I'm a child of the baby boomer generation. My Father instilled in me that I was better off with a job with good benefits, as opposed to a good job with benefits. In the meantime, his job required long hours and high stress, but he had a job with good benefits. I am fortunate to have hard working parents, who made those sacrifices to make sure I was not deprived of anything, including an excellent education.

My parents were still living the American Dream despite their humble beginnings and lack of support from their parents . Much like most of my high school and college friends, all we knew was to make the grades, participate in extracurriculars, try to get some "on campus" interviews, graduate on time, get a respectable corporate job. Particularly, one with good benefits. Most of my peers did just that. Falling into entry level consulting, financial, logistics, insurance, sales, etc...type gigs.....all with good benefits. I did the same and my Father was ecstatic.

Although, my younger self was not at all satisfied with an entry level back office financial services job making $23,000 a year with solid (not good) benefits. Gainfully employed, I started to do some quick math and realized that my parents spent a ton of money on my education and my "work study" stints while at school only covered my food, maybe a few books, and a campus bookstore canvas bag with a "V" logo. (Villanova).

We all have to start somewhere and I began to embrace this first gig of mine and actually enjoyed it, despite the pay. The people were great, happy hours were fun and where else could I still be playing flag football and recreational basketball without this corporate job with solid benefits at the age of 23? At the time, nowhere that I knew of. Although I was not content with the salary, I was committed to paying my dues and learning the business, climbing the ladder, fake smiling, applying for upper level jobs, and bringing in bagels on Fridays (when I first discovered cheddar/ horseradish cream cheese for the first time, how could that be bad?).

I was well liked, a team player, and moved up the low end of the ladder a couple of years into my work experience. Getting to the middle end of the ladder proved difficult. I wasn't seeking a mentor and began to grow tired of the cubicle world. I remember having a yearly review with a higher up and conveying to him that I'm not sure that I can come to the same place for the next 30+ years for 9+hours a day and keep doing the same thing. This was the late 1990's/early 2000's, I barely had a cell phone, all the tech booms were just beginning and the only apps were what we ordered at happy hours.

As I kind of always knew, this corporate path wasn't for me. I gave it a try but knew there was more out there than benefits, cubicles, happy hours and dress down Fridays. Around this time I saw the classic movie "Office Space" and began to discover the legendary comic/social commentator George Carlin. It was at this time that I realized that, for me, it was all bullshit. It took me 27 years, but I finally had some clarity.

I was now determined to find a job that was on my own terms. I realized that I was lucky for my education and great friendships, but I didn't have monetary wealth, a family business, or an inheritance. If nothing else, I knew at that time that I wasn't going to be miserable working a job that overworked me and kept my interest and loyalty in having just "good benefits."

I knew it was time to design my future.