Even though I ended up going into nursing, I was always intrigued by the entrepreneur lifestyle. Being your own boss and in charge of your own destiny. I had tried to sell different types of things in my adulthood, none of which ever panned out.

When I left my marriage in 2013 I slowly unraveled a plan to break out of the healthcare field and go out on my own to start a business. I’m not sure why I picked that time in my life to pursue it. A single mom, living in an apartment, freshly separated after a 13 year marriage. Maybe it was like a midlife crisis, except I wasn’t quite midlife then yet.

I decided my little city, population 13,000 needed and would benefit from a lingerie shop. I did my research, sought out suppliers. Started on a business plan. I secured a space in the mall, got a quote for the renos it would require.

My shop was going to be called “Nobody’s Business”. I kind of cringe at that now. But you know, underwear, it’s not really discussed at the dinner table. Our city had (and still has) nowhere to buy ladies lingerie. You can buy fruit of the loom undies at Walmart and other off brand, cheapo underwear at another store, Giant Tiger. But if you have a particular style of underwear that you’re used to or you want to buy actual lingerie, it’s not available here.

Now keep in mind, 11 years ago, yeah online shopping was a thing but not to the extent it is today.

There is an agency in my city that exists solely to help would-be entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground and they do that by providing low interest, small business loans. I needed their money to make my store a reality. The day came when I presented my business plan to them, all that was left to do was wait, until they made their deliberation.

My kids were excited that their mom was going to be a business owner and I had full support of my Aunty, the one I had called when I was in crisis and wanting to leave my marriage. She was so supportive throughout my life of everything, and she was always self employed as well. But then I let my parents in on my plan. I had purposely kept it from them because I absolutely knew how they’d react.

My dad freaked out. Risk, risk, risk, risk….stupid stupid stupid stupid. I was prepared for what he had to say. My parents don’t take risks, like ever.

In the meantime, I had an appointment at the bank to get pre-approved for a mortgage. My ex had kept the house, refusing to leave when we split up saying, if you’re so unhappy, go. So I did. At first I rented the top floor of a friend’s house and then less than a year later the kids and I got an apartment. It was cozy. But small. We didn’t have our own backyard. Coin operated laundry.

I would get paranoid about the kids making too much noise, running, jumping or dancing, just being kids. I think the neighbour below made a complaint and from then on I was so worried and constantly on the kids to be more quiet. Which isn’t fair to kids. Then again there’s no scarier feeling than thinking you might be evicted and have absolutely nowhere to go with your three kids. I had no family here.

I wanted to buy my own house ASAP. My ex and I agreed that he would pay me out half of the equity we had into our house. I asked for nothing more. No alimony, child support or contents of the house, the cabin we owned, the boat or any of the extras. I just needed that chunk of money to use for a down payment on a house.

So back to the bank appointment, the lady tells me how much I’m approved for, to purchase a house. That’s fine and dandy but when I tell her my plan of quitting my job as a nurse and starting up a business, red flags go up. She says when the time comes to actually take out the mortgage, if I’m self employed they won’t even look at it, until at least five years goes by, five years of making money.

So that was like a bomb dropping on me and Nobody’s Business. I didn’t realize. I did some deep thinking. I couldn’t do this to my kids. Five years in that apartment? It was a two bedroom apartment and there was four of us. It was fine as a temporary thing, but not five more years.

In the meantime I had gotten the call that I was approved for the low interest funding from North Central Development to get started and open my shop. I had to call and tell them thanks, but I would not be pursuing it at this time.

It was sad and disappointing but I made my choice and I think it was a good one. The kids and I bought a little house that summer and the rest is history.

Now, with the way online shopping is, I’m terribly glad it all worked out the way it did. I would’ve probably gone broke lol. The markup on lingerie is crazy! But the cost of doing business, especially today, is crazier.