So Why the Past Tense?

Might as well own it!

One day, I woke up broken. My back just wouldn’t line up. It was like my spine was made of jelly, only the jelly felt like crowbars pulling my joints apart. A year and 19 doctors later, I received a nasty diagnosis and began treatment. Which gave me seizures. 

From that moment forward, I couldn’t take any of the meds available for my disease because they were just as likely to cause the same reaction. And I was in unbearable pain, 24/7. I worked as long as I could, but when I felt the quality of my work was being affected, I decided it was time to pass the torch and retire, partially, technically. So I handed the business off to my partner who carved it up into a web-design only firm (whatever he needed to do, I understood) and I spent my time looking for alternative treatments. You wouldn’t believe the crazy diets and whack-jobs I visited, all to no avail.

During this 10 year period, I continued working in a consultant capacity. I offered brand strategy assistance, market research, competitive analysis and overall branding expertise. I assisted SEO firms with establishing branded terms lists that complemented their keyword strategies. So, while I wasn’t managing a team during that time, I was still working in the field, just on a much more limited basis.

I provided strategic consulting services to clients in various industries, so thankfully, there is no gap in my resume!

I worked hourly, spent some of my free time learning and staying relevant with continuing education, and the rest of my time trying every kind of diet or alternative therapy/treatment that I could find. Acupuncture is nothing – try cupping. It’s trippy!

I did this for 10 years while I waited for a new medication to come out that would help me. And finally, one did!

And…more seizures. Yep. So I said goodbye forever to the Rheumatologist and got into Pain Management. My pain doc is awesome. She burns the nerves in the affected joints so that my brain doesn’t get the pain signal. So, I’m in massive pain, but I don’t feel it, so I’m able to WORK FULL-TIME again! Goal!

Just days after the 1st set of nerve burns, all of a sudden, I was physically able to do all kinds of things! The first thing I did was jump in the pool with my son. I hadn’t been in a pool in over a decade! For 3 days straight, we played soccer, catch and giant Jenga. Then I took a long, hard look at the brand marketing industry to see where I could fit. I couldn’t go from an hourly strategic consultant back to a Creative Director overnight. I’d been working on branding projects for the 10 years I was down and out, but I focused on consulting. So no to a leadership position. A giant no to working for myself again, as that requires major hustling and I just wanted to get straight to work.

Thankfully, my two best skills have always been writing and project management. So, I managed project “Get a job” (I brand everything…just ask my very annoyed offspring), created a resume, this online portfolio and started blasting my way through agencies, job boards, you name it. I even called every single SEO firm in the Houston area (they usually write a LOT). Along the way, I hung out a shingle to do freelance work. My resume, testimonials and that fun stuff is on the contact page.

Which brings us to today.

So far, since my return, I’ve written emails, articles for clients, articles for this portfolio, blog posts, a script for a video, a whitepaper and content for an intranet that I can’t show you or they’ll stick bamboo shards under my fingernails. That’s code for, “I signed an NDA,” which is common in this industry. I’m also pre-contracted to ghostwrite an autobiography with a leading Publisher.

I also worked on a PPT-to-Video-Using-AI project that was a complete and utter bomb. It was chaos and I was lost in the swamp. BUT it ignited my newfound passion in working WITH AI instead of complaining about it taking over my job.

I created a course plan comprehensive course plan with GPT’s help and utilized Udemy, Coursera and Google to dominate AI Prompt Engineering. It took less than the 3 weeks I allocated to reach Professional level (Here is the proof), which was enough so I could stop, update my resume and portfolio that turned me from an out of work writer to an in demand unicorn! I get calls every day now!

But, I have yet to land a job. Freelance and contract work, sure, plenty. But I want to find a new home. A place that wants a goofy writer who used to be a boss and now would almost be willing to pay them to let me sit in the corner and write. Have I mentioned I love to write?

I’ve taken quite a few classes since the time of my first nerve burn. 15, I think. I’ve been trying to enhance my “psychologically based & action-oriented” writing skills. Trademark pending (I’m kidding). I’m also finding out ways that AI can assist me, without it doing the actual writing. I’ve already learned to use it to create Social Media posts and Content Development, YouTube videos, PowerPoint slides, along with scripts into videos.

I do need to build up the Social Media section of my portfolio, so that’s the current work in progress. I’m doing 3 campaigns right now. Thank goodness I can balance a lot of work, all with urgent deadlines. 

I’m ready for 40 hour weeks. I can’t wait to yell to the other room where my son is, “you’re gonna have to make dinner because I’m rocking this project right now! Feet don’t fail me now!”

I love my work. I get to do what I love best and get paid for it. Everyone should be so lucky!

So interview me, please! See if I’m a good fit to help you with whatever it is you’re working on. If you read My Referrals, you’ll see just how versatile I am, and how quickly I learn. Plus, I have the innate ability to make people smile. Truly. 

I can lead. I can follow. 

I can research. I can create.

I can innovate and reiterate.

Whatever it is, try me. I will get the job done. On time. Within budget and achieving all of our goals.