A Stressful Environment Was the Deal Breaker

Jane was trained in the old school of doing layouts and mechanicals on a drawing table and shared -“By the time I was working from a computer, I was tired of last-minute deadlines, multi-tasking, and working for companies whose products and ideals I didn’t support. I needed a change.” Working in the corporate culture left her feeling unhappy and misaligned with her work ethics. Even as a freelancer she was still close enough to the action to absorb the high levels of stress. “Someone else may find that kind of work challenging and exciting, but it drained me.” Jane longed for a happier, healthier work environment that would make her feel good at the end of the day. Tapping into the advice of a dear friend, she contemplated reflexology and other hands-on wellness practices where she could connect with people and make a difference.

The beauty of New York City is that you have access to everything and anything. Jane easily found the Laura Norman Reflexology Center right in the heart of Manhattan. She devoured the training brochure and knew right then and there that this was what she wanted to learn to do. “I remember thinking to myself as I was reading the brochure, that this is exciting – all these health benefits from working on the feet! I could hardly wait to get started!”

Clarity of Focus

Hungry for her new reinvention, Jane immediately signed up for reflexology courses and began her new journey on nights and weekends. By day she was working as a freelance graphic designer and by night she was working towards her certification.

With four levels of required training under her belt, Jane traveled the island of Manhattan documenting hours of client sessions, attending workshops and health fairs, and reading every book, article, and piece of information she could find on her new passion – reflexology.

So what is reflexology, anyway? Jane describes reflexology based on research and principles that are most widely used to define the practice today.

“Reflexology is a scientific art based on the premise that there are reflex areas on the feet, hands and outer ears which correspond to all body parts. The physical act of applying specific pressures using thumb, finger and hand techniques result in stress reduction, which causes a physiological change in the body.

Many people call reflexology massage, but reflexology and massage are two different modalities. Reflexology has its own history, vocabulary, techniques and research studies separate from any other profession. It works primarily with reflexes through the nervous system versus the musculature. The intent is not to change the soft tissue of the body, but to bring the body into balance through the relaxation process.”

After two full years of course requirements, hands-on practical hours, and a three-part test, Jane earned her national certification in reflexology. Armed with clarity of purpose, Jane was now a Reflexologist on a mission towards a new career.

Putting Her Best Foot Forward

Jane was ready to take her new certification on the road since she faced a serious career hurdle in her New York City home base. Each state has different laws governing bodywork and in NY State, to practice reflexology legally, Jane was also required to earn a license in massage therapy. Always clear, Jane shared: “Well, I didn’t want to be a massage therapist. I wanted to be a Reflexologist!” And so the journey to find a new home to fulfill her career-dream began.

Reflecting on where she might land, Jane focused on Bloomington, IN – a place she had visited often and also one with no restrictive laws governing reflexology. After 19 years in her beloved Big Apple, Jane left and headed west to start a new chapter in her life and her career.

Setting out Her Shingle

Jane had a support group of friends in Bloomington which helped in her cross country relocation. With her work history in graphic design, Jane was able to produce her own fliers, cards, ads and marketing materials. She had the added challenge of educating a new population about reflexology so they would understand the practice and take advantage of her services.

Jane’s materials include user-friendly descriptions about reflexology and its health benefits. For example:

“Many health problems can be linked to stress. It is an acknowledged fact by the medical community that a body trying to function while under the influence of prolonged stress is less capable of organizing its defenses against illnesses and repair damage caused by injury. Reflexology can negate the effects of stress while it helps the body relax. Reflexology gently nudges the body toward better functioning by improving lymphatic drainage, circulation, stimulation to the nerve pathways, and muscle relaxation.”

With the availability of the internet, reflexology resources are plentiful now. A myriad of reflexology associations on a state, national and international level provide a wealth of information to keep Jane and her clients updated on studies, workshops and conferences.

Foot Loose and Fancy Free

Jane is quick to thank her teachers and mentors, Sande Rosen and Laura Norman who continue to serve as inspirational resources for her practice today. She values their personal commitment to her career and in return, Jane pays-it-forward by teaching an introductory reflexology course at Associates for Integrative Health in Bloomington.

While being a solo-preneur has its challenges, Jane is thrilled to be in charge of her own career destiny. She most appreciates not having others tell her what to do in a work environment, and sets her own schedule in a time frame that suits her lifestyle. Jane relishes being comfortable in her work environment, creating a space that focuses on calm and relaxation for herself and her clients.

You’re Not in Kansas Anymore

Or, in this case – Jane’s not in New York City anymore. For her, moving to a small Midwestern city has also created some challenges. Although a progressive university town, Bloomington doesn’t have any other nationally certified Reflexologists. That may seem like a no brainer for steering all the clients to Jane but in reality, competition breeds good business. Jane longs for a community of Reflexologists with whom she can collaborate, and a little competition never hurts either!

