The other night I was showing Jay (my significant other) some old photos, of my high school BFF Lori (we share the same name). They were taken in the late 80’s, and Lori was on the homecoming float just nominated for homecoming queen.

Jay asked, “where are you in the photos?”

I thought for a minute, and I realized that I had worked my entire high school homecoming weekend.

It made me think about how much of my life I have devoted to work and I started reflecting on my past jobs that include:

• Ticket sales and popcorn girl at a small movie theater (Lori and I worked here together)

• Flight Attendant

• Esthetician/Spa Owner

• Beauty Biz Coach/Consultant/Educator

• Host of The Beauty Biz Show

And then I asked myself, “why have you and why do you work so much?”

The answer I arrived at was pretty powerful, and I hope that my answer inspires you to build a work life that fills you up.

Now this might surprise you but, I have always picked a career that looked like it would be fun and never really focused on the money! The choice has always been about whether or not I would enjoy my limited time here on this planet.

In high school, I worked at the movie theater with all my friends (I made $2.90 per hour, way under minimum wage at the time). All the theater gals became close to the owner’s son who was our age and had no problem sneaking us in at 12 am on a Saturday night, starting the popcorn machine and showing us the most recent flicks. Youngblood with Rob Lowe and Top Gun with Tom Cruise were a few personal 80’s favorites!

Then, three weeks after graduating from college, I became a flight attendant. I made a poverty level income, shared a bedroom with five other gals and worked every weekend and holiday for 14 years. But, I had a BLAST!

What I remember most about these years is how much fun I had. I have the best memories of endlessly laughing at nightclubs in Miami and LA. We also had beauty school drop out nights in our hotel room – this is where the entire crew would bring a beauty product and we would spend the evening doing our nails, masking our face and one time I even let a fellow flight attendant perm my hair!

Then September 11th happened hitting way too close to home for me and I knew that I had to change my life. Something or someone spoke to me (I am still not sure where the voice came from, but it was loud and clear), and said, “this is your chance to do whatever you want for work so make it something you that will light your passion on fire.”

I had always been obsessed with beauty lotions and potions so the esthetics world made perfect sense so I took the leap. I was stepping into becoming an esthetician at 32 years old with the mindset and determination that I was going to be a successful esthetician.

I was going to be an esthetician that worked on celebrities and was booked solid, and I was going to have a blast doing this. I was giving up a solid paycheck, health insurance, and a 401K, so I knew I had better make this scary change worth it!

And here’s how I feel today…

I have not once regretted the decision to stop traveling the world and instead spend my days in a small dark room. This crazy beauty biz world is everything I had hoped it would be… fun, abundant and rewarding.

So my advice to you is to realize that life is short and we are here to live a happy and abundant life and yes, to have FUN too!

It’s true that when you choose to be kind, have fun and show up 100% in your life you can achieve whatever you want and work will never feel like work, but instead will feel like a divine gift. I’m the living proof so go for it!

By the way… If your biz has been a little short on the *fun* factor lately, be sure to keep an eye on your inbox as I’ll be sending an announcement out very soon and you won’t want to miss it!