By the way....Do You Know Debi J?

My Family

I was born in Springfield, IL

I was raised by a single mom who spent 38 years as a legal secretary never making more than $38,000 per year - and she worked for the same attorney the entire time.

I have one brother who's 5 years younger than me who still lives in Illinois and whom I don't see very often. When we were kids, our mom encouraged us both to go to college (in other words - we were GOING) because she believed that a degree was the answer to a secure financial future.

I'm also a single mom of a wonderful son. He's traveled the world with me and we crew together in The 3-Day Breast Cancer walks. We talk about everything and we've certainly had our ups and downs, but through it all, we've managed to remain best friends.

My Education

I went - quit after the first year - then went back when my son was about 3. Four years later, I had a B.S. in Computer Programming, $25,000 of debt - and a job paying $26,000 per year - yay!

My Career

In 1998, I decided to move to Arizona for a job offering $65,000 per year (the Y2K thing was still causing people to be afraid so my services were in fairly high demand at the time). I figured if I had doubled in 5 years what my mom made in 38, so I must be doing something right. I continued to think that for a full 7 months - right up until I was handed a note stating that they no longer required my dedication.

My Business

That's when I started my first business. I figured if I was going to continue to work 80-100 hours per week, I may as well work for myself. I had NO doubts that I would appreciate myself AND my dedication much more than anyone else EVER would (and at least on the days I didn't, I could fire myself AND re-hire myself the next day!) And so began my journey down the entrepreneurial road.

At the time I started my business, I was a single mom - without a job - in a city where I knew no one but the people who told me I was no longer employed - living in a house I just bought a month earlier and had put all of my savings into - and had never known or spent time with anyone who had ever owned a business.

I still have a long way to go towards my goals (so far my best month's earnings was $50,000 net...not exactly the 6-figure monthly income goal I set for myself 10 years ago - but it's a start). And don't misunderstand - that's a BEST month, not an EVERY month thing - YET!!

My Causes & Passions

I'm dedicated to and passionate about finding a cure for Breast Cancer. I lost my mom, grandma, great-grandma and step-grandma to this disease.

To that end, my son and I crew in many of the 3-Day walks, Avon 2-Day walks, and the Race For The Cure walks. We also assist in raising funds by committing a percentage of income from each Division we start (depending on the Division, this varies from 10% to 50% typically).

Is it easy? Not a chance! But it's certainly a LOT of fun! And I'm the one who gets to control where my business AND personal life goes. I'm the only one to blame when I fail, and I'm the one who gets credit when it succeeds. I LOVE that feeling!

I'm always raising the bar for myself, both personally and financially. And sometimes (to be perfectly honest - a LOT of times) I don't really slow down to enjoy my "wins". I have a tendency to just move on to the next goal I have set or the next project I want to work on.

Will I reach my goals? Absolutely! Will I reach ALL of them? Not likely. But DAMN - it sure is a lot of fun along the way!