I had been sewing since I was five, and my first jobs were sewing related (alterations shop, custom drapery factory, jacket factory) and I got involved doing custom sewing for a lady that was selling lingerie on the Party Plan. She went out of business, but I started doing some on my own. It never did a whole lot, but in the process I discovered I really liked the book work involved. My DH lost his job and I took a job doing hand sewing in a medical prothesis factory. When they had to cut back, I was laid off and then went to work in the drapery place. I realized there were women who had been working there for years, not making a whole lot more than I was - and realized that sewing would probably not be a a very lucrative career.
So I decided to go back to school, got a 2 year degree in Accounting, then learned about the CMA (Certified Managerial Accountant - had no interest in public accounting) and needed a 4 year degree and went back and got a 4 year in Finance (and a minor in mathematics). I did very little sewing for many, many years, and started up again after the kids both went off to college. Now I spend a lot of time sewing for relaxation, and love it as much as I did when I first started. BTW - 30 years later, my current title is "Director of Finance" and I do get to hang my quilts in the Accounting office to show off.