With Bloomington as her home for 10+ years, Jane has come to love this little oasis in Indiana. She is active in the community and has a network of friends and clients that frequent her practice regularly. Her client base continues to grow from strong referrals and she was recently featured in the city’s premiere periodical – Bloom Magazine.

Dream Big

Jane has learned a lot over the years and still has future plans and a passionate new dream. Recently, she was introduced to what is called a Reflexology Path. It’s a path or walkway made of stones, designed with the intent to stimulate points on the feet. “I’d love to see one built in Bloomington. What a great way to bring health and community together.”

And that’s what makes Jane special, her commitment to bringing people together in community. For years she’s had her own studio, but recently discovered that she enjoys working with like-minded people in a group environment. You can also find Jane at Bloomington’s Massage on the Square. Among a group of massage therapists, she is the sole certified Reflexologist. Jane is enjoying the camaraderie of other professionals dedicated to the wellness practice of bodywork. “There’s always someone to listen, and give advice or best of all, give you a massage. I love how we take care of each other.”

So if you live Bloomington, IN or find yourself passing through, be sure to look up Jane Bradley and treat yourself to a reflexology session. Once you start, you’ll never stop. I’ve been a client of Jane’s for many years and I treat my feet, and my entire body to an hour of reflexology with Jane regularly. She really can clear your nose through your toes!

Jane’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Have a plan and visualize your future.
• Stay positive, believe in yourself, and always strive for what you want.
• Build a community of people who also do what you do. They will be a great support system and serve as a resource.
• Never sacrifice your sanity or suffer through a stressful career you don’t like – you deserve the best.

Quote:

“You live the life you choose.” – Jane is inspired by this quote that has been used and adapted in countless motivational books.

Resources:

Jane Bradley Footzeus http://janebradleyfootzeus.com/

Twitter: Footzeus

Massage on the Square: http://www.btownmassage.com/

Laura Norman Wellness www.lauranorman.com

Reflexology Research Project www.reflexology-research.com

Reflexology Association of America www.reflexology-usa.org

American Reflexology Certification Board www.arcb.net

Tana worked for the GRDA in Vinita, Oklahoma, which is a state-owned public power producer. They operate 2 coal-fired generating plants, and three hydro plants which produced electricity for about 15 cities and towns in Oklahoma, as well as rural electric cooperatives. She worked for 20+ years in the Media/Marketing Department producing corporate videos, annual reports, company brochures/media and corporate photography. Tana also worked with many cities and civic organizations on their marketing efforts and although she enjoyed her job she never called it her career passion.

The draw of the rodeo always beckoned for Tana to participate more regularly than the weekend competitions that she continued to pursue in her spare time. The ultimate goal on the rodeo circuit for a Barrel Racer is to find that special horse that could compete at the top professional level. In 1999, Tana thought found him, a bay 4-yr-old gelding, whose official name was Perrymans Star, but she called him Amigo.

Competing with the Big Girls

Tana took her time training and seasoning him for three years, and Amigo continued to prove himself a winner. In 2003, Tana took the big step and entered the winter pro rodeos, sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, to see how she would do against the “big girls”. Although their first run wasn’t good, Tana and Amigo came back and won the second round at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. For the next three years, she continued to work her marketing job and tried to rodeo on the side using accumulated leave, comp time, and unpaid leave.

Each year, Tana and Amigo would finish in the top 30, and only the top 15 qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. In June of 2006, she was ranked in the top 15, but she had run out of leave and had to make a decision, either quit her job, or quit rodeo-ing. But dreaming and reality are two different things. Tana didn’t want to look back and wonder what if? But she didn’t want to put her family in a financial bind either. After much prayer and reflection, Tana took the leap and left her job to pursue life on the road as a professional rodeo Barrel Racer. Her husband of 26 years, Marty, and son, Brodie encouraged her to go for it.

On the Road Again

After a month on the road, Tana had only won a couple of thousand dollars and after expenses, she was broke. She told her husband that she would finish out the next week at the rodeos and then she’d go find a real job again.

“I also had a long conversation with God about the whole situation, and He gave me a whole new insight. Although I didn’t win a lot that week, things started clicking, and I went another week. We found our “zone” and started winning, and climbed back into the standings, winning enough to qualify for our first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in third place!”

While the earning picked up with additional wins, Tana says her new career is more about passion than finances. It can be feast or famine, but she won $100,000 at Calgary in 2007 which has carried her through the past two years while Amigo had to have surgery in 2008. Tana also broke her ankle in 2009 so the unexpected expenses really did add up.  To an outside observer, it might look like Tana is rolling in the dough of her winnings but they don’t see the expenses of travel, veterinary care, and human health care. Tana admits, she has not “made it” yet but she is still going strong.

At the Top of Your Game

While the critical element is having a great horse for a partner Tana also learned that it takes perseverance and really knowing your horse to help him stay at the top of his game. In addition to the now 16-yr-old Amigo, Tana also has 9-yr-old Goose with whom she is partnering. It is definitely a partnership—she takes care of her guys and they take care of her.

