Guest post by Kirstie Berzanski (learn more about Kirstie at the end of this post)
I sell moving boxes and supplies on-line. I know that this does not sound like exciting work, but I LOVE IT! As a matter of fact, I have finally found the line of work I want to be in. Believe me when I tell you that I NEVER would have picked this industry if my husband, (back then fiance) didn’t own a moving company. I literally stumbled into, never thinking this was the career that I would love.
For so many years I wanted to create a company that enforced my beliefs in …”doing what I loved.” I had worked as a professional salesperson for years for Fortune companies. I did very well in sales, made excellent money, but I really hated my work. So for years I continued to search and search trying to find something that I “loved.” Countless number of books, audio tapes, workshops and even a weekend retreat didn’t help me find what I was looking for.
I realize now that I was looking in the wrong places. I was looking at the product itself and asking myself….”do I love that?” Am I excited about X blank product? If I would have asked myself that question before I started my box company…..”do boxes excite me?”……the answer would have been “no.” By asking myself that question, I would have missed a huge opportunity for a tremendously satisfying career.
Now I have learned that there are many deeper things to consider about loving your work. I realized that my beliefs about “loving what you do” limited the types of business opportunities that I considered getting involved with.
Selling boxes on-line fulfills 10 deeper needs that I have identified for myself:
- To be creative
- To solve problems, and help other people solve problems.
- To make people’s moving experience better because they used our products and services. (To help people)
- A very flexible schedule. I can work at home with my two babies with flexible hours.
- To continuously learn new things and be challenged with big goals.
- To be in a line of work that is difficult to master, and one where you are always learning. (On-line sales)
- To be a teacher helping people know how to pack and move properly. (You can be a teacher doing many different things)
- To explore ideas, write and help people.
- To work with integrity representing a high quality product and service that is exactly as it is advertised.
- To have a very good work/home balance.
My point being is that the actual product of “boxes” has nothing to do with the fact that I love my work. It is the other components that make this line of work extremely satisfying for me. Although I do love our products because they are high quality, they help making moving easier, and help protect people’s stuff, I don’t love “boxes” themselves.( if you know what I mean.) I believe that if we can find those core aspects of what makes us feel fulfilled in a job, than that is how we will find new business opportunities that we love.
Now, armed with this information about myself, I will be in a much better position to explore future business opportunities. With any future business I start, I will ask myself if it fulfills these 10 deeper needs that I have. If it does, then there is a high chance that I will love that too,……….even if that means selling microwaves, hammers, or bolts for a car.
I hope there are women out there that will be helped by this article.
About the Author
Kirstie Berzanski is a writer, author, entrepreneur, a mom of two babies under 2, and founder and owner of Moving Box Delivery, a company that ships moving boxes and supplies to your doorstep. She is also a co-owner (with your husband) of an established, highly rated San Diego moving company that has been in business over 12 years called Discount Movers.
