It's been a long and exciting journey getting here today. Participating for over 15 years in growing and selling a software company is certainly not for the faint of heart.

We set out like David to slay Goliath, following our dreams and going up against the big guys in our industry, with our little six person company. I was the only woman selling in our industry when we started out back then, and our market was pretty much a man's world too.

Yes, it's a happy ending. We rode off into the sunset with our bags of money. But, I sure didn't expect the part where you get to re-invent yourself, and you grieve over the death of the loss of "your" company. I still sometimes miss the juice of bringing in a big project, or landing a big deal, beating the competition.

I was so wrapped up in "getting the job done" that I've really had to take a break and look deep inside and recover the essence of what success really is for me. I'm clear now that it is my belief and experience that if you're doing something you love, that's what gives you your creativity, joy, and fulfillment. The money does follow.

My motto is "dare to dream". I'm back on the playing field, working with a great team, fulfilling our dreams and the dreams of others. Its really true, following a dream is worth every minute you spend in its pursuit.

Ms. Rodrigues holds bachelor degrees in Psychology and Music, and has over 20 years of sales, marketing, and client service related experience. She was one of the founders, and a key management participant in a start-up company that produced products that eventually dominated their target industry. In achieving notoriety as an industry expert, she has been invited to speak and consult all over the world in behalf of her company and the receivables industry.