It’s difficult to say where I should start. This documentation is already 3 good, long years in the making. On a day like today, I might as well start with a bit of history…

Eager to escape the everyday workplace oppressions associated with cubicle life post-achievement of a liberal arts degree, myself and two others decided to dabble in the world of self-employment. Lucky enough for two of us, we had a mentor and leader who had greater Confidence and a tad more experience in the world of work. With this charismatic leader by our side we proceeded to begin Painting houses in a downtown urban environment.

With internationally soaring real estate prices and more than a handful of historical homes in the hands well-to-do families, entering the world of House Painting seemed like the logical path to success. With all sorts of fantastical ideas inseminated into our brains already by larger house painting corporate conglomerates such as First Choice Painting (google it and you’ll see its offspring) and a burning desire to be independent from the very beginning of our adult lives, three of us ventured into the contracting world.

I must add that at this stage none of us actually knew what the contracting world meant. The hard work, the brisk attitudes, the quick Wits of many tradespeople, their deadbeat drunk imposters, the ability to problem solve, the time management, the project management, the scraping, the endless array of products, the dishonest clients, the caffeine and niccotine addictions, the mess, the liabilities, etc. All we wanted was 3 monthes worth of work and a few thousand dollars to show for it in the end.

From the beginning I was Filled with Doubt. But I was also filled with (a foolish) optimism for hard work and perserverence. It would also be a lie however to deny that during this time, I questioned my ability to carry out this work. From dealing with clients to executing the work, I had no idea how a 5’1″ 115lbs female (and Asian nonetheless) was to survive. Much of my doubt however was muffled by the notion that this would be a short term project. And much of my (stubborn) confidence came from the fact that my parents were immigrant success stories. The odds were against me, but I couldn’t cash in on the ominous intimations yet. I figured I would never know until I went out there and worked to the death.

Hiding behind my sheer veil of confidence was my nervously pitched voice and a fairly dim set of wits regarding home renovations issues. But by my side were two other people who both believed. Allured by the thought of being a self-made independent, I started knocking on people’s doors to ask if they wanted their house painted.