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Career Change - After Retirement
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I had a successful career in the travel industry. After retiring and moving to a new city I started a consulting firm specializing in customer service. That was my focus in my first career and I felt I had experience and knowledge that could help others improve their customer service. I was modestly successful and content with my new career.
But then I had an opportunity to take the About U Report. It was not something I had intended to do; I just won a Report as a prize in a networking group I belong to. So it was a nice opportunity to learn something about myself, but I had no expectations it would be life-changing.
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Was I wrong! Right out of the blocks I discovered I was extremely interested in things artistic. Now I had dabbled in art all my life, and was always involved in art as an amateur. Yet I considered it just some passing interest, not something that would involve me as a career. But the Advisor who did my feedback encouraged me to look deeper into my interest and consider how I might turn it into a career.
So I did. And as result several months later I found myself the owner of a newly-acquired framing business. It was as terrifying as it was exhilarating. But I went to work and using my newly discovered interest coupled with my knowledge of customer service, began to grow the business.
Now, several years later the business is thriving. I operate a custom framing business that goes to the customer. When contacted I met customers at their house or place of business and survey their entire inventory of art and memorabilia that can be framed. Then I make a proposal that can range from one frame to frames for all of the relevant objects. I then take the objects back to my studio and either I or an associate create the new frames. It has been successful beyond my expectations.
I have not let the business remain static. I could have made a good living just framing, but I became more and more interested in art and moving it out into the community. So now I also have a thriving second part of my initial business staging shows at local locations, primarily small banks. It is an opportunity for me to showcase local artists as well as market my framing business.
And it all started when my card was pulled from a hat at a networking meeting.
Diane Graden
www.framesofreference.biz
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