The story of why an idea came to be is always an interesting one. BUT FIRST, you must understand their guiding principles and cause.
Storytime with Jessica!
Hello! And welcome to the second blog from ImagineWe Publishers! SO HAPPY YOU ARE HERE! My name is Jessica! I wanted to properly introduce myself. I am a single mommy, and my son and I are survivors of Domestic Violence. I am also a college instructor, a creative scholar, a two-time business owner, and I am also finishing my Ph.D. this year; a woman of many talents and passions, some might say. I’d like to welcome you into a story about where my drive comes from.
From the second myself and my son were first welcomed into a victim safe house when he was just a teeny, tiny baby, my world changed. Like so many before me, I had previously led a life searching day in and day out for my self-worth. When I fell victim to my abuser, and we had our child, the world opened up before me. I had been in a car accident right before finding out that I was pregnant, and I didn’t know it then, but my whole world was about to shatter and implode to, I guess, make room for the new things that I was going to decide and create (more about that part of the story to come later this month).
Hearing my son cry, when he was born, was the noise that gave us both life. I turned our backs on our abuser and decided my son would not know this violence. He would not grow up knowing what both, a threat and true fear felt like. I would not pass down the legacy of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that I grew up with. Don’t get me wrong, it was NOT that easy, but it was needed and everything else became so much less important when I made this decision.
When I became a mommy, I suddenly realized the world was so much bigger than I could have ever imagined. I saw possibilities and opportunities around every corner. I saw business ideas, degrees, book ideas, and imagined the amazing events that I could create. I pictured the path I wanted my son to be a part of, and the footsteps I wanted him to follow. They say your child will grow up to be what you display. They grow up to match and hopefully surpass your expectations and potential – that’s the hope. So what did I want for my son? I want him to be happy. I want to see that smile every single day, and hear that ridiculously infectious laugh. I want to know, appreciate and cherish achievements, but I also want him to understand and have the same relationship with failure. Failure is just as important as achievements, if not MORE!
There is a quote that has been recreated, and the numbers change in it every time about Thomas Edison. He created the light bulb. (In this example I am going to use the number 10,000.) And in doing so, he said that he did not fail 10,000 times to create that first lightbulb, he failed 9,999 times in order to find the 1 light bulb that worked. So what does that say to you?
He also said…“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration” And…
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up…Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up…Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
What a great man to speak such pivotal words! It takes a dream to make a vision come to life, but it also takes a ridiculous amount of failure and grit. You cannot have the life you always wanted and dreamed of without being the exact person who puts in the work, who takes those actions, who sheds those tears and sweat drops. You have to be willing to do what no one else has done, and retry what others have tried and possibly failed at until you find the things that work for you.
I want my son to know what true hard work feels like.
He will be there to help me wipe my tears away on the kitchen floor as I tell him about my long day, and I show him what failure feels like, and also why it is important. I want him to know what these feelings are all about, and also to know he can feel them, all out in the open with me. I want him to know that he can trust me with them because I so seriously understand because he was with me when it happened to me, too.
My car accident left me disabled, and I couldn’t work anymore. How could I create the life for my son that he deserved without a job? I decided that if my body couldn’t be my moneymaker, then my brain had to be. I went back to school.
Four years went by and I received my associates and bachelor’s degree. I committed to obtaining as much knowledge, experience, and education as I could by the time I turned 30. I started this company during my master’s degree.
Every day, I see my son transform and grow with unlimited opportunities, and potential. Every time he pushes himself or finds a new level of courage, I am so grateful to have made the hard choices, and be doing the work I am doing in our lives. Every achievement, and lesson he learns, show me it was all so worth it, and I can’t even express my appreciation and gratitude enough!
I can’t wait to tell you more about this company, and the day it first became both an idea and a reality. It means a lot to me that you are here reading this. Stay tuned for Thursday’s blog about the day ImagineWe first because of just an idea during my first semester in grad school! See you soon!
