Want to Quit Your Day Job and Work with Pampered Chef?

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Ann, a Pampered Chef consultant for five years, is eager to transition from her full-time job as a mainframe programmer to focus on her business. Currently, she is between contracts and finds her day job unfulfilling, which motivates her to increase her Pampered Chef activities. She has two recruits and aims to expand her show schedule to facilitate her career change. Ann enjoys engaging with the supportive online community, which contrasts with her experiences in other forums. Her goal is to achieve enough success with Pampered Chef to leave corporate America behind.
chefann
Gold Member
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Hi, everyone!

Here I am, post 88 and I'm just now getting around to introducing myself. :o

My name is Ann and I'm a Pampered Chef addict. (You: "Hi, Ann.")
Just kidding.

I've been doing PC pretty much as a hobbyist for 5 years now, but I'm starting to get into gear with it. I work full time as a mainframe programmer, and I really hate the day job. So my goal is to get PC to the point where I can have a serious discussion with Dan (my DH - Yes, we're Dan 'n' Ann) about leaving corporate America.

By day, I work for a computer software and services company that has offices around the world. But I don't usually work at their office, they "pimp" me out to other companies that need programmers (AKA 'contracting'). Right now, I'm between contracts. That means I don't have a client or a specific project I'm working on. But I do have to report to my employer's HQ in downtown Detroit for a full 8-hour day (with nothing much to do but computer-based training). Boooooring!! Which is why I've actually had time to read and post here over the past week. :)

Dan and I are very active in a car club, the Michigan region of the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club (LCOC). Dan's the Treasurer and Webmaster; I'm the membership chairperson and newsletter editor. Dan also maintains http://www.thelincolnforum.net/phpbb, where you can occasionally find me posting under the ID "Ann Szwarc." (I know, it's not original, but it identifies me.)

Dan and I met in High School. He actually dated my twin sister - really! (That makes a great ice-breaker.) We're in our mid-30's, and are pretty nerdy. I think the new Weird Al song "White and Nerdy" could have been written about us. We document a lot of bizarre things on our website, including pics and a movie of our birds Beaker (an African Grey) and Bunsen (a yellow-crowned Amazon).

I got started in PC to pay for a trip to Italy. I'll never forget when I signed my contract, either. I had an all-day choir rehearsal for the beginning of the season, where the director announced that we were going on tour to Italy the next summer. Then I stopped at my awesome Director's house to sign the paperwork on my way home. The next Tuesday was 9/11/2001. Our choir trip still went on, but there were only about half of the original estimated group, and we were the only non-European group participating in the Genoa choral festival that summer (usually there'd be several from the US). Once the trip was over, I decided that I loved the people in PC. From hosts and customers to the other consultants. So I stuck around.

Now I've got 2 active recruits, who really sound like they want to do something with PC. So I'm getting my rear in gear and trying to kick up my show schedule and recruiting so I can eventually quit the day job.

Thanks for letting me ramble. ;)

(You'll find some cool stuff if you click on the various links in this post.)
 
Welcome to our virtual cluster. You're posts have been great and very helpful.

Cute birds.
 
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The birds are a hoot. Beaker is a little smart-a$$. Lately, her favorite thing to say is "whoop whoop whoop whoop" like Curly from the 3 Stooges. But she will say things in context, too.
Beaker: D'oh!
Dan: Who says D'oh?
B: Homer
D: What else does Homer say?
B: Woo-hoo!

Or ask her what she wants for dinner and she'll reply "Corn!" or "wanna almond!" And she'll ask Dan "go do laundry?" so that she can ride in the basket of dirty clothes.

Everyone here seems pretty cool. Unlike some other online "communities" where everyone baits each other so they can be insulting.
 
It really is a great group. I moderate a number of groups and I'm impressed at how little moderation we seem to need.
 
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I think it's related to the topic and the fact that PC consultants truly want each other to succeed, not fail.
And there seems to be not a lot of political threads, which makes a HUGE difference. Dan had such problems with people on the Lincoln forum posting political or otherwise inflammatory material that he created a new area (like "The Lounge") called "The War Room." Then it's easy to ignore if you don't want to get sucked into those discussions.

Scary! You're at post 666! (Won't be for long tho, I bet)
 
From one Anne to another.... Welcome!
 
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  • #7
Thanks, Anne.

You spell your Anne the way people always want to spell mine. My aunt (also Ann) has a funny comeback. When people ask her, "Is that with an 'E'?" She says, "No, it's with an 'A'." :) But I think that's why my grandmother-in-law thinks my name is Anna. (And I've been married to her grandson for 12 years!)
 
People always drop off the "e". So, many times I'll sign something AnnE.
 
Welcome to this great site! I've enjoyed reading your posts already. You have a great sense of humor I can tell, which helps make this place more fun. There's lots of fun people here.
Your story sounds a lot like me. I started almost 5 years ago too, just doing 1-2 shows a month. Last year I up'ed my biz to 4-6 shows a month; now I'm doing 6-8. This year was my second conference & really gave me a kick in the booty. I don't know what took me so long, but now I really want to achieve directorship:) I've got some prospects, so we'll see what happens.
My dh & I also went to school together, but didn't start dating until after we graduated.
I'll look forward to chatting with you here!
(and the Dan & Ann is too cute;) just what you wanted to hear, right?)
 
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  • #10
lacychef said:
(and the Dan & Ann is too cute;) just what you wanted to hear, right?)

You have to say it with your index finger pointing into your cheek, making a dimple. :D And it's our domain for our website and email addresses: dannann.net (see- dan n ann)

I'm such a nerd!
 
Welcome aboard Ann.
 
Welcome! I am also hoping this can take off for me. I work in nonprofit America, but it's more corporate than ppl may think :)
 
Welcome, looking forward to more post! I do not think I ever introduced myself - maybe I need to go back and do that.:D
 
jrstephens said:
Welcome, looking forward to more post! I do not think I ever introduced myself - maybe I need to go back and do that.:D

You should wait a few more days until you are over 700 posts (from the 662 you are at now). Otherwise its too much of a teaser.
 
Welcome Ann! You've already been a wealth of information, thanks!
 
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  • #16
Linda,Glad to help. :)Everyone here has been awesome - so genuinely helpful and no bashing each other. This has become my new favorite online hangout.
 
jrstephens said:
Welcome, looking forward to more post! I do not think I ever introduced myself - maybe I need to go back and do that.:D

I was thinking....not sure if I ever did either:o
 
jrstephens said:
Welcome, looking forward to more post! I do not think I ever introduced myself - maybe I need to go back and do that.:D
Jen: You need no introduction!
 

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