From Office Job to Own Business

From Office Job to Own Business Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Office Job to Own Business “Sometimes I cried, I was so miserable. But it gave me motivation to grow my business faster.” * From Office Job to Own Business Fed up with stressful hours and fake small talk, Jessica Freeman threw herself into growing her passion side project. She made the leap much sooner than expected, though not without learning a few lessons first. Here, she shares her biggest struggles, and why they've been worth it. What work were you doing previously? I worked as a graphic designer on a team at adesign agency. What are you doing now? I am currently self-employed, running Jess Creatives. Through my business, I help entrepreneurs and non-profits with their graphic and web design needs. Many of my clients come to me overwhelmed or frustrated by design, and I help take care of that for them. Why did you change? I loved being a designer, but didn't love being in an office all day. I didn't like how the business was run, which started to push me in the direction of going out on my own. I dreaded going into work every day. Sometimes I cried on my way home from work,I was so miserable. But, it gave me extra motivation to 'hustle' and grow my business faster. I also saw a need for small businesses and non-profits to improve their branding and websites. They don't usually have large enough budgets to work with agencies, so that's where I come in to help. I had envisioned working on Jess Creatives full time further down the road (in, say, ten years), but didn't think it would happen as quickly as it did. It came at the perfect time. It's been a rough year for my family (with loss to deal with), and having the flexibility to travel or take time off when needed has been a huge help. When was the moment you decided to make the change? Last year, the idea of working for myself became more and more enticing. I was so fed up with my day job, and so exhausted with working long, late hours on Jess Creatives. In the autumn, I looked at the numbers, and realised that I could do it â€" I could work for myself. Are you happy with the change? Absolutely. My stress level is much lower, and I am incredibly happy doing what I do now. Sure, there are still some bad days, but it's so worth it. My job allows me to form real relationships with other business owners that I work with, which is probably the greatest part. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss seeing people every day, and I miss the free lunches and holiday parties! I don't miss the fake, petty office talk, or the stressful hours. I also really don't miss the commute or having to dress up every day. How did you go about making the shift? At the beginning of last year, I started to bring in more clients as I was doing a lot of social media marketing and networking. I implemented systems in my business to keep myself and my client projects organised. My workload got to the point where I was working every night, and most of my weekends. I eventually had to start a waiting list. Once I decided that I would be quitting my job, I drafted up a blog post to announce it, and an email to send to all of my current clients. On my first day of 'freedom', I sent these two things out. They got a lot of attention, and lots of new clients. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? I had a few (digital) product launches that didn't go well. In the beginning, I also took on way too many projects at once. Taking on too many projects mainly caused a lot of unnecessary stress. I had too many 'to-do's and not enough time in the day. The stress and lack of time mixed together started to cause a decline in the quality of work I was producing for my clients. I had to work late nights and on weekends (which I always try to avoid), to catch up and get to a point of balance. Once I realised I was getting overloaded with projects, I started a waiting list and scheduled out client projects ahead of time. Now, I'm usually booked out about two months in advance. Other than that, I don't think I had any huge wrong turns â€" at least not yet! (*Knocks on wood.*) How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? My husband and I saved what we could, and tried not to do any crazy spending. We already had savings to help buffer us, if I didn't make enough money one month, but we've never had to use them. We're also very diligent about doing a budget each month. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Time management has probably been the hardest thing. I've always had to juggle the admin tasks, the designing, clients, etc., so that wasn't new. But when I had only a few hours to work at night, I didn't dilly-dally around. Now, I have more time to get things done, which sometimes causes procrastination. I also work from home all the time (as opposed to coworking spots or coffee shops), so sometimes the dog, or friends, or the TV can be a distraction. I definitely have more flexibility that allows me to do some fun things here and there, but it's all about balance. What help did you get? I work with a virtual assistant to help me handle some of my admin tasks. I've also taken some courses to help me streamline my project workflow and improve the client experience. What have you learnt in the process? In the general sense, I've learned a lot about managing a business, juggling projects, marketing myself, and customer service. More specifically, I've learned that progress is better than perfection, that it's okay to say no, and that even we self-employed business owners still need breaks! What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Having a support system and having your finances in good order are the two best things I can recommend. Not only were my family and friends excited for me when I made the shift, but so were my clients. That was a good indicator that this was the right move. Also, there are no hard and fast rules in business (well, apart from a few non-negotiables). It's your business: do it the way you want. Doing things in your own personal style makes the whole process smoother. What resources would you recommend to others? Facebook groups have been a tremendous help to me. When I first started doing freelance work on the side, I joined one Facebook group, and the people in there taught me so much about clients, blogging, websites, etc. People do share their own content, of course, but they're also really great about sharing new resources. To find out more about Jessica's services, visit www.jesscreatives.com What lessons could you take from Jessica's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Build a Team Full of Talent

