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  • Hi, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle.

    You can find me writing for HGTV and DIY Network, follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

    Thanks for visiting!

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New Day, New Career Path, And Some Must-Reads For YOU

May 20, 2011

In the time since I launched this blog, a lot has changed. For the better. For the best, really. I’ll follow up later this afternoon with some new decor I’ve been excited about, but first… Happy Friday: I quit my job!

I’ll be substantiating this post with a couple of images for you. Because there wasn’t enough evening sunlight yesterday to capture me literally jumping for joy and running in happy circles with the doggums. Both have been pinned on my pinterest page, and are also credited accordingly in this post:

Linzie Hunter, "Don't Put Off Your Happy Life"

(Illustration via the amazing Linzie Hunter)

I’ve become inspired, impassioned, and excited about my professional future all over again. After years (4 years, 10 months, and 2 days, because I’m exacting like that) I left my job at a reputable Rochester ad agency to carve out my own path as an independent entrepreneur. Yesterday. This all went down yesterday. I’m nothing but grateful for the experience, it was just my time to leave and try out new things. I had lots of opportunity, met wonderful people including Pete and received almost everything I asked for (from responsibility, to challenge, to a cubicle with a view). And I had a series of amazing bosses who not only gave me the room to grow personally and professionally, but also the means in which to do it. Wow, I can make it sound pretty sunshine and lollipops, right?

But, get this: After 4 years of the day-to-day, I was terribly bored. And bored me is the worst me. I had work to do; I was plenty busy, don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t excited by it anymore. At all. Getting through the day made me a really angry person too, and I didn’t like that, nor did I like that I was bringing those bad vibes home with me, and I really (really, really) didn’t like that my Sundays had gone to shit because I was angry about the following day being Monday. Who wants to live like that? Not this girl.

I put in my notice a month ago… and walked out of the office last night with a huge weight off my shoulders (OK, and a new huge weight ON my shoulders); the best part of this whole experience? The support from friends, co-workers, and clients alike. Here goes nothing. Here starts everything.

This blog you’re reading turned into more than just a creative outlet, and more than I intended it to be originally. I had approached it with a pretty open mind. I was inspired by some other bloggers, but mostly looking for a different way to share what I had been up to around the house, meet some new people, and find out what this whole blogging thing was really about; my photo “blog” on tumblr wasn’t enough for me anymore. In the last 6-months, Merrypad has become something that exuded promise and opportunity, a chance and place to really express myself in a strategic business development role. From the ground up. Starting from nothing is fun. And this post is really just my way of sharing my perspective on new business from the very start. I’ll be blogging. I’ll be making and selling art (launching within the next week). I’ll be marketing-consulting. I’ll be representin’. I’ll be happy.

I like to think I’m approaching this whole “Emily, Reinvented” thing with a perspective on marketing, advertising, and business development unlike some others in the niche space; my agency experience and general interest in how businesses and products launch and grow really makes me feel positively about my decision (obviously I wouldn’t have done this if I hadn’t felt confident in my own abilities). I’ll find a way to make it work; stuff’s already happening, and I love… stuff… happening. As I can often be quoted saying, “Everything is Awesome”. Can you believe I found this on Pinterest just yesterday? Add “quilling” to the list of things I need to learn how to do.

Erin Casner, "Everything Is Awesome"

(via Erin Casner’s flickr page – Do yourself good and check out the rest of the set on Quilling when you have a few minutes.)

So, I can’t say it better than any of these folks I’m about to introduce you to (or maybe you’ve already met). I have no intent of this site transitioning into something that’s a small-business consultancy, so I’ll leave you with this short list of some influential articles that I recommend:

  • The Good Job by Chris Guillebeau for The Art Of Non-Conformity
  • ProBlogger (because it’s good to think BIG); also, this article from guest author Jon Morrow was amazing too.

___

P.S. Sincere thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for SentrySafe! I’m so pleased with the response both via comments on merrypad.com and Twitter. The winners are Patricia H. and @fallonbryce. Stay tuned for another giveaway – it will be announced next Tuesday!

 

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Emily
I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. I've been a freelancer writer for 10+ years and you can find my work on popular home and garden sites, like HGTV.com. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note.

19 Comments


Brad
May 20, 2011 at 8:42 am
Reply

You go girl. Though we’ll miss you.



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 9:52 am

    Thanks Brad. I’ll miss leftover meeting snacks.

Rachel
May 20, 2011 at 9:02 am
Reply

Good for you, Emily!! Congrats and enjoy!



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Thank you Rachel :)

Irene
May 20, 2011 at 9:08 am
Reply

Awesome! I hope one day to quit my job and do something more creative, fun, and for me.



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Thanks Irene! Plan for it and do it.

Shannon @ Compartment Life
May 20, 2011 at 9:43 am
Reply

Congrats Em! You’ll do wonderful, I’m so excited to see where this takes you!



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Haha! Thanks Shannon – I’m excited to see where I go too.

Brigitte Lyons
May 20, 2011 at 9:54 am
Reply

Wahoooo!!! Congratulations, Emily! I’m so excited to see your plans in action.



Beth VanVliet
May 20, 2011 at 10:51 am
Reply

I can’t imagine walking in to work on Monday and not seeing your smiling face through your “window.” As I look at this incredible change that you have made, I feel excitement on your behalf and tremendous “Office Mother” pride. But more than anything, I know that your passion and determination are going to make you successful. Can’t wait to see your next chapter unfold…



amber perrodin
May 20, 2011 at 11:30 am
Reply

so. damn. inspiring.

thanks emily.



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    Thanks Amber :) You’re an inspiration to me as well.

Jordan @ White Bungalow
May 20, 2011 at 12:42 pm
Reply

Congrats! Can’t wait to see what’s instore!



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Thanks Jordan!

Ashley @ DesignBuildLove.co
May 20, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Reply

oh my gosh Emily!!!! Soooooo exciting! You’ve had me on the edge of my seat! So happy for you, really! I wish you all the best in the new venture and can’t wait to watch it all unfold and develop! :)



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Thanks for your support, Ashley! It’s a very exciting time :)

Katrina
May 20, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Reply

Yeah girl! You rock – congrats on all your successes and here’s to many more. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next :)



    Emily
    May 20, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    Thanks Katrina! You’re an inspiration… I can’t to see what else YOU will come up with too!

Cait @ Hernando House
May 21, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Reply

Woohoo! Can’t wait to see where you take your newfound freedom :)



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  • HI, I’m Emily

    Emily Fazio

    I'm a home improvement enthusiast, living a very merry DIY lifestyle. Follow me on facebook and instagram, or drop me a note if you'd like. I love notes.

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