Why I Won’t Apologize for My Unconventional Job

This one is for all of you who don’t have a 9-5, don’t teach in a classroom and don’t have a certain job title that everyone understands. You see, we all have a “job” whether it is taking care of people as a nurse, running a business in agriculture, building something, managing people’s finances or teaching the future children of America, or something a little more unconventional.

For several years prior, I fell into the conventional job category. I went to school, learned how to teach, graduated and taught Kindergarten for several years. I loved it and though it was exhausting and rewarding all at once, I knew I was still missing something. Once I found out I was pregnant in my 4th year of teaching, I knew that God was calling me to be a stay-at-home-mom and I knew there was no way I could leave my baby. While I knew I was giving up one of my passions through teaching, I knew that God would use me through other facets of my life! And BOY did He!

Once I had made up my mind to be a SAHM, I found myself already worrying about not contributing to my household, so I picked up selling Rodan + Fields for a little extra income. I loved the products, so it was a great fit! As I’m still using and selling the products today, I longed for more of something that I could just do for ME. My job of being a full-time blogger was beginning to fall into place before I even realized it! 

I started this blog back in 2012 as a New Year’s Resolution, and I had no clue the plans that God had for this blog, my platform and voice as well as the impact that it could make on my family. I am so thankful for His plans and for the nudge to be obedient and trust that this is what I needed to be doing!

I had NO idea that I could be making money through blogging or that people would even care what I had to say! I had no idea that this could be my “job” but I’m so thankful it is. Sometimes, looking back, I see it falling into place as it was happening and it makes me giddy that God chose me to do something I love and get paid for it. I know that it’s not the most conventional job or it may just look like fun and games to most people, but it’s a 40+ hour work week that never ends. It’s a lot of hard work, sweat and tears that goes into a single post.  It’s a lot.

So while my job isn’t a conventional one, I won’t apologize for what I do. I won’t apologize for the lives that have been changed through reading something I’ve written. I won’t apologize for a mom’s new-found love for her body because she found a new clothing item she loved and treated herself to. I won’t apologize for sharing photos or scouring the internet for sales to share with y’all. I won’t apologize for being able to try out new clothes for my daughters that they may not have had otherwise. I won’t apologize for contributing, even sometimes a little, to my family’s income and well-being by doing this unconventional job. I won’t, because, when I get that one person that takes time to email me saying that they appreciated it or finally felt good in their own skin…it makes it ALL worth it.

I know it probably looks like I’m materialistic and care so much about sales. I know that it probably seems like I love shopping and get to travel a ton. I do love these things, but this is NOT why I’m doing this. I’m doing this because I enjoy it, it’s become a job and helped me contribute to my family while being at home with my children (which is my number one priority) and it’s brought so many amazing opportunities for us! I do it, ultimately, because I was obedient to God’s word telling me to use my platform, even in the smallest manner.

Maybe you have a job that’s 9-5 where you can sit in a cubicle with a job title, but that doesn’t make your job any more important that that mom who is contributing to her family and selling a MLM on the side. We’re all just doing the best we can for our families, so when you scroll past that person who is selling Plexus, Rodan and Fields, LipSense, Monat, etc, or a blogger who is promoting one of their favorite brands or sharing a sale..stop by to say thanks and appreciate the time they’re taking to share something they’re passionate about. It takes a lot more than just snapping a picture and posting; there are actually hours that go into collaborating with brands, curating Instagram feeds, looking at analytics and studying conversion rates. There is a whole lot more that goes into that pretty post that you see than what it looks like.

Honestly, think about the people you know. How many of them have a side business or work in a MLM company? How many of them are just trying to do the best they can for their family? Maybe their posts aren’t the best things to read or you aren’t super interested in their products, but aren’t they just trying to make some extra income for their family? Aren’t we all??

A job is a job, no matter what you feel like is a job. Cut those unconventional jobs some slack and know that everyone does it a little differently! There’s enough success and fun for us all, y’all!

Thanks for stopping by today and listening to a little bit of my heart. I truly enjoy what I do, but it does get old to constantly be having to defend blogging to people who don’t understand it. I feel like I’m not the only one that might feel this way, so if you have an unconventional job too…keep hustling and know that I am right there with ya, friend!

top (40% off comes in 4 colors) // shorts // sunglasses 
rings c/o Everly Rings // shoes // bag // pouch c/o The Daily Edited

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