Take the career leap!

Do you have a long-held career dream? Are you waiting until you have the money, the time and conditions to be right with the universe to leap into it?

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Leita Cowart / AJC Special/Photographer

Lauretta Hannon left a perfectly fine job as director of communications and marketing for Atlanta Technical College to write the book that had been brewing inside her for 20 years. ‘People look at me like I’m crazy, given the recession, but … my gut is telling me it’s time,’ she says.

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Go ahead and leap anyway, advises Lauretta Hannon, who recently quit her job as director of communications and marketing for Atlanta Technical College to become a full-time writer. Her book, “The Cracker Queen: A Memoir of a Joyful, Jagged Life,” will be released April 16 by Gotham Books.

“People look at me like I’m crazy, given the recession, but I’ve had this book in me for 20 years, and my gut is telling me it’s time,” Hannon said.

Hannon has wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember. The turning point came about age 11 when she wrote a funny poem to share with relatives.

“I loved the response I got from the grown-ups when I performed it; I still love hearing an audience’s reaction — and hearing their stories,” she said.

Hannon has written a newspaper column, aired stories on NPR, done a one-woman show and worked for an advertising agency. After landing a book deal two years ago, she stayed at Atlanta Tech and wrote in her spare time. “I loved my job. It was rewarding, but demanding. I couldn’t continue working and promote my book. I knew that door had to close for the other one to open.”

Hannon has a monthlong Southern book tour scheduled, and plans to work hard at doing book readings, speaking engagements, writing workshops and writing a second book in order to make the writing life work economically.

“There’s a Sanskrit saying: ‘Deep in the sea are riches beyond compare, but if you seek safety, it is on the shore,’ ” Hannon said. “I’ve spent my entire adult life on the shore. Now I’m diving in.”

Three weeks before Christmas,

MaryBeth Reeves was downsized from her job as corporate trainer for Starwood Hotels. She had other corporate job offers, but decided to invest fully in her passion for making custom-printed scrapbooks for individuals and companies.

“I had been working toward leaving corporate life,” said Reeves, the mother of 2-year-old quadruplet daughters, “but was scared to pull the trigger. When I was laid off, I figured it was for a reason. I thought if I don’t take this chance now, I’ll never take it.”

She had already turned her hobby into a business, Scrapbook Mamma, with help from Women Who Launch, a media company that provides resources and connections for women entrepreneurs.

“I went to a seminar where I heard from other women pursuing their dreams and got a lot of practical ideas and advice,” Reeves said.

She loves that she can work creatively and has more time with her husband and girls.

“I like being a part of the special times in people’s lives and giving them something that makes them cry,” she said. “I’m still figuring out the financial part, but I’ve learned that you can’t wait until everything’s right to do what you want. Even starting out wrong is better than not starting.”

Debbie Tegart owns her own technology company, Systems Engineering Services Inc. In December, she incorporated a second business called Waggin’ Delights Inc. to produce and sell her organic dog treats.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for 16 years before working for Turner Broadcasting. I made baby food, soap, Play-Doh — I was the earth mother,” Tegart said. “So when we rescued an abused dog from the shelter, I started making her food and saw what a difference it made.

“People kept asking why I didn’t sell my treats,” Tegart said. “Last fall, my husband said he thought it was because I thought technology was a real business, but I was afraid to tell people I made doggie treats.”

Realizing he was right, she incorporated within a week. She’s waiting on the final nutritional analysis, but already has a customer waiting list.

Tegart went through the Women Who Launch incubator program with her first business to get feedback from other entrepreneurs and went back for Waggin’ Delights.

“It’s the best money you can spend when launching a business. You make trusted friends who can keep advising you on your business.”

Tegart expected some resistance to the new idea, but has found that those who know her see how well this enterprise fits her core personality and passions.

“If you can figure out a way to feel like you’re playing when you’re working — you’ve nailed it,” she said.