12 comments

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  Tevarra

  9 months ago

  Great article. Thank you for sharing.
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  Will

  9 months ago

  hey jane!
  
  love your story! very encouraging! I am amazed by the way you made this though decisions!
  
  bw,
  will
  
  p.s.: there is a mistake in the link to Micro Businessmentor: one "s" is missing
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  Clay Collins

  9 months ago

  @Tevarra and @Will: I'm glad you liked Jane's story. Isn't she amazing? Anyway, thank you for reading.
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  Miguel de Luis

  9 months ago

  Hi Clay
  
  What I like more about this article is how she shares the hardships too.
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  Marc Beneteau / Lifestyle Desi

  9 months ago

  @Miguel: agreed. Entrepreneurship is not always a "bowl of cherries" and we need real passion and confidence in our mission to get through it.
  
  I especially noted this in the article:
  
  >What kept me going? What got me through doubt and fear? I
  >can identify 3 assets: (1) the intensity I felt for my
  >mission, (2) Cass’s confidence in me even when I was not
  >always confident in myself, and (3) perseverance to see
  >through my mission to make a specific difference in the
  >pharmaceutical industry.
  
  This is stark contrast to the "get rich quick" schemes that have become so popular. Way to go Jane.
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  Jane Chin

  9 months ago

  Thank you for your comments, everyone!
  
  I made a point to talk about the hardships because I've read many stories that focus only on the successes, and miss sharing what I consider to be the most important part of an entrepreneurial story: the tough times.
  
  I've always found it more useful to know what real challenges a person has encountered, how he or she made value-based decisions to deal with the challenges, what happened as a consequence, and how the person grows from the experience.
  
  Most people quit their dreams prematurely because they didn't realize how tough it can be, and in some case, how much patience they're asked to cultivate.
  
  Jane Chin
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  Maria | Never the Same River T

  9 months ago

  Wow. I really admire Jane's courage and ability to keep going despite doubt and fear. What an amazing project to only do things you love while simultaneously raising a child!
  
  I do have one question for Jane: How did you deal with criticism from your former colleagues (if there was any) when you started speaking out against their business practices?
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  Hunter Nuttall

  9 months ago

  What an amazing story! A great one for me to read today on the first day of my mini-retirement!
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  Jane Chin

  9 months ago

  Maria,
  
  I'm sure I had (have) critics, although for the most part, I was simply echoing the sentiments and concerns of my colleagues who were just as troubled as I was, but they have their own reasons for not speaking out.
  
  I've learned that when you're doing the right things, and doing things right, you will see two group emerging.
  
  One group is made up of the people you are serving and providing either tangible or intangible value to, who are thankful that someone is addressing their concerns and putting in an effort to move things forward.
  
  The other group is made up of people for whom you will never be young enough, old enough, experienced enough, smart enough, credible enough, rich enough, poor enough, tall enough, short enough, etc. etc. etc.
  
  You get to choose which group whose opinions you believe, and what you can do about it.
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• 

  Patricia

  9 months ago

  Thanks for sharing your story. I'm older than you and it's good to see that I'm not the only crazy around. I left my teaching position at the same school after 23 years, long who enough to discover that I was the only one who wanted to change things. Things were not easy at that time here in Argentina, a lot of people were loosing their jobs; my dad passed away.To make it short. I left following my instintcs and without knowing what to do.As it happened to you our income reduced more than a half; but it was the best decision I had ever made. My kids said I started smiling again and I started a new career. I am a counselor now, and continue being an eternal student.
  I started my own company this year, helping at the same time to my husband, and I have some ideas in mind.
  Things I've learnt:
  1)Follow youe feeings (I've never made a wrong decision when following them)
  2)Give and you'll receive a lot more in return
  3)Family support is esential (I wish my dad could see me now, I know he does)
  4)Congruence is a must for me (I need it to be happy)
  5)My husband (whom I loved, love and will always love)
  Well, that's all for now.Sorry, to keep you reading such a long comment
  Love Patricia
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  Catrise Paige

  5 months ago

  Patricia,
  
  Not only did I enjoy the post, but I am seriously blessed by your comments here. I've just jumped ship myself, still flailing, it feels like, but more at peace than I have been in decades. I'm 40 now, no dependents, 2000+ miles away from my hometown.. and freer than I have ever been in my life thus far. I made the jump after months of prayer and now that I have done so, I feel as if I have been emancipated.
  
  Love this site!!
  
  Catrise
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  Jenevieve

  7 months ago

  Jane. What a great and very human account of what it really means to follow your bliss. Thank you also for including your experience as a Mother in that! Coming off the tails of a generation of women who believe (whether openly admitted or not) that child rearing is a waste of a woman's life, it's good to hear a fellow mother reinforce what I believe (as a mother of a two year old) which is that it will turn you on your head and point you in a direction you never would have thought of on your own. I have felt stronger and more focused in my own creative life as a painter and graphic designer while still finding time to be with my daughter and really experience her than I ever felt as a single woman. I will be following your story.
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