Tana has learned the importance of financial planning since she cannot count on regular winnings. She advises others interested in pursuing a high risk career transition to never look back and never give up.

Family also plays a very important role in Tana’s success and she could not continue on this path without their strong support. Tana’s son Brodie kept telling her in the first few years when she wanted to quit and go home, “No Mom, you’ve got to keep going so we can go to the NFR!”

Marty, her husband, works hard to help keep her on the road. He is the reason she can live her dream. Tana’s parents hauled her to Little Britches and High School rodeos while she was growing up, and her parents still go with her on the road when they can. Marty’s parents also lend a hand helping to feed the horses and assist with housework while Tana is on the road.

Road Report

Tana loves to encourage others to follow their dreams, so she speaks at church services, at barrel races, rodeos, and other organizations. She has put on clinics for 4Hers, Girl Scouts and church groups and supports an equine-assisted therapeutic riding center. Tana also serves as the director of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

Her goal is to make the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo again this year. Tana would like to give both her horses a chance to compete there.  “Amigo deserves the chance to run there when he is healthy. — A gold (World Champion) buckle would be nice some time, too!” according to Tana.

Friends and fans can follow Tana by reading her web road report at: www.tanapoppino.com and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s site at: www.wpra.com.

Tana’s Advice and Action Steps

• Take a risk and pursue your passion.
• Plan well financially.
• Seek the support of friends, family and your resource team.
• Do what you love and it will never seem like work.

Quote:

“Discover your God-given talents, follow your dream, work hard, and never, never, give up!”

Tana Poppino

Resources

Tana Poppino  www.tanapoppino.com

Rodeo Promotions www.rodeopromotions.com

While Jacqueline relished her new role as a mother, the pangs of career guilt began to set in for this professor-turned-mom who craved intellectual stimulation and challenge. Struggling with the proverbial question of “What do I want to be when I grow up?” Jacqueline took the advice of a dear relative who shared that raising a child is a special time in a mother’s life, and a very short one at that. She cautioned Jacqueline to enjoy this time with her daughter and to be confident that the work would always be there when she was ready to go back. Little did Jacqueline know that her future career would be to mobilize a grass roots movement rehabilitating neighborhood schools in her Chicago community and across the nation.

Mother Knows Best

Jacqueline took this wisdom to heart and started to believe that her skills would not go away and that her role as a mom was very important. In addition to her training as a professor, Jacqueline is also a fine artist, a painter who specializes in ketubahs, distinctive Jewish marriage agreements which have become a significant form of Jewish ceremonial art. Painting was something she continued to enjoy while pursuing the full-time career of being a mother.

From the time her daughter was an infant, Jacqueline’s husband Andrew agreed to pursue the research about where she would attend school. However, Chicago parents, like parents across the country, face the same sobering reality: given the scarcity of spots, it’s extremely difficult to get your child into an expensive private school. Entry into a respected public magnet school isn’t any better. In fact, Jacqueline points out, it’s statistically easier to get your high school kid into Harvard than to get your kindergartener into a selective enrollment magnet school. In Chicago, most middle class parents believe that their non-selective neighborhood public school is not a viable option.

Most parents assemble portfolios with glossy brochures and consultant recommendations to figure out where to send their kids to kindergarten and beyond.  Andrew passed the baton to Jacqueline and the school research became her responsibility. Finding a suitable school for her daughter, Maya (and son Zack, who was on the way) was a top priority.

The Power of the Roscoe Park Eight

Struck with the possibility of moving out of Boystown, her fabulous Chicago neighborhood known for its architectural charm, rich culture, diversity and tolerance, Jacqueline convinced her friend Nicole to come with her to check out Nettelhorst, her neighborhood’s underutilized and struggling public elementary school. After a 3-hour tour of the 110 year-old building, the new principal, Susan Kurland, asked what it would take for them to enroll their children. Stunned by her candor, they returned the next day armed with an extensive wish list. Susan read their list and said “Well, let’s get started, girls! It’s going to be a busy year…”

And so the journey from the park to the school began. Jacqueline and Nicole recruited six more park friends to join the cause. The women called themselves the Roscoe Park Eight, and met once a week in a Boystown diner, to plan how to fix Nettelhorst so their kids could walk to school.

Eight Women in a Diner

This meeting of the minds may have started humbly in a diner but never underestimate the power of mothers on a mission. The talent pool amongst the mommy brigade was deep, ranging from lawyers and advertizing executives to artists and bankers. They decided to call their group, The Nettelhorst Parents’ Co-op, with the motto “We do more during nap-time then most people do all day!”

The Roscoe Park Eight set an ambitious goal: the Parents’ Co-op had just nine months to reinvigorate Nettelhorst. These women were scrappy, creative and spirited, and as Jacqueline admits, too naïve and green to know how difficult this endeavor really was.

