talk about a fresh start.

I’d been thinking about this for quite a while, actually. It started as a throwaway, half-joking comment during a conversation with my parents, but the seed took hold. I pondered it for a few weeks, and then, about halfway through the course, when we were sending our resume information off to be formatted, I had to make the decision, and I did.

I’m going to use my mother’s maiden name professionally.

“Hi, I’m E-l-i-z-a-b-e-t-h  W-i-n-e-l-a-n-d. It’s nice to meet you.”

(Sorry about that. Search engines, you know.)

The more I thought about it, the more sense it made. It’s easy to spell and easy to pronounce. It’s far easier to remember, for both clients and companies considering hiring me. I could probably count on one hand the times I’ve been able to introduce myself by my full name without someone replying with a variation of “What was that again?”, and some people are unable to pronounce it correctly no matter how many times I try to teach them. I just don’t want to have to go through that with every potential employer, and every client on tour, over and over again.

(Fortunately, my dad doesn’t really care and agrees that it’s probably a good idea. I’m just as much W-i-n-e-l-a-n-d as I am R-e-p-l-o-g-l-e, anyway. Nine months more, actually!)

And also — and this was absolutely a consideration — I didn’t want to have to worry about Facebook, or any other social media out there now or in the future. It’ll be much easier to maintain my professionalism if EW gets her own profile, her own e-mail address, her own online presence.

As I’ll be working primarily as an independent contractor for the first few years, I’ll need to get a business license. All I have to do is set one up as “ER d/b/a EW”, and I am good to go. I can also just add a “d/b/a” to my current bank account, and then I’ll be able to deposit checks and accept direct deposits under either name. The only downside will likely be some confusion when it comes time for the company to make airline and hotel reservations for me, but I’m confident that the benefits will far outweigh the hassles.

A new name for a new beginning. I’m excited about it.

:::