How to Build a Team Full of Talent We all know that the key to organisational success is largely dependent on having the right people with the right skills in the right roles. To be effective and productive we need to nurture and retain resilient, creative and agile performers at every level. Talent management is about maximising the potential talent on the team to be creative, innovative and effective in competing in a complex and challenging environment. In nurturing the brightest and best, the fundamental principle is that you need to add value to the individual as well as the organisation. It’s a two-way process, based on benefits and rewards, not a tick box exercise but one based on real and tangible employee engagement.  For any organisation it’s important to offer employees access to the right opportunities and exposure, so as to stretch and develop staff reach their potential. Harness collective vision Once you have assessed the strengths of the team, use career conversations to help them develop their skills in directions that allow them control of their career path. The visions and goals of the team are driven engaged and committed staff who are encouraged to use their skills to contribute to the collective vision and allow their unique  talents to shine through.a As a manger, you need to look  for and grow talent at every level. Reward, engage and motivate those who aspire to move onwards and upwards. It’s almost always better to promote from within than to hire from outside. Recognise contributions from all team members and encourage all staff to strive for improved performance. Focusing on creating an environment where individuals are encouraged to perform at their best, and do so because they want to, not because they are told or expected to do so, is crucial. Formal qualifications are not always the best indicator of talent, you need people who have the personality and values to make a good fit with your organisational culture â€" skills you can train for, but the right attitude and values are what you need to identify when hiring. Talent management for all Talent management can’t be left to the HR department, you need involvement from senior management if you want to build real engagement. Involve line managers and make the accountable for developing and retaining staff, encourage a focus on mentoring and coaching and encourage committed and enthusiastic employees to take on new responsibilities, to rotate through other departments, to shadow other managers, to learn more about the organisation and their colleagues. Last words? Okay, you need to prioritise creating a  strong employer brand and building a  staff referral programme. If you do this well, your good people will tap up their own networks for potential employees. Theyll likely know lots of other good people and if they recommend and vouch for someone, that has to be worth more than the standard recruitment consultant guff. The best teams work on the basis of collective accountability and develop the ability to maintain and build their effectiveness, creating a lasting competitive edge: Trust Engagement Accountability Maintain effectiveness Go team!

An Interview With Jen Rudolph CEO of Actors Green Room - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