Running on infectious energy, each park mom captained a Co-op team: infrastructure, public relations, marketing, special events, fundraising and curricula. Each woman was assigned a task that best met her skill set and experience, and each team had to succeed concurrently. The team captains then set out to recruit as many families as they could to join their fledgling cause.

Mommy Moxie

How could the Co-op refurbish a school with a budget of nothing? The moms began cold calling people to solicit services, supplies and volunteers with skills and an interest in the project. In the beginning, fundraising efforts were futile since nobody wanted to contribute to a failing city school. The development team was disbanded and efforts were re-focused on getting the necessary goods and services donated for the cause.

In a matter of months, the community donated over half a million dollars in goods and services, contributed inch-by-inch and a gallon of paint at a time. The beauty of this project was that anything you had to offer for the cause was perfect. If you had a gallon of neon yellow paint, great! Nothing was turned down and nothing was wasted. The community joined in, and now, there isn’t an inch of the school that hasn’t been touched by a neighborhood artist. The whole school is an inspiration!

The community buy-in was extraordinary and people started calling from distant parts of the city to contribute to the reinvention of Nettelhorst. The Roscoe Park Eight truly harnessed the goodness of a neighborhood. The story has been featured on Oprah & Friends, NPR, CNN, 60 Minutes, Education Weekly, and in the local Chicago media.

Sustaining the Cause

Eight years into the project of fixing Nettelhorst, Jacqueline wrote a book about her experience:  How to Walk to School: Blueprint for a Neighborhood School Renaissance (Foreword by Arne Duncan and Afterword by Rahm Emanuel). The book chronicles the highs and lows of motivated neighborhood parents galvanizing and then organizing an entire community to take a leap of faith to transform a challenged urban school. They successfully turned Nettelhorst into one of Chicago’s best schools, virtually overnight. Jacqueline proved that that the fate of public education is not beyond our control. In the book, she provides an accessible and honest blueprint for reclaiming the great public schools our children deserve.

The original eight moms wanted to create a sustainable school that could thrive into the future, and now, Nettelhorst is one of the most desirable schools in Chicago. Enrollment has doubled; test scores have tripled; and parent involvement is off the charts.

The original fundraising committee may have been unsuccessful at first, but now that the school is thriving, development efforts are a well-oiled machine. For example, parents forged a deep, mutually beneficial partnership with Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks. With a $210,000 donation, the Blackhawks built a state of the art fitness center in the school and an outdoor hockey field. Players, coaches and team managers frequent the school teaching kids about sportsmanship, discipline, and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

Thanks to the work of driven parents, the school now has the financial wherewithal to maintain the building, and to provide innovative programming to enhance an already solid curriculum.

Labor of Love

While the moms contributed sweat equity to this cause eight years ago, and did all of the work pro bono, Jacqueline is still on a mission to continue with the renaissance of neighborhood schools nationwide. She is obsessed with sparking the national grass roots movement since 90% of America’s neighborhood schools are in sad shape. According to Jacqueline “If everyone just fixed their own neighborhood school, we could see real, systemic change across the country.”

Jacqueline has led workshops for the Community Schools Initiative, Northside Parents Network, and Chicago Public Schools on how public schools and reformers can stimulate communities to improve public education. She has consulted with schools and neighborhood groups on issues of strategy and organizational development. Her goal is to insert this idea into the national dialogue about education.

The story is inspiring on so many levels, but in addition to reinventing a school that was literally falling apart at the seams, Jacqueline reinvented herself in the process and established a brand new career. Harnessing her transferable skills from the academic and artistic arena, this mom has a passion for changing neighborhood schools across the country so kids can walk to school in their own communities.

Take Back the Schools

The next step for Jacqueline is to generate a steady income as a change agent consultant for neighborhood school reform. As the story of Nettelhorst spreads, she’s gaining momentum on a national level. If you have an interest in reforming your neighborhood school, be sure to contact Jacqueline. How to Walk to School provides a blueprint that any community can duplicate– with a little elbow grease and a lot of passion.

While doing a good deed that would enable her own children to walk to school, Jacqueline unearthed an accidental career that has inspired her to continue this work in other communities. Her success proves that good things do happen, often when you least expect them.

Jacqueline’s Action Steps for Reforming Your Neighborhood School:

1. Form a group of core parents.
2. Find a Principal you can work with.
3. Find a pro-bono lawyer.
4. Get the school spruced up.
5. Start a public relations program.
6. Enroll your own kids in the school.
7. Get the community involved in the school.
8. Settle in for three or more years of open houses and fundraisers, volunteering at the school, and meetings out the wazoo.
9. Acknowledge you’re not going to get any breaks.

Resources:

How to Walk to School the Book & Blog http://howtowalktoschool.com/

Nettelhorst School Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPZr6BYJSGc

Before long – “If You’re Happy and You Know It” became “If You’re Hannah and You Know It” and the idea of Name Your Tune was born. Candace’s husband, Eric works in the music industry and he supported the idea of the new business venture and also brought significant skills and expertise to the table. From the beginning, the focus has been on making music fun for children and parents alike. By customizing songs with a child’s name, this wife and husband team has been able to take classic children’s songs to a new place.

