Welcome to my new company, independence for ME, and my first blog. And thank you for visiting my website. I want to share with you how I arrived at the decision to start my own company at the young age of 60. After reading this and future blogs, please feel free to comment. I promise to read each one and respond if appropriate!
I laugh when I think about the journey I have undertaken, because I am, by nature, not a risk taker. I have been satisfied working for others, doing my job well, and collecting a paycheck at the end of the week. I did have a brief stint of selling beeswax candles and facial products at home parties, but it never seemed to be “me.” I really enjoy watching Shark Tank on TV, but it never encouraged me to think about starting my own business.
My work, until I met Attorney Michael Bell at age 30, had been in jobs that lasted at most a couple of years, because I never developed a passion for any of the positions I held or the fields I worked in. When I went to work for Attorney Bell in 1987, he practiced Social Security Disability law, but also had a general practice as well. Soon after my arrival, he made the business decision to concentrate on Social Security disability, and the practice flourished.
Social Security Disability law is very complex and time-consuming, but I came to really enjoy the challenge. I finally found my passion! Of course, the more I knew and the better I was at my job, the better the practice did financially. I continued to seek more knowledge, ask more questions, and take on more responsibility. I appreciated the fact that I was helping people who were trying to navigate a very complicated bureaucratic system and in doing so provided them with financial independence and, just as important, medical insurance in order to appropriately treat their conditions. I learned that every individual has a unique story to tell, and the sharing of that story was crucial to winning a person’s disability claim.
In April of this year, Attorney Bell made the decision to reduce his business hours to four days a week. I was not ready to work part-time. I still have a lot of gas in the tank, so to speak. One option was seeking employment with another company that would provide full-time employment, but a better option was to start my own business doing what I love. I presented the idea to Attorney Bell, and he thought it was a great plan!
Over the last 29 years in this profession, I have honed my skills, including empathy, patience, attention to detail, and organization. I have met so many wonderful people that I am proud to call clients. Attorney Bell and I continue to share our knowledge with each other, and it is a great working relationship. He has fully supported my efforts in starting this business and wishes me nothing but success. He is as much a friend and colleague as he is my employer.
And so, here I am at the beginning of what I hope to be a satisfying and rewarding business of my own, doing what I am so passionate about – Social Security Disability. I want to express my heartfelt thanks and love to my family and friends who have supported me through this process so far. I was not very confident and frankly quite unsure about whether or not I was making the right decision. I have gotten nothing but positive feedback and encouragement every step of the way. I especially want to thank my wonderful husband, Steve. He has been my biggest supporter and has believed in me and my ability to make this business succeed.
In future blogs, I will provide you with things I have learned about starting a business. I will also blog about other things that I think might interest readers and about which I am just as passionate, such as grand parenting, travel, and going “upta camp” in Monson, Maine.