Why Single Moms Can Kick Ass
I was 39, newly separated with two small children and no updated job or skill sets on my resume. Ok, well that just blows, doesn’t it? Well, yes and no. Here’s what I did.
At first I held onto the belief that my high-priced attorney was going to represent me with everything she’d promised, and would get me alimony and child support. And knowing what my ex-husband and I had in the stock market, I felt fairly confident that I would walk away with some serious cash.
Yeah, well….that didn’t happen.
So, I began researching online for work at home jobs. You know, gigs that you can do from the comfort of your living room in your PJs on your laptop? They do exist, but you have to find the right companies. Those that are willing to actually pay you for your time, talent and treasures, whilst you clock in daily and complete your hours.
I stumbled upon a company that represented Disney, Apple, and AT&T (among others). My love for technology has always been a deep part of who I am, so I thought to myself “Apple. I’d really like to work for that company.”
You can’t just be an employee. You have to be a company.
After digging into this subcontractor, I discovered that I would not actually be an employee of Apple, Inc. No, I would be my own company. That’s right. On top of studying and certifying to work for Apple, Inc. and rearing my small children, I had to set myself up as an LLC. And so it was that Carolina Virtual Services, LLC was born. My new company. Me, the President and CEO. All 5'9" and 39 years of me.
What the hell was I doing?
Setting myself up with the state of North Carolina. Filing articles and forms and tax ID paperwork with the state. All with no one’s guidance. Just me, trying to figure it all out, so I could work for a company I’ve always admired. All this, to begin to start making some cold hard cash to pay for my high-priced attorney, my mounting bills and to be able to be at home with my 6 year old and 4 year old.
I got the contract.
I spent countless hours studying (and then going through the certification process) technology and the Apple business model, and what it meant to work for one of the greatest aesthetic companies ever. (And that is what they are.) Apple believes in enhancing peoples’ lives. It’s not just about technology. It’s about making peoples’ lives better through the products they design, build and eventually I would sell and DID sell.
It was a far cry from my gig as a stay-at-home mom that I had embraced for the past 6 years. I hadn’t worked in a corporate (or any type of environment for that matter, unless you count volunteering at my kids’ preschool) in years. Prior to being a stay-at-home mom, I worked from home for a small consutling company in CT. I had left the corproate world of Manhattan back in 1995. I wasn’t up to speed on weekly conference calls with upper level Apple executives, or launches with no clue of what was about to come down the pike. But, it was my new job….with APPLE!
I took on my new role with gusto. I was the master of my destiny. I was single, I was going through a tumultuous divorce process, but I was hell bent on pushing forward, kicking ass and making my own, little way in the world…with two young children beside me.
Experience defines us.
I worked for Apple for over 4 years. I started in Telesales, then added the chat environment to my work load, and from there I moved up to Team Lead to manage my own group of sales agents. I learned so much during those four years. Not just about Apple, their culture, technology and beautifully-made products…..but about me. About how I “got some gumption” as my Nana used to say, and was on the path of take caring of myself and my babies. Working hard, hours upon hours…working holidays, working weekends, working late into the evenings (sometimes with my babies sleeping soundly beside me)….I did it.
I never thought I would leave my marriage. Never thought I would be put in the financial position of being responsible for me and two young children with no one else’s help. But life throws you curve balls, as we all know. And so, I’m here to say….that single moms kick ass. Or they can, if they empower themselves, work hard, stay focused, and look to the future with determination.
That feeling that you can conquer the world. You can make your way in this jungle, and come out ok? That’s a feeling that doesn’t just come around every day. And it’s one I hold onto. One I cherish. One I never thought I would feel.
