Basket Case: Confessions of an Aspiring Entrepreneur

I started The Personal Gift Basket Company over eleven years ago, after giving birth to our last daughter.  Creating unique gifts and gift wrapping has always been a passion of mine and I wanted a way to turn that into a profitable business, so I did. On top of owning my own business, I also work for a major financial firm (for over 15 years). I  absolutely love my job, however the goal was to start my gift basket company a year after my daughter was born, then give myself another year to leave my “full time” job.

The plan looked great on paper, however while in the middle of my third trimester, my husband’s company went through a reorganization, and he lost his job in the process. He was out of work for almost one year!  Those were some very stressful, yet prayerful times for our family but we made it through (thank you Lord).

I continued to work my full-time job and also build my business.  My job has wonderful benefits and great investing plans, so we were covered even while my husband was unemployed. Shortly after my husband found a job, my company began to produce profits which also helped us stay afloat.  With my husband finding a job, it gave me the opportunity to quit my job…but I didn’t.  I’m still working them both and I’m loving it.

Being the type A personality that I am, I have a good plan in place that allows me to work them both (and still keep all my hair).  My full-time job has allowed me to work from home for almost three years.  To make sure everything gets done, I have structured my time to work (honestly) for my full-time job and run my business when needed.  My summer schedule – while the kids are out of school looks like this (on most days):

6:00 am-7:15(20ish) am – Work gift basket business – Answering and sending emails, completing gifts to be shipped and online marketing, getting mail ready for pickup.

7:30 am – Start full-time job work

10:30 am – Take break – answer any calls that came in for my company, check emails

10:40 am – Back to work

11:30 am – Lunch break – make any needed calls for my company, make lunch for my kids and myself

12:00 pm – Back to work

2:30 pm – Take break – Check new orders and get products out and ready to create, or answer emails check voicemail

2:45 pm – Back to work

4:00 pm –  Off work

After 4 pm – Create gifts, Deliver local gifts (to residences) and ship gifts outside of local area.

Everyday is not run, run, run and when needed my husband and kids help me run the business and we hire temporary help. Most days, I’m not overwhelmed with things to do, however there are days that I can’t see straight.

On one hand, I love everything that comes with working for myself, but on the other hand, I love the security of my paycheck and benefits every other week too. At some point I will give up my full-time job, but for now it’s working.