Two years ago, I was really struggling. I was overwhelmed as a Senior PM managing commercial real estate projects.

I had taken a job 5 months prior to pay for new childcare costs (i.e. all the wrong reasons to take a job). I was being micromanaged and deprived of the resources I needed to do my job. I was about to collapse from exhaustion and my mental health was hanging by a thread.

As an INTJ woman, I have always been different from my peers in how I work and think. There’s been a lot of disappointment in my career working with employers who did not understand my potential.

So when I found your video about INTJ careers, I knew I needed to reach out.

I was desperate for change.

With your help and the [Design a Career You Love] class, I left that job and took a 3-month mental health break. Following that, I took a new job as an Assistant Project Manager at a high-end residential contractor.

But the most important part was that it was a job that I didn’t need to stretch myself too thin. I could do the work I was very familiar with and leave mental space for my family and creative endeavors. 

It was my landing pad.

After a few months at the new job, I was doing really well. My team could definitely tell that I was experienced and capable. I was also upfront about taking a role I was overqualified for because it was the right thing for where I was in life (mom to a very rambunctious toddler).

One day I was in the kitchen talking to the CTO (it’s a small company with big projects), and I told him about my extensive background in project management and experience in accounting. I explained that my bachelors degree was in Architecture but I also had credits in Accounting from a certificate program and had always gravitated towards the finance portion of contracting.

It was a nice networking moment that was organic and highlighted my best self. A few weeks later he was talking to the CFO and Comptroller, and they told him how they’ve been having such a hard time filling a project accounting position. They were having trouble finding someone with the unique mix of industry knowledge, accounting, project management, and ability to speak the language of architects and client reps (i.e. the people who approve the billings for payment). 

The CTO heard their concerns and said… What are you talking about? You already hired this person. It’s Theresa in the Manhattan office.

I spent this past summer closing out a $18M penthouse on the UWS [Upper West Side of Manhattan] as an Assistant Project Manager, and this Fall I will be transferring over to the Accounting department.

This is exactly the landing pad that I wanted for my career, and I’m compensated enough to pay my bills, including daycare lol.

I’m doing work that I find more engaging and at my level.

My day to day is great and most importantly not stressful. I work with a good team and have been vigilant with setting boundaries and expectations.

This is seriously the healthiest relationship with a job I’ve ever had.

Over the past year my home life has improved as well. My son is almost 3 and is fully adjusted to daycare. It’s still tons of work but my husband and I are managing a lot better than when I was at my last job (no more crying every other day from stress or working late).

Thank you so much for helping me understand what I wanted out of my career and giving me the freedom to work on my passion projects without self-imposed limitations.

This past year has had so much personal growth and I owe a lot of that to your coaching.

I tell anyone who will listen about your group coaching course haha.

NOW THE EXCITING STUFF…

In my remaining free time I have been working on my passion projects. These include several stories and craft projects for kids, including “Clawdia the Cat Burglar,” a coloring book story that teaches art history, and A RIDE ON THE 7 TRAIN - a celebration of NYC neighborhoods and the subway that connects them.

And boy have I been networking.

I’ve been volunteering and building a relationship with the President of the local PTA. Through organic conversation, I told her about my big dreams of being a children’s book writer and art & crafts project creator. I shared a story I wrote about the 7 train, and she invited me to do Art Night at the school.

The kids really came up with some fun designs. You can find pics of the event along with all the fun decorations/signage I made here.

I'm taking the 7 Train story & craft on the go. I have been networking with school staff and other community members to do another workshop at a school, library or community center along the 7 train. The kids really showed how enthusiastic they can be about their community. 

My goal is to do this project with 1000 kids over the next year. (50 down, 950 left to go). I plan on creating a full-sized coloring book with illustrations for each stop/stanza along with raising funds for supplies for venues that don't already have them. You can watch a video on my progress at my GoFundMe.

I'm also getting involved on the District Level for education. I want to engage with parents and administrators to make education for all kids in my district better. I'll even bring in some of those project management and accounting skills lol.

I've been going to NYC DOE [Department of Education] meetings. These are the 24 people who vote on education policies for all of NYC. I asked them a policy question about 3K (Pre-K but for 3 year olds). Apparently this question was interesting enough that the Deputy Chancellor for NYC Schools asked for my contact info. 

I actually had a meeting with them last week and presented [simple and direct policy changes related to resources and funding for creative curriculum]. I'm fighting for more seats in my neighborhood / western Queens.

I'm throwing a party this weekend as well for the 3 and under crowd to raise awareness and show the administration what parent engagement can look like. 

So lots of exciting movement. It's all coming together lol. 

And YES... I joined the SCBWI [The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators]. I continue to work towards my ultimate goal of being picked up by a legitimate publisher to work on paid projects.

I feel like I've been pulling back a giant slingshot for 15 years. All the things I do because I love it (crafts, budgeting, tutorials/teaching etc.) have been preparing me.

It didn't make any sense how all these seemingly different things would come together but it's creating this perfect storm to become a serious PTA/Education advocate.

Seriously, intense project management but with a sprinkle of arts and crafts? I kind of feel like Elle Woods from Legally Blonde lol. 

I talk about you all the time and tell people about what an impact your coaching course had on my life.

— Theresa Cottone, Content Creator, Education Advocate, Project Accountant for a High-end Residential Contractor, and Mom to a Rambunctious 3-year old