Life Is Full of Surprises

When I was 22 I lost both parents in a car accident, when I got married and had my first child we found out he had muscular dystrophy. My job completely suffered from all of the time that I spent trying to take care of my kid, my strength and hope slowly left after he passed away and with losing my job. 

My husband and I divorced soon after our son passed. I searched for something that would help me find my way back to who I once was. I was a happy, cheerful go-getter with eyes full of hope but sometimes life has a complete different way of happening. I got tired of people constantly looking at me and feeling sorry for me with the events that happened in my life. I moved in with my best friend and basically lived on her couch with her husband and 2 kids. They both had jobs so it actually worked out where I could watch their kids during the day. 

One amazing fall day, I took the kids to the park and as I sat there it hit me what I wanted to do. I wanted to open my own daycare. I had thought about it before but knew it was definitely just not the right timing and our funds with my sons illness were stretched. When my friend came home from work I said, “I have to tell you my idea!!” She absolutely loved it and said that I had to go for it. She actually knew a few people through her work that could help out with some startup seed money to get it off the ground. So for the next few months we scoped out different areas that might work for a location and then we found one near the park where the idea hit me at. It was just meant to be. 

As I get ready to embark on this new chapter of my life here are a few things I want to say to you as a person and future business owner:

If you like to make plans, stop. They are not always going to go according to plan as much as you want them to. Never think that you can’t get out of something that makes you unhappy whether it’s a marriage or situation. Find people that will constantly be there for you but challenge you each day and that are not afraid to tell you the truth. Life is too messy to have people just sit aside and not be honest with you. Not everything is always going to be perfect so know that it’s okay to cry and be sad. Sometimes you have to get to those low points to realize how truly strong you are deep down. Not everyone always gets the chance to start over in life but if you do, take every advantage of it and don’t let the second chance go to waste or pass you by. My second chance is coming and I’m going to make sure I don’t let it go to waste. 

I Am A Mom and Pop.

Leigha Albright 

A Simple Conversation with Donald Trump

My father was a small business owner so I grew up with the thought that I would do the same thing. Well, when I turned 18 things changed. Most of my friends were headed off to college and I wanted to have the same experience. I headed off to NYU and my main focus was “where was the next party at?” 

My freshman year came and went without me actually figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. In the middle of my sophomore year I started working part time at a catering company that focused on large charity events in downtown NYC. Why catering? Well, my friend knew a friend that knew someone’s uncle…you get the picture. There was one event that supposedly Donald Trump was suppose to attend but I was not on the crew list to work it and it didn’t bother me that I would miss it. I made my plans for the night and the company called saying they needed extra help for the night. I tried to get out of it but it was one of those, “We’re not asking you, we’re telling you to be here at 6 sharp.” 

The event was actually a lot of fun despite dealing with some of the typical people you see in NY that think they are better than anyone else. I had not seen Donald Trump most of the night but heard he was around and in the VIP area which wasn’t my area to roam. As people started dwindling and we started the long cleanup process, I walked over near the VIP area to help and standing right behind me was Mr. Trump. My dad was a huge fan of him and for some reason that was all I could say to him in that moment. He smiled and said, “Your dad is an entrepreneur?” When I answered yes, he says to me, “Why are not working with him and learning from his knowledge?” Still stunned that the Donald was speaking to me, I just blurted out, “I don’t know that I have it in me to be an entrepreneur and the drive to push forward.” He laughed and then said, “Your story is just beginning and why on earth are you spending it doing this? Get over your fear, make some mistakes while learning from them and get out there.” 

After he said what he had to say, he walks away and then turns around with his million dollar smile and says, “What are you waiting for? Go!” Since that day I dropped out of NYU and went back to Virginia to help my dad with his insurance business. I don’t know why I ventured off and it took Mr. Trump to talk some sense into me but I am forever grateful that he took 5 minutes of his time to do so. I know I am one of the few people who ever get to have an opportunity like I did so listen to what I’m about to say:

It’s OKAY to not know what you want to do in life. Don’t waste precious time on going to parties and becoming friends with people that won’t be there for you tomorrow. Don’t sacrifice doing what makes you happy for anyone, the right person or people will be there to support you along the road. Get over the fact that you might be working with family in business, it’s not as bad as you think. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or failure, it’s going to happen no matter how hard you try not to. If someone helps you, never forget it and try to return the favor at some point because you want to and not because you have to. So what are you waiting for? Get out there.

I Am A Mom and Pop.

Peter Posen