How a Lay Off Forced Me to Reinvent Myself

Hey Everyone! Welcome to the blog!

 Allow me to introduce myself.

I'm LaDonna Bracy, CEO of Lake Park Consulting and President of Reinvent YoUniversity on Facebook. I help mature adults (I like to call them "grown folks") make impact on what they have been dreaming about.  That's my formal introduction.  Let me give you the informal one.

I'm LaDonna.  A 40-something (fabulous) wife and mom of teenagers, minister, author, and entrepreneur.  I love, love, love helping people do something meaningful.  My purpose is to connect the people I serve to the people, places, things, and information that will help them live out their dreams.

I've always wondered what it would be like to start my own business.  I've known that I had more to offer this world and that my life had to be more than punching a clock everyday. I started dreaming about starting a business, but I was too scared to leave my steady paycheck.

I was working for a non-profit agency in 2005.  I had been working there for 9 years.  I'd held several positions there and I was comfortable. But all of a sudden, I felt the climate change.  I knew, within my spirit, that something was about to happen.

I listened to my inner voice and started preparing for plan B.  I had taken some classes to learn how to start a home daycare business.  I had no idea how to care for other people's children, but my own daycare provider, at the time,  convinced me that I should at least consider working from home.

I thought the idea was crazy.  I didn't even like other people's kids!  I had to consider it though, because again, I felt a change coming.

As it turns out, the non-profit agency I was working for in 2005 did a massive lay off.  Of course, I was one of the ones to be let go.  At first, I was devastated, but then I realized that this was the best thing that could happen.  I was now free to live my dream.

I took the severance package they gave me and started my home daycare business.  I was scared!!

What if I don't get any clients?  What if I don't do this right?  What if I don't make any money?
These are all questions that plagued me.

Nevertheless, I forged ahead.  I attended a Parent/Teacher Conference at my kid's school with my daycare promotional materials in hand.  After talking to a few people, I left that conference with 2 new clients!

I was on my way!!!  I was elated!!!  That was the validation I needed that I was moving in the right direction.  I operated my daycare business for 3 years before returning back to work (for reasons we'll discuss later).  But...I will always treasure that experience.  I learned how to run a business!!! As a result of that experience people began to seek me out for advice on how to do it.

I had  indeed reinvented myself. 

I've learned so many things along the way.  I can't wait to share them with you.  Hopefully, you will be encouraged to reinvent yourself by stepping out there, and doing what it takes to live your dreams. I'll talk to ya real soon. 

Connect with me on Facebook at Reinvent YoUniversity or at www.lakeparkconsulting1.com.