We all take that first step to learn something new several times in our lives. Usually, it’s something small — a new recipe, a new hobby, maybe even a new hairstyle we instantly regret. But every once in a while, that “something new” doesn’t just add a chapter to your story. It rewrites the whole book.
I’ve been in my job for over 15 years now. No fancy college degree required — just a high school diploma and a stubborn streak. If you haven’t read my blog before, you might already be guessing: food industry, retail, Walmart, maybe something like that. And you’d be half right. I’ve done those jobs. There’s nothing wrong with them — in fact, they taught me grit. But the job I do now? It’s not flipping burgers or stocking shelves.
I sell furnishings. Mostly mattresses. Yep, I’m the person convincing you that yes, you really do need to spend more on the thing you’ll spend a third of your life lying on. And today’s topic made me nostalgic, because the way I landed this career was anything but ordinary.
🚶 The Walk That Changed My Life
Picture this: I was 25, a single mom with three kids, roommates who thought rent was optional, and a car that had decided to retire early. My transportation was a mix of buses and sneakers. I’d just left a job as a payday loan officer (spoiler: daycare cost more than my paycheck), and I was applying everywhere — food places, gas stations, K‑Mart (yes, it was still alive back then), Target, Walmart, hotels. You name it, I tried.
But no one was hiring. It was 2010, right after the Great Recession, and the job market was tighter than my budget.
So there I was, walking through a strip mall parking lot in the blazing sun. My hair was in a sensible bun, I had on a black suit coat, white shirt, vest, and slacks. My secret weapon? A bag with dress shoes tucked inside, because walking in heels is basically medieval torture.
I spotted a furniture store. Honestly, I only went in for the air conditioning. But the woman at the door saw how I was dressed and asked if I was there to apply. “Sure,” I said, because why not?
I filled out the paper application (remember those?) and handed it to the man behind the counter, who didn’t even look up. That annoyed me. So I reached out my hand, forced him to meet my eyes, and said, “Thank you for your time.” He shook my hand, probably out of reflex. I walked away thinking, Well, that was pointless.
Halfway down the store, he came running after me. “Do you have time for an interview right now?”
🎨 The Glitter Moment
Two days later, I was in a group interview with ten other people. At the end, we had to answer the classic “Crayola color” question: If you were a color, what would you be and why?
Everyone else gave safe answers. Blue for calm, red for vibrant, yellow for cheerful. My turn came, and I said the first thing that popped into my head:
“Glitter.”
The room went silent. The interviewer looked at me like I’d just confessed to being a unicorn. “Why?” he asked.
My answer: “Someone who sees themselves as blue needs a blue to help them. A red needs a red. A yellow needs a yellow. You can’t identify as one color or one mood set when helping people in customer service. You have to be every single color at any given moment so the people you work with are comfortable with you.”
That answer got me the job. Sometimes being different isn’t just good — it’s the thing that sets you apart.
💡 Building Blocks
The first year was terrifying. I felt out of my depth, constantly worried I’d mess up. But I had mentors who showed me how to improve, and I treated every piece of advice like a building block. Slowly, I built a foundation.
Four, almost five years at that company taught me the value of my time, my effort, and my confidence. And 15 years later, I can say with certainty: I’ll never go back to hourly jobs again.
🏡 What Sales Gave Me
Funny thing is, I never studied sales. I went to school for networking (computers), culinary arts, psychology. But sales? Never crossed my mind. Yet that random choice to step into a furniture store changed everything.
It took me from scraping by — worrying about rent, food, and broken cars — to buying a reliable car, living without roommates, moving into nicer apartments, and eventually buying my own home. Things I never thought someone like me could have, let alone keep.
✨ The Takeaway
Sometimes the biggest changes come from the smallest decisions. For me, it was stepping out of the heat into a furniture store I never planned to enter. For you, it might be something else entirely. But here’s the lesson: don’t underestimate the power of glitter.
Looking back, it’s wild to think that one random decision — stepping into a furniture store for a blast of air conditioning — ended up changing the entire course of my life. What started as desperation turned into opportunity, and what felt like a small choice became the foundation for everything that followed: stability, growth, and even a little glitter.
I didn’t plan for this career. I didn’t study for it. But sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned — they’re stumbled into, embraced, and built upon one step at a time.
So here’s my message to you: never underestimate the power of showing up, shaking a hand, or giving an answer that makes people stop and think. You don’t have to be the “perfect candidate” or have the “perfect plan.” You just have to be willing to take that first step, even when it feels scary or pointless.
Because sometimes, the smallest choices — the ones you almost overlook — are the ones that change everything. For me, it was glitter. For you, it might be something else entirely.
Step into the unknown. Say yes to the unexpected. And remember: your next chapter might be waiting behind a door you weren’t even planning to open.
Until next time, keep the chaos manageable, and the coffee hot.
The Overbooked Life 
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