After my husband left Malaysia following our honeymoon, I went back to work and studies.
Despite being married, some people doubted I would ever make it to America.
One colleague even told me directly, “Siti, you can’t go to the US because it’s hard to enter that country.”
I was shocked inside but just walked away politely.
The office environment was beginning to feel toxic, and being in my early pregnancy made it worse.
I called a friend and told her I couldn’t stand working there anymore.
I was going to quit.
She screamed through the phone, “Are you crazy? If you quit now, no company would ever hire you!”
I understood the consequences perfectly well since I worked in Human Resources.
I told her I might never go back to the working world.
I knew quitting without a backup plan was a risk, but I was determined.
I moved from Shah Alam to Malacca and, for the first time, felt truly free.
I didn’t have to drive to a demanding job or deal with an unappreciative boss.
After a few months, I started thinking seriously about my future.
When I talked to my husband, he suggested, “What about doing your commission work from home?”
A light bulb immediately went off.
I loved the idea of working from home because it meant I could look after my newborn and wouldn’t have to put my child in daycare.
That’s where my first company began.
I registered the business and started offering both portrait commissions and secretary services from home.
I was so grateful that my husband was supportive of my art career, even from thousands of miles away.
Stay kreatif,
Siti