An Interview With Jen Rudolph CEO of Actors Green Room - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I recently had the pleasure to sit down with Jen Rudolph; the founder and CEO of  Actors Green Room.  AGR is an acting company designed to help actors find and play to their strengths in this very competitive industry. Through close mentorship, to the foundation of networking in New York City, Jen went on to explain how  Actors Green Room stands out in the big apple, and how building her brand has become the leading outlet through which actors invest their time and energy. Christian Roberts:  What lead you to start AGR? Jen Rudolph:  I was a CD for ten years and I got into casting when I was working at Mandalay Television. I was working for the Executive Vice President for Series Television, Scott Sanders, and what ended up happening is they hired a CD named Jeff Mitchell and I became his assistant in terms of casting while I was working at Mandalay. So when I was working with Jeff in casting we started working on a series called “Young Americans” which was on the CW, it was a spinoff of Dawson’s Creek. While we were doing that we discovered Michelle Monaghan and gave her her first job; we worked with people like Ian Somerholder, Kate Moenning, Kate Bosworth, I mean this was all their first gig. So I realized that “Hey I really want to do casting and what not” so I left my job at Mandalay, became Jeff’s associate, and then his partner. We worked on over forty film and television projects and also discovered Mike Vogel, Vincent Piazza (Boardwalk Empire) who came through us in a sense. Fro m there I started to teach classes. I realized that when I was in the room with these actors that I really knew what it took for them to book the job. Having Skype conversations with directors like Michael Bay, who worked on Armageddon at the time, and pretty much just working with a lot of great well known Casting Directors, Directors, Executive Producers, etc. I began teaching classes which were selling out and when I was teaching I discovered that I really liked to mentor actors. With that in mind I inched away from casting and created Actors Green Room pulling in other CDs as it began to grow. That’s when I knew that it was going to be a big company. Roberts:  How long has AGR been around? Rudolph:  AGR has been around for 8 years. We opened in 2008 and have become the number one company in NYC of its kind. I’ve mentored such actors as Matt McGorry who’s on “How To Get Away With Murder” as well as “Orange Is The New Black”. He came to AGR for five years. Over the years we have had a lot of people who have started with nothing and then we nurture them, introduce them to casting directors and agents, and now they are working actors. What’s different about AGR is as the owner I’m very hands on. I really get into it with my clients. I offer a service where I can meet with them, mentor them, as our classes max out at eight students where other places max out at 15 people. The whole notion of AGR is built on support and not so much competition. The more you support others the more you succeed. I’m a fan of the law of attraction and gratitude and building a sense of community at AGR. In order to build something, you need a solid foundation to build upon whic h is what we at AGR abide by. Roberts:  What makes AGR stand out from the other acting services in NYC? Rudolph:  I’m involved. Other companies will send out an email blast, you never know who the owners are, it’s just like “Hey, here is what we are offering.” There’s no personal  involvement or sense of community in the other ones. I have relationships with all of the top industry members in New York. Casting directors really love AGR and the quality of actors coming out of here because most of them work with my staff and the other places there’s not much guidance. They give you scenes to do that are based on your headshot and we allow you to do your own scenes based on who you are as an artist. Simply put, AGR employs a strategy and they don’t. Actors feel like a number at the other places, where here they can grow and be guided. That’s what makes us different. Roberts:  What are some challenges you’ve had to face to get AGR to where it is now?   Rudolph:  I walked into a field with a lot of competition. What I learned about branding myself, is that my angle was going to be both from a personal and spiritual place. I didn’t want to fit the mold of the other companies, I’m going to be different, and I’m going to be me. As a result of that I’ve attracted a lot of business. Acting companies who have been around a lot longer than me are losing their students to AGR. But that was the toughest part for me in the beginning was making my mark in this industry. Now industry people know me, and my brand and casting directors are giving AGR a little bit more time and consideration. Our success stories are through the roof. For me it’s not about the numbers as it is about the people. If your heart is in the business and you’re approaching it from a pure place, you will do well. If you approach it from a place of looking at students as numbers you are going to see them leave. Roberts:  What are some words of advice you can give to prospective CDs and actors? Rudolph:  My career has been like “take the next right step” mentality. First  working in production, then at a talent agency, then for Scott, then in casting and then opening Actors Green Room. In terms of getting into casting you can be an intern. If you are an actor looking to get into casting you can meet the casting directors and tell them that you are interested in becoming an intern. A lot of people who have started as interns are now pretty high up there. You rise in the ranks. As an actor the best advice I have to give is building relationships. They are the most important thing in this business. It’s about who you know but more importantly who knows you. Actors need to understand that this is a business and that you, the individual, is a business owner. You have to treat yourself like a CEO and not feel that you deserve it just because you went to NYU. Get in the workshops, get a new headshot, sell yourself properly and put yourself out there. It’s not just about t he art. It’s half art and the other half is pure business. A lot of actors are missing that essential piece and then don’t understand why they aren’t booking work or getting called in. For me there’s a lot that the actors can’t control, but there is a lot that they are in control of. They are in control of what they are putting out there. They have to do it optimally.

How To Create Your Personal Brand - Part 2 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How To Create Your Personal Brand - Part 2 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career My post last Saturday explored how you can begin creating your personal brand through having a few great brainstorm sessions and then organizing your thoughts by creating a web. This week’s post will show you how to take the first steps into spreading your personal brand online through creating your own blog. Get out of the kiddie pool create something of your own Many believe that having an online presence through creating profiles on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter is having a personal brand. They’re mistaken. While claiming your name on these sites can help spread your personal brand, they don’t differentiate you. While your profile may list your interests and accomplishments, it doesn’t showcase all that you are and have to offer the world. It doesn’t highlight what makes you unique or allow you to lead a tribe. You can only do these things by creating something of your own. Let’s take a look at how you can get started building a powerful personal brand through creating your own self-hosted blog. Do not fear, some awesome how-to video tutorials are here One of the great things about living in a Web 2.0 world is that you can figure out how to do anything. When I was creating my blog, I stumbled across some incredible videos by Gideon Shalwick and Yaro Starak, from becomeablogger.com that show you step by step how to create your own self-hosted blog. Quite simply, these videos we’re all I used to launch my very own blog â€" they’re a fantastic resource. Check out the first video here: Pretty cool, huh? The entire becomeablogger.com how-to video series is 10 short video clips that when finished will have you, as the proud owner of your very own self-hosted blog. Instead of reinventing the wheel and writing out a long elaborate post, I thought I would just share these videos with you all. When youre finished creating your self-hosted blog, you can begin to spread your ideas and personal brand on the web. You can begin to form a community around you and become the leader of a tribe. You can tie your social networks into your blogging efforts to help build and promote your personal brand. You will be in the personal branding game and in the position to receive incredible, unsolicited opportunities that can change your life and help you reach your goals quicker. What are you waiting for? Go get started! Have an awesome weekend! Author: Chad Levitt is the author of the New Sales Economy blog, which focuses on how Sales 2.0 Social Media can help you connect, create more opportunities and increase your business. Chad is also the featured Sales 2.0 blogger at SalesGravy.com, the number one web portal for sales pros, the professional athletes of the business world. Make sure to connect with him on Twitter @chadalevitt.

