Does your job get in the way of your dreams?  You can have it both ways- a job to pay the bills and still do that other thing that you don’t have time to do.  Whether it is going to school to finish your degree, starting a family, writing a novel, auditioning for commercials or films, you can do it without getting a new job.  

I have a corporate job, but still go to school, write plays and movie scripts, and have started a family without using my very limited vacation time.  I am a contractor for a major communications company and only get five vacation days a year and no sick time.  Here’s how I do it all.

Getting Edumicated…err…Educated

When I first went back to school, I took night classes and on-line courses.  This didn’t interfere with work at all.  But, as I got closer to graduation, there were less night and correspondence courses.  I needed a new plan, so I found classes around my lunchtime.  I made a schedule that showed how I could still work full-time and take classes.  It showed a longer lunch period to fit in my classes and drive time and an earlier arrival time to make up the long lunch.  I asked my boss for a meeting to discuss options.  I showed him my schedule and showed him how I could fit in class and work.  He agreed that it was doable, made a few adjustments and my school schedule was set!  Plus, I didn’t have to take away family time at night to attend class.  

Maternal Instinct

Being a contractor, I had neither maternity leave nor sick time.  I couldn’t take off and not get paid.  My husband and I depended on my steady check and couldn’t live on just his.  Again, I made up a schedule and came up with a game plan to present to my boss.  I asked him if I could get a company lap top and work from home so that no one would have to fill in for me.  He agreed that we didn’t have the resources to replace me for three months, so he let me work from home.  I actually worked the day I went into labor, a Thursday, and worked on-line the following Monday.  It would have been great to have no worries, but this was a workable solution for all of us.  Plus, I worked during the 2AM feedings and slept when the baby slept.  That is time management.

Acting bug

I recently caught the acting bug.  Well, the writing/directing bug anyway.  I was forced into acting (twist my arm!)  I managed to produce my show while working full-time and going to school.  I worked with one of my professors to make my play festival an independent study.  I got college credit for doing what I loved.  I worked on this on the weekends and used a vacation day to load into the theatre the day before the show opened.  

There are no excuses to pursue your passions.  Your job is not an excuse.  I had a jerk of a boss, but the opportunity to travel to India came about.  Even though I didn’t have the vacation time, he still worked with me so that I could go on the once-in-a-lifetime trip.  Jerk bosses aren’t even an excuse!  There are limits and you won’t always get your way.  But, with a little creativity and a lot of drive, you can do anything with NO EXCUSES.

Recap of how to do it all:

  • Take night and correspondence classes
  • Go to school during lunch
  • Work on a creative schedule with your boss
  • Work from home on a lap top
  • Use your passions as an independent study to earn college credit 
  • Show your boss the pros and your creative schedule and discuss options
  • Communicate and get creative!

Recipe of the Week:

Low Fat, Low Sugar Oatmeal Cookies (Yes they taste good!)

            1 cup no-added-sugar apple sauce (I use Grandma Hoerner’s)

            3/4 cup brown sugar

            2 eggs

            1/2 cup 2% (or skim) milk

            1 3/4 cup flour (I use unbleached)

            1/4 teaspoon baking soda

            2 teaspoons baking powder

            1 teaspoon cinnamon (omit if apple sauce has cinnamon)

            1 teaspoon nutmeg

            3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

            Dried fruit- I use 1 cup dried cranberries

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees.  Cream together applesauce, brown sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy.  Stir in milk.  Mix dry ingredients and add to wet mixture.  Stir well, but don’t over mix.  I use a wooden spoon to mix the dry ingredients into the wet and an electric mixer to cream the wet ingredients.  Spoon balls of dough onto a baking stone or greased cookie sheet two inches apart.  Bake for eight to ten minutes.  Cool slightly and remove from pan.  Enjoy!