A couple of weeks ago NY Live knocked on my door at 7am to chat about my Bridesmaid for Hire business and the Craigslist ad that started it all. I threw on a bright dress, stuffed down a half of a raisin bagel with cream cheese, and then we filmed this:

I’ve done a couple of these types of interviews over the past few weeks, but this one was different. And not just because I was still rubbing crud out of my sleepy eyes when they arrived but because of the reporter who interviewed me.

Meet Joelle Garguilo. She started her career off as an accountant until one day she woke up and decided enough was enough. It was time to give in to a 9-5 that made her heart pound and her dreams stretch up toward the sky. With no reporting experience, she went back to school and took an entry-level job at NBC. 5 years later, you can catch her afternoon weekdays and weekends on New York Live. I asked her how the heck she mustered up the courage, the energy, the drive to put the pause button on her first career and give in to her dream one.

“Lots of hard work,” she began. “And doing everything but giving up.” Amen to that, Joelle.