How to Get Your Verbiage For Technical Writing On Resume Correct

How to Get Your Verbiage For Technical Writing On Resume CorrectIt is essential to ensure that you get all the verbiage for technical writing on resume right, otherwise you might have to get a completely different writing style. All your technical writing needs are important, because this is the only way you can convey that you know the proper terminology. In fact, it is this verbiage that separates the truly great technical writers from the mediocre ones.Technical writing on resume is not something that you should take lightly. It is a fact that many individuals who use a resume or a CV, while meeting and speaking with employers, do not necessarily even know how to write this verbiage in an effective manner. Therefore, it is very important that you also have the appropriate vocabulary.Technical writing on resume is only possible if you have the proper tools. However, most people do not have this. It can be because they do not know how to pick the right tools, or perhaps it is becaus e they do not really want to be confused when using it.The best solution to this is to do some research about the right tools and equipment you need to get you through the resume verbiage basics. You need to realize that the wrong tool can cause more trouble than you expect. This is especially true for a new writer.You will want to make sure that you find a professional resume writer, who knows exactly what you need to do to get your verbiage on a resume correct. In fact, there are many benefits to choosing to work with a professional. Not only will they help you but they can also help you save time and money, which is of utmost importance in these days.Technical writing on resume is one of the most important things that you need to get right when you need to impress a potential employer. Of course, you also need to remember that the employer is looking for the exact same thing that you are looking for. Therefore, it is important that you get your verbiage on a resume right.Finding a good technical writer can also take time, but you have to know that finding a good writer does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money. In fact, finding a good writer is easy, but you must be able to know what you are looking for. There are lots of ways to make sure that you are getting your verbiage on a resume right.Technical writing on resume is an important part of any CV. If you are not sure of how to get it right, then this can be a very big problem. It is always best to ask a writing company if they have any extra services you might need.

