I get paid to play! What a gig!!

As I stated in "Fork in the Road", I opted to make a career change. I had no formal education. I had small children at home. I could have seen my reality as a dilemma. I chose to see an opportunity for creativity.

I knew:

• I wanted more time with my children.
• I needed (and wanted) to contribute to the family finances.
• The highlight of my IT career was making a difference through empowerment

These facts brought me to the conclusion that an in home daycare would meet my and my family's needs. Our home was set up well for a day care. The 400 square foot family room opened up to a massive backyard. Heaven!

I passionately began building a premier day care. Within a year, I was running at full capacity (12 children) and had a waiting list. I contribute the initial success of the day care to a supportive husband and my mentor. I was fortunate to have a friend who owned a well established preschool. This wonderful woman took me under her wings and taught me things that would have taken years to learn on my own. She also referred new clients to me.

The knowledge I gained from this incredible friend and the precociousness of my daughters made me realize that there is a world of ways that infants and toddlers can be stimulated. I began Montessori trained and certified and incorporated many Montessori activities into the day care.

It is amazing to watch twelve children ranging from six weeks to three years master their worlds. These children thrived. We read. We cooked. We painted. We did gymnastics. We practiced "writing". We sang. We danced. The list goes on.

Parents were blown away when they would come to pick up their child and be greeted with "Gung Hay Fat Choy!" Yes, we had multi-cultural lessons thanks to a grant from FIRST5LA. I was so thankful that my first attempt at grant writing was a success. This grant paid for dolls, books, instruments, and food from various countries. Parents, friends and I were impressed with the children's ability to recognize differences between types of music, dress and foods. I still remember showing off for the parents. I would ask a child to count to 10 in Japanese. With no hesitation, this was done. I would respond with, "Okay, now count in Swahili". Boom, the child was counting in Swahili. Imagine that a three year old can distinguish language so easily... all he or she needs is exposure.

We were extended family to the day care children and they were extended family to us. Holidays were celebrated as part of the program. Entire families would join in. Grandparents, older siblings, aunts and uncles. Celebrations designed for 12 children turned into gatherings of 75 to 80 people. This really spoke volumes about the bonding that took place within the daycare.

When I reflect back on this business, I think of the times parents and I spent time together discussing the need for building a solid foundation in their children's lives. Together, we mapped out a path and set sail together. When it came time for the children to move onto preschool, they were well prepared. From my perspective, watching them walk out of my front door for the last time was like watching a ship sailing away from the shore. I knew their journey was just beginning and I felt honored to help prepare them for this journey.

Several parents suggested that I write a parenting book. I would have loved to do so. Unfortunately, providing a quality program took a minimum of 60 hours a week. I prepared lessons, bought fresh food and prepared nutritious meals. I spent a great deal of time interacting with the children in group and individual settings. I wrote monthly newsletters. My staff created journals for each child. We updated these journals on a monthly basis. My staff made picture CDs so that the parents enjoyed seeing what their children did throughout the month.

This was my life for 14 years. The work was often fun.... I got paid to play! The work was often very challenging. When all is said and done, I don't know who influence whom most. These children and their families made such an impact on my and my daughters' lives. What a worthwhile career!!

Fork in the Road

You ask why I left a career I loved? We don't always know our value system until we are tested. I was asked to join the Executive Management team of an up and coming apparel company shortly after my 30th birthday. I would have been the second woman on the Executive team for this organization. I was young, a pioneer in my field... seems like a dream come true.

The Executive team presented an excellent package to me. I declined the generous offer because the time commitment would have been a detriment to my young family. All the prestige and money in the world could never replace the importance of being a vital part of my children's lives.

Now, I was at a fork in the road. Would I choose to remain in the field of Information Technology (IT) or would I begin a new career? I knew that remaining in IT was not an option. I had reached a managerial level that required much more of me than I was willing to give. The story would have been the same if I stayed with the apparel company I worked at, or if I changed employers.

I reflected back on my work to help me look forward to my future. I realized my greatest sense of accomplishment in the IT world came from empowering people with knowledge. Instructing management how to read reports, teaching entry level employees how their job function fits within the company function and mapping out the system enhancements that would increase revenue were the highlights of my IT career. It was time to apply these skills to a new career.

How did you get so far, so fast... without a formal education?

Passion. Passion is one of, if not the strongest attribute I bring to anything I do. I remember working as a data entry clerk at the shoe manufacturing company. When I finished my work ahead of schedule, I was told that I was free to go home. I chose to stay and work for other departments. I wanted to learn as much about computers as possible. I was intrigued by how I could put a customer's order into the system and this one act would invoke action in several departments. (I realize now that this is no big deal, but at that time and at my age.... this was incredible.) I always gravitated toward the Computer Operations department.

This intrigue quickly led to a position as a computer operator at the corporate office of a multi-level marketing business. Does anyone remember Herbalife? I generated reports, delivered these reports and studied manuals in between tasks. This work ethic enabled me to assume a lead position despite having "less time" in the field than those that reported to me. Indeed, hard work paid off.

I was building a worthwhile reputation at Herbalife when the apparel industry wooed me back. An apparel management systems software house hired me to train new clients how to recognize the computer as the greatest growth tool. Educating these clients on the benefits of computerization and helping the transition from a paper based system to a computerized system was time and resource intensive. I had to teach clients to relinquish old ways and adopt new business practices. It was essential that I communicate with each person at his/her level and using the lingo that their job functions required. To name a few, I spoke "shipping and receiving", "customer service" and "production". I also had to walk into management meetings and provide status reports. I felt like a linguist. It all was so invigorating!!

Each client was unique. Yet, I saw a commonality in the flow of this type of project. Every project started with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm which waned into reluctant acceptance when the team players truly realized how much effort was required. Reluctant acceptance that led to frustration as the project progressed. Frustration which turned into hope as the team saw the project completion drawing near. Hope emerging into victory as the computerized system became part of the daily standard of operation.

Challenges were not roadblocks. They were opportunities to expand my knowledge base, stretch myself and master new skills. If I didn't have time, I had the connections to get the job done.

My bosses knew that they could depend on me to accomplish their goals. Colleagues appreciated my motivation. Employees appreciated being treated respectfully and being appreciated.

Indeed, I am certain that passion was the driving force to early success.