We're talking work

It's not often I talk about my job here on this blog because, well, it's "work-related" and I've always wondered who would actually want to read about how I spend 40+ hours a week but today, friends, whether you like it or not...we're talking work.

And by "work", I mean "my place of work".

(And I promise there's good reason for this. Just you wait.)

Health, wellness and fitness have always been a big part of my life.
Scratch that...it's a passion.

I've played sports since I was old enough to throw a ball, I've always been a work out fanatic, I eat healthy (although I'm no vegetarian) and overall, I live a pretty healthy-lifestyle. I also went to college for health promotion and health education.

You only have one body...you might as well make it the best damn body possible, right? Right.

When I graduated college, my first job was in Business Development for a staffing agency. While I loved my boss and co-workers, I was not the industry for me so I started seeking other options. 

Enter the place I work now: a health & wellness center.

But not just any health and wellness center; we're a natural health and wellness center where we literally, help people get their lives back. From bio-identical hormones, allergy treatment, diet and nutrition...this is what we do.

I started out in sales for the vitamin and supplement store and although I loved working with the patients every single day, after about a year and a half, it felt a little redundant to me. I wanted more responsibility. I was looking for more growth within my company, and more importantly, within myself, but felt like there was really no where for me to go "up".

I started interviewing elsewhere, even though I knew health & wellness was where I needed to be. I got a job offer at what I would consider to be the Ritz Carlton of car dealerships here in Houston and even though I semi-accepted the position, something inside me just told me that I had absolutely no business changing careers from health to cars. (Cars? Really, Stephanie??)

Against every cell in my body, I took my "little dilemma" to the president of my company before accepting the final offer. I explained that I was looking for "more". I told her I had been interviewing and was considering taking the job. From there, I basically begged her to tell me that this was the right place for me. I was going places with this company and that it would be asinine for me to even consider doing anything else. We shared a few tears, a couple laughs and even a hug at the end. (God love that woman!) 

The day ended with a promotion (Assistant Director in the hizzouse) and a raise, which was all great and wonderful and was well worth celebrating, but what I didn't know at the time is that it would ultimately end up to be my dream job, with a Saint of a boss and an amazing sales team that I support.

I've been in the same position for a little over a year now and honestly, could not see myself anywhere else. (Funny how things work out, isn't it?) For now, I have found the right seat on the bus. :)

Though I do more of the marketing, product development, inventory and purchasing these days, which is definitely little more challenging and demanding and I don't get to work with the patients as much, I still get to see and hear about many of our patients who are doing so well on our program. The patients who came in here 60 pounds overweight, with no life left in them and already one foot in the grave are now happy and healthy and have an entire no lease on life.

 While my career doesn't "define" me as a person and I'll never be one of those "career women who doesn't ever want kids", it does have a big, err-HUGE thing to do with my internal satisfaction and I can't even imagine myself anywhere else.

Someone on our program put this together and I couldn't help but share it because the first time I watched it, my eyes welled up with tears. If you don't have time to watch the entire video, at least try to watch it from 2:55 til the end.

This is what solidifies what I do on a daily basis.

This is what makes waking up at 5:30am every morning worth it.

This is why Monday mornings aren't the worst day of the week anymore.

This is why checking my work emails on the weekend isn't considered a "hassle".

***

So I challenge you.

***

Whether you're an insurance agent, a marketing coordinator, a teacher, a loving housewife turned pro-blogger/photographer or a busy stay-at-home momma...

Are YOU in the right seat on the bus?

Do you wake up excited to go to work each week or do you find yourself watching the clock tick?

Are you challenged on a daily basis?

Do you often find yourself in a rut?
What will you do about it? 
 ***

Photo of my team at dinner

 L to R: Andrew, David, Cody, Moi, Kristin, Cathleen, Monica (el Presidente)

(P.S.-Sorry for all the seriousness today. I just wanted you to know more about little ol' me. :)