Sing a New Song

Candace admittedly has no experience in the music industry but her background in liberal arts and education has provided her with a cadre of transferable skills that help her run the business. Directly after college, Candace hoped to pursue teaching but the lack of opportunities in the education field led her to a position in the retail industry. She was working her way up the management ladder when she became pregnant with Hannah. The plan was to go back right after her maternity leave but Name Your Tune happily took her life in a different direction.

Candace has been active with children and youth in her community through social programs, summer camps and trips abroad so creating a new business about kids was an ideal fit. They started with 9 songs and 800 recorded names. Candace and Eric invented the technology to personalize the songs with a child’s name in the recording process.

Eric’s music background came in very handy with this new business venture. As the company co-founder, he has been active in the Canadian music scene for 15+ years and has experience with media relations and acquisitions for Koch Entertainment which proved extremely valuable for Name Your Tune.

Bringing Home the Bacon and Cooking It

In the beginning, Candace admits she was useless around computers as technology was not her forte. But, she is now the company’s one-woman IT department and coordinates the efforts of 4 amazing singers, producers, and a West Coast office, handling most of the day-to-day tasks herself.

Being a mompreneur and a WAHM (work at home mom) means that Candace can be her own boss. She sets her own hours, which lends itself to a flexible schedule so she can balance her varying roles as a mom, wife, daughter, sister, and business owner. While Candace admits to accepting a certain amount of imbalance as a reality to her day, she feels fortunate to be able to work from home and enjoy the little things that she couldn’t do if she worked off site.

While juggling Name Your Tune responsibilities she usually does a few loads of laundry and gets her daughter to and from school daily. She has become the queen of multi-tasking. On an ambitious day this might also include cooking a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce because these are things that she is able to fit in during her work day now.

A Hard Day’s Night

While the work day might sound idyllic, prioritizing her family during the day means that Candace often works at the computer well into the night. Eric is often at her side since this business is truly a joint venture and a family affair. She has his total support and kid coverage when the job requires her working weekends away for promotional events to brand their product. They have developed a partnership and have each other’s backs to cover things on the work and home front.

Since the company launch, Name Your Tune has become the leading personalized CD in the world. Children will hear their name more than 80 times throughout 14 treasured songs and they now have over 4500 names to choose from!

People Magazine called Name Your Tune CDs “This year’s most coveted item.” in 2009.  NBC’s The Today Show calls the CD “Must have baby gear – now that’s something to sing about!” Celebrity parents sporting customized CDs include: Patrick Dempsey, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Debra Messing, Tori Spelling, Denise Richards and many more.

Reality Check

The business is thriving now and going better than Candace and Eric ever expected. But, the start-up costs were significant. Family was very supportive and Candace’s dad is an accountant who shared his financial wisdom and backing for the new company.

With 4 performers and a full studio assembled to record the customized songs, Name Your Tune cost $25,000 to become functional in the very beginning. Candace and Eric also have West Coast partners that manage and grow the business in the states. They see it as a 4-way partnership and each person has a specific job that makes the engine run.

Candace warns other aspiring entrepreneurs to protect themselves legally early on and seek out expert advice from a lawyer. She and Eric sought out the counsel of many specialists to make up for skills they did not possess.  Defining their unique brand in the marketplace has been incredibly important as well as the research required to figure out the nuance of supply and demand in the kid’s music industry.

At the end of the day, Candace is happy as a WAHM but warns other moms to be realistic about what you can commit to while raising your family. “Sometimes you have to learn to live with the fact that the beds aren’t made and the dirty dishes in the sink because you are working and growing your business while raising your kids. And that’s ok!” Candace is still figuring out the delicate balancing act and no two days are alike. She wants her daughter to know that there is more to life than work even though as a WAHM she is never off duty.

Play it Forward

A portion of company proceeds are donated to Hear Here, the non-profit, charitable organization that purchases hearing aids for children through the Hospital for Sick Children. In 2007, Candace also launched a campaign called Play it Forward, a new initiative to support the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund. This effort collects new and pre-loved CDs to be distributed across Canada in support of Music Therapy. With the support and generosity of her customers, friends and colleagues, over 20,000 CDs were collected and distributed last year.

The accolades keep rolling in since Name Your Tune CDs have been named as an iParenting Award winner, the Parent to Parent Award, and in 2010, was nominated for both a Nickelodeon Parent Pick Award and Candace was herself nominated for an RBC Entrepreneur Award.

Out of a great idea, a song or two, and a lot of hard work and enthusiasm, Candace Alper changed her tune and reinvented her career from retail management in waiting to record label entrepreneur.

Candace’s Advice and Action Steps:

• To the WAHMs – don’t underestimate how hard it is to work at home.
• Empower yourself with information and seek help from others who do what you can’t.
• Don’t take things personally, business is business.
• Research the market you want to enter and find out what the needs are. Plan your transition according to what you love and what is needed.

