It's Gut Check Time

Well, here we are. It's September 29, 2010 and we're 2 days away from Scott opening his State Farm agency. It's a day we've been planning for and anxiously awaiting for the past 2 years, but now that it's here it seems like it's too soon. Today we were running around like mad picking up last minute things for his office and just marveling at the warp speed the past few weeks have passed. Now that we only have two days to go and we've been preparing for what seems like forever, I suddenly feel a little panicked, like I'm digging in my heels trying to stop time from going so quickly. I don't feel ready for this. I was really excited up until Monday when I realized that at the end of the week we would be in business for ourselves. Then all my built up excitement soured into that hot-water-in-your-mouth-before-you-throw-up feeling.

Starting on Friday, our days of a steady, reliable paycheck are gone. We'll be lucky if we make any money this next year. All money will be going to pay for expenses and his employee's salaries/commissions. If there's any left for us, that's when we get paid. Yes, we've know that this is what we wanted to do for a long time, so we feel like we are financially prepared for this, but nothing makes me panic more than seeing all our hard-earned, hard-saved money drain out of our savings account like a sieve. Even just the start-up costs have me panicked, even though I knew full well what we'd be using our money on. Folks, I can't even play Monopoly because I panic when I lose my money. And that's just the fake stuff. I have to keep taking deep breaths and reminding myself that this is exactly what we've been saving our money for. That it'll all be ok and worth it in the end.

I know Scott is going to be an amazing State Farm agent and his clients will be so lucky to be at his agency. He really loves this field and is genuinely concerned about helping people protect themselves from the unexpected things that life can throw at you. He believes passionately in what he's doing and has an engaging personality, so I know that will go a long way. He's got a great team who will be working for him and they will bring a lot to his agency as well. I am confident that he will do wonderfully and that this will be a career that will definitely pay off a few years down the road. However, that's easy to say that now before he starts with the long hours, hard hard work and little pay. Throw in the impeccable timing of the upcoming birth of our 3rd child and you've got a recipe for one crazy mamma. :)

Wish us luck.

Or better yet, call Scott to get a quote and transfer your policies to his office. :) He can do insurance/financial & retirement planning/banking services for people in WA/OR and life insurance for people in any state. Just in case you were wondering. :)