Where were YOU at 25?
Issue #39
These ladies show us that age is just a number when it comes to living the dream
By Erica Phillips
Published: March 1st, 2009 | 12:00am
So you didn't have a rockstar contract and an agent at 25 like some of the ladies on our “25 Under 25” list. Maybe you talked a lot about writing a novel, opening a coffee shop, or starting a model airplane business, and fell out of love with the idea after thinking about everything it was going to take. Well, there happen to be more than a few ladies who will say there’s no better time than now to appease that screaming dreamer in your head.
In a survey of urban professionals, New York University recently found that on average, most people expect to change careers three times during their lives. So, how does one take on a change so seemingly complex? VZ got the low-down from a slew of resourceful ladies on how you can transition to a new career.
Step One: Try a Little Something on the Side
Michelle Goodman, author of The Anti 9-to-5 Guide and My So-Called Freelance Life, learned some tough lessons from her own uninformed transition to self-employment. She advises people to try it out first before jumping in: start a business on the side, volunteer, or dabble. “I never advocate just leaving overnight,” she says about the infamous day job, “because that’s a recipe for unemployment.”
The ladies of Chicago’s DIY Trunk Show, Cinnamon Cooper (37) and Amy Carlton (38), managed to keep their day jobs while playing a major part in the beginning of the crafting movement. In 2003, the two hobby-crafters — Cinnamon makes purses and Amy makes jewelry — started talking about the importance of buying locally-produced handmade products. Their ideas took written form in their often-cited Craftifesto, and were the incentive behind the annual Chicago DIY Trunk Show, now in its fifth raging year.
Step Two: Get Psyched about Your Bad Self
It is definitely worth it to do yourself a favor and get started even if you have some doubts still swirling around. “You’re never going to be 100 percent ready,” Goodman advises, “but if you’re waiting to have all your i’s dotted and t’s crossed, that day is never going to come.”
Jennie Scheinbach, of Pattycake Vegan Bakery in Columbus, Ohio, says she “would encourage everyone to have the confidence to just do it.” If you start small, you really don’t have a lot to lose. Scheinbach was a waitress for the duration of her 20s and only baked vegan goodies for potlucks when she had time. It wasn’t something she took very seriously, but when her friends’ raves began seeming excessive, she wondered if they might be on to something. “I had to take my cupcakes to the Co-Op and just see,” she said. And thus Pattycake was born.
Step Three: Take the Plunge
When the time comes, you’ve gotta jump in and go for it completely. If you feel like you’re getting a late start, these ladies’ stories might bring you back down to earth.
Vivienne Westwood: Born in 1941, our lady Viv married at 21 and taught primary school for almost ten years. She was 30-years-awesome and in her second marriage (to Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols) before she even sold her first article of clothing. Now at 67, this fashion icon is still challenging the status quo and tearing up runways around the globe.
Amy Sedaris: With just her high school diploma in hand, young Amy moved to Chicago in the early 80s where she waited tables for nearly 10 years while taking improv classes on the side. She debuted on the Second City Main Stage at age 31, and moved to New York to pursue writing and stage performing a few short years later. Nowadays, she does it all: writing, acting, movies, stage shows, catering, and publishing cookbooks.
Step Four: Use Those Human Resources
There’s nothing like a supportive friend when you’re starting a new project — or, better yet, a collaborator. The matrons (plus token patron) of The Parkside Restaurant in Baltimore found an advantage in relying on each other. Each of the three proprietors — Vickie Johnson, Colleen Cashell, and her husband Chris Cashell — are pursuing an individual interest as part of their triple-joint venture. Johnson, a graphic designer for ten years, had always wanted to open a coffee shop, and the Cashells were interested in starting a bakery and a spirits shop respectively. “For five months, we all worked every day on various projects that we never had experience doing before,” Johnson describes. The Parkside opened in October of last year and, according to Johnson, “The headaches and stress we feel are worth doing exactly what you want to do every day.”
Goodman agrees with Johnson: “Unless you’re planning to stumble into a whole lot of money, you’re going to be working for 25 to 30 more years. If you’re really miserable now, how do you think you’re going to feel then?”
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Collage by Emily Ransom.
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junkprints (over 3 years)
I really like this article! We put so much pressure on ourselves to accomplish goals before we know our head from our ass. One can do amazing things at any age!