Have you ever found yourself using the words “by now”? I should be married by now. I should be settled into a career by now. I should have already written the book, had the babies, and learned how to cook something other than boxed macaroni.Former Miss New York and current mom of two littles living in Alaska, Shannon Leyko knows what it’s like for life to go a bit sideways. By the time she was a 24-year-old college graduate working as a dancing banana in Times Square, she realized she should probably brace for more career curveballs than once envisioned. And relationships? Well, she was in all of them that never worked until, suddenly, she found herself engaged to a guy she’d only known for two months. Dissecting the nine most prominent facets of life that can make even the most successful person feel off track—from parenthood to homeownership—Leyko unpacks the pressures of cultural uniformity and the inevitable departure from lofty personal timelines. ABOUT THE Leyko is a longtime blogger, and former executive assistant, office manager, reality TV scout, waitress, dancing banana, and theme park performer. She lives in Southeast Alaska with her husband, two children, and adorable maltipoo named Noma. Find more of her writing at www.theexpertbeginner.com. @ @theexpertbeginner
