Category Archives: How I Got Here

The “How I Got Here” category chronicles the experiences, situations, stories, and scenarios which ultimately lead me to become a Work At Home Dad.

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March 10, 2016

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How I Got Here, Play Time!

Nathan… Can you laugh?

So… this happened at the store…

And, it became a thing. I mean, it became a thing in that it kept happening for several more visits to this particular store… Trader Joe’s, ever since.

NOW, it’s all about “The Monkey.” We tell Nate we’re going to the store by telling him we’re going to go see “The Monkey.”

It’s hilarious. He even uses that as a way to communicate he’d like to get outta the house as of late. This is because, each Trader Joe’s has a theme and ours is all about a hidden stuffed monkey that they move around and the general theme of pirates.

Why share this moment? What does this have to do with a throwback to how I got here?

It’s all about moments of joy. Despite it being a hard road on this entrepreneurial journey. Despite the financial chaos, instability, and not knowing how things are going to work out… you can be assured that it is and it will.

It’s not about focusing on all the gloom and destruction. It’s about focusing on these precious moments of life… the very purpose why you’re taking the plunge, the risk, the dive, the leap of faith… to be around these people you love and wish nothing more than to spend your entire life with.

That, is ultimately why *I* became a Work-At-Home-Dad. I had plenty of success in the world of clinical care, management, whatever… BUT! I didn’t have enough success as a husband and father. That is where my aim is set. And, that is what I’m achieving with each passing day.

Can you laugh?!

I sure can 🙂

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March 2, 2016

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How I Got Here, Making Ends Meet: Finance, Failure, and Freaking Out

Feeling Depressed…

Just to add some dramatic balance to the blog… ha ha! I wanted to contrast where I am now to some of the lowest of lows from a year back or so.

The reality is this. When I was at my lowest of lows… it was so bad that my wife, Christina, who is typically very unworried about my well being… mostly because I known as this super happy, joyful, positive, constructive, can get through anything kinda guy… she came up to me and stopped the world to ask me:

“Are you okay?”

Oh, it wasn’t an emoji situation. This was the real deal loss of interest in… everything.

I was never more credentialed. I had never been more desirable a candidate to just about any company. I mean, common! I had a doctorate with honors. I had an MBA with honors. I climbed up the management ladder in record time.

And…. I had NEVER been more rejected and moreover ignored by the job market. Every application I sent in, every cold call, every networking attempt… silence.

It was nuts. It was insane. It was beyond fathomable. In fact… it was…

Truth be told, if it wasn’t for the love & patient of my wife, the joy of my son, and some amazing friends out there… PS. shoutout to the Rebellion Academy where I train in BJJ… I would’ve been truly lost.

How lost?

Nature videos lost. As in, watching every possible nature video I could find on YouTube… to the point, where I got to them them rather well. PS… Pelicans are… (this is a dad blog, so I’ll use the kid friendly term)… Big Meanies!

Dont’ believe me? Click here… it’s… wrong. And, please don’t let the kiddos see it…. 🙁

But, I’m way better now! All better, almost… 😉

I’d be lying if I didn’t mention I’d love to have more financial padding in this entrepreneurial journey. Of course, it wouldn’t actually be a startup journey if I *was* financially padded. That is, until I exit with $$$$$! That’s the goal, anyway.

So, where I am I now?

Well, the conference went well and we’re pursuing business leads to grow, scale, and quite possibly expand. I’m back to BJJ after a month off due to all the business activity in February 2016. AND, my kiddo is a major chatter box of love. AAAAAND, we’re in our anniversary month 🙂

That’s always a good thing.

I guess the moral of this part of the story is… no matter how low you get, so long as the people who mean most to you are there to help lift you back up, you’ll alright. It’s all gonna be good. You just have to keep moving.

 

 

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February 25, 2016

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How I Got Here, Making Ends Meet: Finance, Failure, and Freaking Out

Back with Better Plans

So… last week was nuts.

Since I work from home, my family is very accustomed to me being around and generally available. Work isn’t a set structure. Rather, my work is done throughout the day, in splurts, chunks, and segments.

That’s just how it is.

However, last week was the first week in months if not the last two years that I had to spend concentrated time away from family.

Props to my hero wife for managing the situation.

This is how it went down…

Back with Better Plans

Last week was the American Physical Therapy Associations annual national conference. It’s called Combined Sections Meeting or CSM.

The whole conference was a 100 mile an hour sprint from start to finish. The entire time, my business partner and I were booking it from one place to another, one meeting to another, covering the conference with our fancy media/press badges… getting into backroom areas no one else had access to.

PS. I’m going to EVERYTHING as press from now on.

Well… it was a crazy amazing conference. Very productive. And, we were completely exhausted. It required soooo much phone use. Speaking of… I basically do 60% of my work via my phone. Thankfully, I brought this with me:

I… rather, my phone wouldn’t have survived the con without it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED PURCHASE!

 

Also, we absolutely HAD to make a stop at Disney 😉

Where else? #Disney. #DaddyInTheRaw #DadBlog #dadblogger

A photo posted by Ben Fung (aka @DrBenFung) (@daddyintheraw) on

So, now that I’m back, here’s the plan…

I’ve had soooo many posts scheduled; but, as this blog developed, things got more current and relevant. However, I also know there’s a lot of interest on how everything came about. So, my plan is this: I’m going to basically put all of my posts prior planned as TBT posts…. just to catch the story up to where I am now.

THEN, I’m going to move onto current happenings of my story as a Work At Home Dad.

 

I’m STILL flirting with the idea of a regular broadcast. Honestly, I just don’t have time to do a podcast. However, I think a regular Periscope with a weekly recorded vlog addition may be of interest…???

Let me know!

Okay… that’s it for now. I’m going to gather my posts and will start to get them out again. Looking forward to more fun stories…. some stuff, going waaaaaay back.

Until Next Time!

 

 

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February 8, 2016

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How I Got Here

Quick Update!

QUICK UPDATE!

So, business is picking up for me. YAY! And, there’s this HUGE conference I’ll be attending next week. So, in preparations for that as well as a few others things, I’m gonna put this blog on a break until after the conference is over.

That is, unless I randomly get inspired by a Periscope or Blab which I’ll then post as a vlog.

I’m also getting some emails with interest from app developers and what not. I’m totally open to helping review out products, services, apps, etc.  This is one of the prime reasons I started this dad blog… to add to the blogosphere a dad’s voice, particularly, a work at home dad’s voice on such issues, concerns, and consumer interests.

So! If you have something for me, just use the contact form and let me know!