One Powerful Tool for Coping in Job Search and Career Management - Hire Imaging

One Powerful Tool for Coping in Job Search and Career Management - Hire Imaging One of the biggest hurdles faced by folks in job search or career management is worrying about future unknowns. Not to be confused with strategic planning, this fruitless frettingâ€"and in one of my client’s words, “freaking out” â€" can zap time, morale and energy without yielding any benefits. In fact, it’s a big-time stress producerâ€"the type that can make you physically sick. You don’t need that when marketing yourself internally or externally. Gina, a client and former CAD designer with a major manufacturer, told me an illustrative story. The talk of takeover had floated around for nearly a year. The rumors indicated that the product line Gina worked with would be discontinued; and any design facilities would be relocated out of state. Rather than start a search, Gina hung on, living in a state of steady, pit-of-the-stomach angst. The merger happened. She survived that round. The buzz continued around more to come. This happened three times and in each instance (and in between), Gina lost sleep, wrung her hands and said “it’s just a matter of time.” When she lost her position a year later, she handled it well! She and her husband tightened their financial belts; she spruced up her resume, reached out to her network, and managed a very effective job search campaign, landing a new job within a few months. Gina told me that what surprised her was this: “I let myself get nearly ill worrying about what might happen, waiting for a tornado that amounted to a bit of rain. Getting fired taught me that I cope with reality far better than I coped with my own horrible imaginings.” So as your advocate, I’m asking you to adopt this mantra. “Stay in the now!” Even better, “Enjoy the now!” Here are three tips to do it! 1. Its rarely as bad as it seems.   People frequently underestimate their ability to cope with setbacks  and letdowns. One study asked people to estimate how badly they would feel if what they were worrying about would happen; then asked the same folks how they felt when it did occur. The vast majority coped much better with the reality than the projections. I often use a similar approach with my clients who are genuinely suffering with anxiety over what might be. Cory was finishing his Master’s degree. Messy, unpredictable life handed Cory some unexpected family and work commitments. He handled them, but told me he was up at night worrying about a big exam. Well, he didn’t pass it. When I asked him how he felt about that and what his next steps were, he replied, “I was relieved to know. “ He then talked to the professor, who understood that Cory had a full plate, wanted to do well on the exam and was willing to do extra. So, they worked out an arrangement where he could retake the exam and assist with some other projects. “I feel so much better,” Cory told me. 2. Fear is not your friend.   As Gina and Cory discovered, uncertainty can actually feel worse than the bad outcome you’re afraid of. There are studies that show people whose jobs are persistently shaky report much higher rates of depression and poorer health than those who actually lost their jobs. People seem to link uncertainty with a negative outcome, even when that’s not warranted. I often ask my clients, “What’s the worst that can happen?” We talk about FEAR  as a burdensome mindset of False Expectations Appearing Real. It’s important to remember that by definition, uncertainty means you don’t how something will turn out, which means that a happy situation is just as likely as an unhappy one. One survey showed that respondents were actually wrong 85 percent of the time when they anticipated that some unsettled issue in their lives would not turn out well. Wow! That’s a lot of mind-and-body-attacking worry for nothing! Yes, sometimes what we fear comes to pass. And sometimes it’s the kick we needed! The door opened  we never even knew was there! When Gina was pushed out of the nest and able to focus on exploration, research and targeted marketing to land a great opportunity, she made an overhaul and moved from CAD designer in manufacturing to a creative director within a non-profit setting. She loves it! The concept never even crossed her mind when so much brain space was dominated by fear of vague doom. And she now tells me that “I’ve no guarantees I’ll be at this job six months from now. But my resume’s ready, I keep my network alive and I’m savoring what I’m doing now.” Gina has reaped the benefit of not giving into fear. She’s turned her thinking from “What if bad things happen to me?” to “Who knows what adventure’s around the corner!” and “Life is interesting!” 3. Take action and use distraction.   It’s lack of control that’s typically at the root of uncertainty, fear and worry. When you push that resume into cyberspace  and wait to hear from an anonymous entity. When you’re nearly sick with worry over not knowing what to expect in an upcoming interview. Research has shown that people are more contented â€" and even live longer â€" when they believe they have some control over their own situations. So, if you’re worried about being laid off, have an honest, non-confrontational conversation with your supervisor. If you’re scared of that interview, prepare . Journal or devise an action plan around whatever issue is bothering you. Doing something concrete to deal with worry can give you a greater sense of power and control. There are lots of things you can’t control. Your action and attitude  are not on the list. Sometimes one of those things beyond your control is the waiting game. That next reorganization. The hiring authority’s selection. Acceptance into the graduate school of your choice. Using mindful techniques of distraction can keep you in the moment in a positive way. Instead of checking your phone messages a gazillion times, read a book, go to the movies, listen to music, cook a favorite dish. There’s a favorite pastime for everyone. And although it’s a song sung over and over â€" because clichés are born of truthâ€" exercise is your friend. There are many options for distraction. The idea is to seek out an activity so captivating that you float out  of time consciousness. To feel more comfortable despite the fact that you don’t have all the answers. To keep your balance. Folks cope much better with roadblocks and letdowns than they think they will. Real life is actually pretty doable for most people. It’s uncertainty that’s the downer. Enjoying the “the now” is powerful. My Mom used to always say, “That’s why they call it the present.” Photo: return the sun

Knowing it All

Knowing it All The next time you are telling someone something, stop, and think about how much you dont know about what you are talking about. It is so easy, especially when we get older and supposedly wiser, to believe we have the answers. Personally and professionally, we feel we know the answers. With confidence, wetake a stand on an issue or topic. It isat that moment, we need to stop and consider how much we dontknow.Open up our minds to the possibility that there is probably so much we dont know on the issue or topic. That can be difficult, because wewant to believe we know. But we dont. If we open our minds to the notion that we are not the expert, that there are people out there that know more, perhaps even the person we are talking with/to, it allows us to want to learn more. If we want to learn more, we become more pro-active in seeking information from those we interact with. If you have children, you feel you are supposedto know it all.When they cometo you for advice or help, you might feel itis your job to share your expertise/wisdom. Thats fine, just remember, youdont know it all, do you? How would that exchange with you child be different if you were asking yourself, do I really know what I am talking about?. I hope the answer is a mix of yes and no. If you are in an interview or networking, you want to appear knowledgeable and confident. You dont, however, know it all. That results in arrogance. Keep an open mind, remember, you dont know it all. Adopt the life long learner mentality. It keeps you alert and humble and much more enjoyable to be around.