Michelle's Story: Kids Decor Inc.

Today's story comes to us from Michelle Miller, owner of Kids Decor Inc. A mom and former medical professional, Michelle discovered a renewed confidence after realizing that what she thought were professional drawbacks could actually be assets. Though it can be a challenging and unfamiliar task, recognizing your skills and using them to your advantage is important. You never know what exciting prospects could be just around the corner, and what you'll learn about yourself in the process! Sometimes, taking a step back is all we need to see the full picture and our place within it.

"If you had told me five years ago that I would run my own business someday, I would have laughed. I was a full-time stay-at-home mom (SAHM) with two young children. I had left a professional medical career after the birth of first child in order to stay home. My career had been challenging, exciting, and rewarding. Would I be able to find the same satisfaction as a SAHM? As many moms can likely attest, I felt like my brainpower had pretty much been sucked out by pregnancy and sleepless nights. I found that the confidence and esteem that I had felt while working seemed to be fading as the years passed.

I had been considering going back to work part-time in my previous role. I have to admit, I was scared to death. The field had changed significantly and I knew I would have to re-learn many aspects of my job. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up. As it turned out, the part-time opportunity did not materialize as I had hoped and I was faced with a decision. Should I pursue this field further or take my career in a new direction? What skills did I have that would allow me to be able to re-enter the workforce or run my own business? I wanted a challenge, but would it prove to be too much?

As I took inventory of where I was in my life and career, I began to realize that my role as a SAHM may have inhibited my professional development in some areas, but enhanced it in other areas. I found that I had a very creative side that I hadn’t utilized before. I noted my ability to manage multiple projects and priorities both at home and outside the home. I thought about how volunteering had given me great joy, the same joy I had felt while working with my patients. I recognized how much I still enjoyed learning a new skill and teaching others. I remembered the struggles our family had faced and how we had been able to join together to face them and come out even stronger.

A new confidence began to replace the self-doubting thoughts. If I could use these skills to run our home and manage responsibilities outside my home, I could use them to run my own business. Knowing that my priority was still going to be my children, I wanted a business flexible enough to allow for time with them after school and participation in their activities. As I started researching my options, I realized that an owning an online business fit my needs. It afforded me the opportunity to learn new skills, further develop my existing skills and provide our family with the flexibility we desired.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is never easy. Whether it is leaving a company you have worked for many years to start your own business, changing roles within your company or re-entering the workforce after years of being at home, there are certainly going to be times of uncertainty and doubt. However, as I have shared from my own experience, learning to recognize - not minimize - the skill set you already possess can give you the confidence to take on a new adventure in your career and your life."

Learn more about Kids Decor Inc. and keep up with Michelle at KidsDecorInc.com, Twitter (@KidsDecorInc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/KidsDecorInc). Make sure to check out the blog, too, at KidsDecorInc.blogspot.com.