Quote:

“It’s only a good idea if you do it – so do it fully!” Candace Alper

Resources:

Name Your Tune www.nameyourtune.com

Is perfect work/life balance really possible? Learn how work/life integration may be a more realistic expectation.

Little Doggie Lips

She had a very successful career in a huge advertising agency in Los Angeles working on campaigns for national brands including Panda Express, Saturn cars, eBay Motors, Shutterfly and The San Francisco Giants, to name just a few. As an Art Director, she was responsible for full-scale guerilla marketing from websites to TV commercials and everything in-between. The work was exciting and fast paced but after many years it left her stressed out, unbalanced, and unhealthy.

As a way to relieve her stress, Grace began to take photos of homeless dogs at the local animal shelters in order to help them find loving homes. As an Art Director, she developed a wonderful eye and worked with photographers regularly so she knew the craft even though she was not formally trained in the medium.

The hobby morphed into a sideline business and Grace began working early mornings, late nights, and weekends on her photography in addition to her ad agency job. She was clocking over 70 hours per week and received a significant raise at the agency after launching a popular national television campaign. But after 9 months of the cottage industry business and the grind of the day job, Grace quit the ad agency to focus on her photography full-time. This woman, in love with organic gardening, old books and little doggie lips recognized her calling and took the leap.

Do You Zig or Zag?

Grace’s background in advertising gave her the perfect set of transferable skills to launch her new business and make it a successful full-time venture. She designed her own website, developed her brand and marketed the business in order to attract clients. Grace uses social media resources to spread the word about her business including a blog http://www.shinepetphotos.com/blog/ that has become very popular with clients.

While Grace capitalized on her own self reliance she also knows the importance of distinguishing herself and her work. Since the time Grace launched ShinePetPhotos, over 70 new pet photographers have popped up in the Los Angeles area alone. She continues to be strategic and tap into her business sense to differentiate herself and separate her business from the pack.

At the ad agency she learned how to serve clients well and to solve problems. Advertising is not just marketing a product or a service, it involves solving real life problems and this has helped tremendously in her new business. Grace knew it wasn’t just enough to identify her passion for animals in the form of photography – she had to monetize it in order to make a livelihood out of this new venture.

A Clear Picture of Success

When I asked Grace to distill her personal brand down to a few works she responded with modern pet photography. Her images are beautifully real and capture the relationship of the animal and their human families as well as the unique personality of each furry friend. She aims to capture the pets in their natural environment, with gorgeous natural light, doing their favorite things.

The adage that time is money is even more applicable according to Grace who now works from home. She goes on location for her photography shoots but her days are filled with hard work managing and building the business. She does find time for gardening and cooking which was not always possible when she worked at the ad agency.

Grace feels more balanced, healthier, and has a sense of calm in her new work that everyone around her has recognized. Working with dogs and cats as your subjects takes a lot of patience. Although Grace considers herself impatient with most things in life, she has developed a sense of serenity and peace with the animals which makes for a good photo shoot.

The accolades are piling up and Grace has become widely recognized in a short period of time. She is the official photographer of The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, has cover photos showcased in The Bark Magazine and her shots were in a feature story about Perez Hilton’s dog, Teddy. Grace was also named LA’s best pet photographer two years in a row by Tails Magazine.

Grace’s grit and determination have helped her transfer the ad agency skills into her own business. She is committed to doing everything she can with character and integrity and has built her business on those values. She finally feels like she is doing what is right for her and has a sense of contentment about the new career that she is designing.

Coming Full Circle

As a little girl, Grace knew she was passionate about animals. Little did she know then that many years later she would develop a business to celebrate her furry friends and capture their essence with photographs.

Grace’s friends and colleagues thought she was crazy to quit a lucrative job in the midst of a recession but she kept her eye on the prize and never looked back. In 2 years, her business has grown exponentially. She operated in the black her very first year and nearly tripled her intake during the second year. Working full-time while growing the business was one of the most challenging things Grace has ever done but she earned her dream career with sweat equity, business savvy and the wisdom to know the importance of distinguishing herself from the competition.

And needless to say, she has the most lovable furry clients to work with on a daily basis so life is grand.

Grace’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Identify your passion – then monetize it!
• Be strategic and learn how to differentiate your personal brand to separate yourself from the competition. Identify your niche market.
• Know that if you start a new business you will have to work extremely hard and manage your time wisely. It’s all up to you.
• Learn how to connect your transferable skills and experiences with a new opportunity.
• Develop a plan.

Quote:

“If you are more excited to leave your job on Friday than you are to come in to work on Monday, something is wrong.” Donny Deutsch

Resources:

Shine Pet Photos www.shinepetphotos.com

Blog www.shinepetphotos.com/blog

Since 2005, Danielle has planned both intimate and large scale weddings and corporate events including some of New York City’s largest and most notable businesses. Located in the Big Apple, Curtain Up Events services the tri-state and greater New York area but Danielle also travels out of state for destination events.

