New beginnings : I QUIT !

With the new year comes the promise of new beginnings. While I’m not the type to make a list of dos and don’ts for the year, I enter 2013 with the promise of change. Today… I QUIT my cushy corporate job! Huzzah! I’ve had a wonderful tenure being a brand steward for some of the best known alcoholic beverage brands in the world (ABSOLUT, Chivas, Beefeater, Perrier Jouet…the list goes on) but the time has come to part ways and explore newer adventures.

Last January (2012) I was three months into my maternity leave, itching to return to work after a month of travelling with a two month old. However the reality of the situation was that I would not be making more than $100 a month given the cost for daycare. Nevermind the fact that I was breastfeeding exclusively and all the lovely jazz that accompanies a newborn. Instead I spent the year travelling (15 cities and 6 countries), blogging and exploring fun things to do in the city (click here for my maternity leave recap).

Fast forward to October and I was back at work. I was still the same passionate branding fiend and stellar project manager but I had spent the past year exploring new projects, perfecting new skills and learning the balancing act of maintaining our pre-baby lifestyle post baby. I went back to work eager to succeed and move on to the next level but the challenge was that my position was still the same and I was bored. There was no challenge and after a candid conversation with my bosses I found myself looking for side projects to mentally stimulate me.

Blogging definitely helped occupy my time and Twitter put me in touch with some inspiring people. So there I was curating for mom’s magazines and jumping on any chance to be out and about with a baby on the hip. My passion for social media and love affair with food connected me with a fabulous group of women who form Dishcrawl. They welcomed me and my skills and honed in me a desire to do more with my working life.

A year ago I was in awe of the work from home moms and assumed that it wasn’t a lifestyle for me because I was used to the corporate lifestyle, working into the wee hours (often attending events in the evenings despite starting work at 9 a.m.), flashing the corporate card for working lunches and drinks and surrounding myself with colleagues, most of whom had become family. Today, I realize that I crave the work from home situation more than ever. I spent my maternity year working on projects that challenged and excited me and that drive to continue learning makes me bold enough to take this next step.

A steady paycheck with benefits may be missed, but I know that with dedication and a drive to succeed I will not only get the opportunity to watch the Little Monkey grow (second by second!) but also take on projects that will fuel the fire! If you’re looking for fun foodie adventures in your city, be sure to check out Dishcrawl. I’ll be leading the Toronto chapter so be sure to reach out if you want to eat through four restaurants in one night, meeting the chefs and owners behind some of the hidden gems in the city!

So off I go to hand in my resignation….. Wish me luck!