just when I did that, that is when things started to turn around in my favor. In October of 2019, the company whose offer I had turned down (back in July) reached out to me. They flew me out to NC and offered me the money I had asked for. Lesson I learned: don't settle & know your worth! Keep hustling until someone recognizes your worth! When I went to resign from my company in Pgh, they ended up countering. They said "we will let you work remote from wherever you wish and increase your salary." Well, that was a no brainer! So, off to the beach I went in January 2020.
It may take longer than you plan to accomplish your dream, but if you don't stop hustling, you'll get there! It took me 15 years to get back to my place of serenity. Life is full of setbacks. Life is full of failures and twists and turns. It doesn't matter that I was knocked down during the process. It doesn't matter that I heard words of negativity during it all. It doesn't matter that I got pregnant. Others thought all that would stop me, but it NEVER did. I used all my trials and tribulations as MOTIVATION. My son changed my life for the better. God turns every "bad" thing into something beautiful. With pain, comes strength and determination. I will always be a HUSTLER! I won't ever let anyone (parents, siblings, son's father, friends, exes) steal mys shine.
South Carolina is HOME because of my HUSTLE!!!
~ J. Lynn