Use Self Discovery for Career Transformation

She shared with me that she hit the wall as a performer and wanted self validation as a person and not just as an actress. It was a vulnerable self discovery process that helped her to realize that she was ready to leave the arts, and a very emotional decision. After many tears and a lot of deliberation about this major life and career change, Danielle was ready to reinvent herself and moved forward with confidence and conviction.

As an actress, she had worked many a catering gig when not performing and since her Mom was a professional caterer, she grew up surrounded by people in the special events industry. After leaving show biz, Danielle developed phenomenal vendor contacts from a 2 ½ year stint at another event planning firm where she worked prior to launching CUE. She received excellent reviews from colleagues and customers who encouraged her to set out her own shingle. Danielle combined her creative flair and business acumen to plan innovative and chic events under her new business name and thus, Curtain Up Events was born.

By the way, Madeline, Danielle’s 2 year old daughter was also born in 2009 and this working Mom was producing events up until a week before she gave birth. She also returned to work shortly after Madeline was born but does the logistical event planning from home to be closer to her daughter.

You Can’t Move Forward Without Taking a Risk

Launching her own business was quite a risk but Danielle is experiencing a validation that she finds very empowering. Her feedback from clients and vendors has been amazing and being her own boss has given her the freedom to make her own business decisions and design her work schedule around raising a daughter.

As a proverbial Stage Manager, Danielle calls all the shots in her business and enjoys having the opportunity to work with fabulous people designing special events that make people joyful.

“If you’ve ever been backstage during a performance, there are so many things going on which keep the show running that the audience never sees.  The same is true for a wedding.  I’m calling a million different cues, but the guests just enjoy a seamless event.  My musical-theater background also enables me to have a long list of theatrical vendors such as Tony-nominated lighting designers and Broadway performers that can make the day a little more spectacular.

Overall, I think the most unique thing I employ is my ability to connect with people.  A wedding is a very personal event and all of the special touches should reflect the couple and not me.  Those special touches will make people say “that wedding was so THEM.”

Her work and creative ideas appear on Brides.com, where she consults for numerous wedding planning stories. She was also a key producer on a team that planned an episode of “My Celebrity Wedding,” which aired on The Style Network.

The challenge for this working Mom is balancing work with raising a daughter. Danielle wants to be an inspiration and a role model for her daughter but admits “… sometimes you just have to budget to have someone watch the baby.”

“My biggest challenge is balancing work and personal life.  My daughter is very important to me and I constantly feel guilty about not spending enough time with her.  I know that I really do give her everything she needs and then some.  But, you’re always second guessing yourself and I’m always working at odd hours.  There’s always work to be done when you own your own company.  Even if the clients are completely taken care of, you still have to tend to the company itself.

You really have to have an amazing support system.  I have wonderful friends and family who are all hands on deck because they love me and believe in my company.  I also have an AMAZING group of women who work with me.  I couldn’t do it without them and I tell them every chance I get. If you think you can do everything yourself, you’ll just be running yourself ragged.  It’s so important to let others help you!!”

The curtain will rise and fall many times throughout our career lifetimes. Danielle found her passion a second time and serves as an inspiration for others who are looking for that next career opportunity. She deserves a standing ovation!

Danielle’s Advice

• Do what you love! I found something else I love, beyond my original career plan. I’m good at it and it makes me happy. Give yourself the opportunity to explore new things and find what you love.
• Take a risk – it could take you someplace wonderful.
• Be open to many things – you just might find something you never thought you would.
• Women can be competitive in the workplace so learn to work together and support each other and everybody wins.
• Always treat people with respect – sometimes it’s contagious and that’s a good thing.

Quote:

Danielle’s mantra is one she learned from Savor the Success – “Give, Give, Get” She is a firm believer in the power of giving and lives by the belief that you can’t please everybody all the time.

Resources

CUE www.curtainupevents.com

Savor the Success: www.savorthesuucess.com

But today’s entry is not just about Lisa’s book – it’s about something she shared in her recent newsletter that struck me. You may have heard of the Pareto Principle – otherwise known as the 80/20 rule. This concept illustrates the reality of unequal distribution when in most cases 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.

Lisa went on to share examples such as 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients and 20% of the work we do consumes 80% of our time and resources. Most of us only wear 20% of the clothes in our closet on a regular basis!

The bottom line, as Lisa so aptly describes is that 20% of what we do is vital and 80% of what we do is trivial. So, from all our daily activities – only 20% produce meaningful results. The goal is to identify the 20 % that matters so we can be proactive instead of reactive and more in control of the productive way we use our precious time. We must remind ourselves to focus on the 20% each day that really matters in work and life so we can produce the most positive and successful results.

Likewise, if you play to your strengths, you will use the 20% of your time even more effectively because you will be firing on all cylinders and working efficiently at what you do best. The bonus is that you will also be enjoying the process because you are honoring your strengths.

