Today is Monday, September 28, 2009. Today my wife goes back to work after a long maternity leave and I will remain home with our daughter. I’m not a “Stay at Home Dad” but rather a “Work at Home Dad”. At least I hope so. This will undoubtedly be the most challenging thing I have ever tried to do.
My full time job is selling insurance. This is something that I love and hate. I love it because I am forced to network and work with others (something I feel I was born to do), but I hate it because of the stigma that comes with it. As an insurance agent, everywhere you go you are perceived as the “insurance guy” and most people you talk with seem to automatically assume that you are only out to sell them something. That is one reason I started Atlanta Insurance Live! – I wanted to be perceived differently. I also started it because being available online is crucial to my success, especially with my situation today… going deep into the trenches of diapers, bottles and baby babble.
Anyway, I will shift gears now… this blog is not to discuss my job. I have wanted to start a more personal blog for quite some time and since today is kind of special I figured there was no better day to call day one. I want this to be a place where you can get to know me, and I also want to delve into discussions about life, challenge, motivation, marketing, communication, success, and really anything in between. My heaviest passions and opinions right now lie in the areas of entrepreneurship, online innovation, social media, marketing, family and building deep connections with others.
So, if you stop by today and read this… I’ll ask you to leave a comment and answer the following simple question for me: What is the biggest challenge you face, right now? My challenge is balancing “work” and “dad” and finding a way to be great at both.
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My biggest challenge has been holding true to my core values. Most recently I had to leave a company with whom I had a non-compete. My reason for leaving was because of unethical busines decisions as I viewed it. In Pennsylvania there is a very good chance that I would prevail in Court, however, it would be costly to do so. I will be released from this non-compete in March 2010 so I have decided to take this time to re-evaluate my plan, goals, and objectives. I am redesigning my website and getting more and more familiar with social media.
What I have learned through this is that although for the time being my income is limited to out-of-state clients, I am richer than before. My clients compliment me regularly for the hard choice I made, local associations have engaged me for speaking engagements on Business Ethics and my good name is still intact. For after all, in the end, all you have is your good name. Worth a million dollars!
My biggest challenge right now is trying not to over spoil my toddler. Good luck Chris on your first day!
Dear Mr. Mom,
As someone who knows you, I can attest you are going to take that stigma and shove it in the diaper genie!
You have not tried to “sell me” once. Nor have I ever felt anything but genuine awesomeness from you.
I look forward to reading more!
Diane, thank you for the feedback! I also have a non-compete contract from my previous employer so I know your pain. It is hard to make a move within the same industry and have to start back at square one. The most important thing is that you made the move and you got started! I think just starting is 50% of the battle won, no matter what you do.
Michelle, I too am going to have a hard time not spoiling my little girl
Marisa, THANK YOU so much for the wonderful compliment… that means a lot to me, you have no idea!
Just found your blog (both of them). I'm also an 'insurance guy' in Atlanta and can relate to paragraph 2 completely. I'm a former English major w/ an M.Div and a resume that's heavier in church related work than in business.
Biggest challenge: To keep up the basic marketing and service efforts in my job while I work on understanding some basic web/social media principles to provide some additional value for my current clients (and family and friends should they care to hear what I have to say about insurance/risk management). Doing all of this while staying available to my wife and little ones (3 under the age of three).
Look forward to reading a bit more. Thanks.
My biggest challenge right now is to let go. Of redundant, bounding expectations, of 5 year plans, of certainty of a predetermined future. I shook the corporate life a few years ago, but it still nips at my heels. I also came from a high end sales job, and abandoned it for a simple life…more out of curiosity rather than desperation. I consider myself a semi-retired nomadic aspiring entrepreneur. What ever inspires us to liberate us, the love of a child or the enrapture of the road…I'm all for it
Love what you're doing. I was directed here from a friend that's modeling herself after you in some context. You should be proud of that, she's a smart woman.
Best of Luck in your Venture
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