So – cheers to Lisa Montanaro for reminding us of the value of the 80/20 rule if you use it to your advantage. I hope you will check out her book, she really is the solutions expert!

It’s OK to Make a Career Change

Working full-time while in law school, Mary took a hiatus after her second year and returned to school older, wiser, and newly married to finish her law degree. With a focus on family law, property management, and contracts post graduation, Mary found her legal career unfulfilling and sought other ways to play to her strengths. While she waited for her “aha” moment to happen in law, it never did so she began to explore other options.

For three years she worked at Planned Parenthood doing outreach presentations in schools and she loved the rapport she built with the teenagers. She also worked for a Women’s Advocacy Project serving women in small communities that were victims of domestic violence and teaching them how to represent themselves.

Mary conducted a myriad of informational interviews searching for a better career fit when one day her mother asked “What do you love to do?” and Mary responded “I’m a teacher.” And so this epiphany led Mary to apply for the Texas Teaching Fellows program.

Trading the Private Sector for Public Schools

The six week intensive certification was part of a full year of instruction, observations, career counseling and student teaching. Mary then flexed her newly honed teaching muscles through a placement with The New Teacher Project which matches teachers with schools in need. TNTP is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of only 15% and focuses on retraining career changers so it was a perfect fit for Mary.

Mary now teaches in an ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom where the majority of her students are of Mexican or Hispanic origin. She also has one Taiwanese student. Her Spanish speaking skills have improved tremendously and Mary is pleased to be able to communicate effectively with her students and their parents. While a cacophony of languages are spoken regularly in her class, the emphasis is on English language acquisition.

Play to Your Strengths

Mary finds great value in her new career as a teacher where she can play to her strengths all the time but admits the transition to teaching was a struggle. “I had to trust my instincts…” as the first six months proved to be a real challenge trying to figure out the right position within the new teaching realm.

As a teacher, Mary makes less than she would as an attorney but you can’t put a price tag on passion and what the jobs lacks in salary is makes up for in benefits and security. But, most of all the realization that she is making a difference and serving the students is what makes Mary content.

Many people envision the easy schedule of teachers with summers off and early afternoon quitting times but Mary says this is not always the case. She struggles with work life balance in her new teaching role but she went in with her eyes open. With 7, 10, and 14 year old children of her own at home, Mary has to be creative and energetic to keep up with the pace of her 50+ hour work week.

After a 9 hour work day, Mary often goes back to email at home in the evenings because the ESL program at her school is brand new and there is always room to do more. Yet Mary considers herself lucky in her new career as a teacher and tells her kids that “Success is living the life that you want.” This has turned out to be a family mantra for her household.

Award Winner

Mary has plans to stay at Crockett High School in Austin, Texas for at least 5 years. She is learning so much on the job and wants to stay to see the changes she is part of creating have a chance to be implemented. Her goal is to be a great teacher and perhaps work more on curriculum design and advisory lessons. Mary is certainly well on her way for in 2009 she was awarded Teacher of Promise.

Mary’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Trust your instincts and do what you love.
• Take the time to figure it out. Talk with everybody you know to learn about other career options.
• It’s ok to retool or seek additional credentialing later in life.
• Lead with your strengths and you will be happy.

Quote: “Success is living the life that you want.” Mary Wasiak

Resources:

The New Teacher Project www.tntp.org

Texas Teaching Fellows Program www.texasteachingfellows.org/

Soul Searching

In the early years, Alicia was part of a retail buying group at Nordstrom in San Francisco. The group consolidated and she had the opportunity to move to another city in the US to work in the same field. But she didn’t want to leave her beloved California and decided to forge a new career path.

After some serious soul searching, Alicia purchased a Bed & Breakfast in the Napa Valley region. For six years this was an ideal place for her to live and work while tapping into her hospitality and customer service expertise. Eventually, midnight room service and changing bed linens became less appealing and Alicia started looking for new opportunities.

The economy was tough and selling the B&B was not likely so Alicia gave it back to the original lender and got six years of valuable experience under her belt which prepared her for the next step on her career journey.

Director of Euphoria

The B&B was Alicia’s entrée into Napa Valley and her introduction to the wine industry. After she left the B&B she started to test the waters in wine country and landed a position in sales. This gave her a great understanding of the nuances of the Napa wineries and her new position as Director of Sales and Hospitality played to all of her transferable skills from retail to running the Inn.

She jokingly called her position the Director of Euphoria because it was wonderful introducing clients to new wines. At one point she interviewed for a position at the Harris Estate Vineyards since she loved their wine and wanted to be a part of their thriving business. Alicia did not land that position but she clearly made a strong impression on the owners because they called her back a year later and offered her the General Manager position.

The Thrill of Success

As the General Manager, Alicia handles the allocations of this estate wine company including wholesale placements, marketing, and a new tasting salon opening soon in St. Helena. She loves the new position and the Harris estate which is situated on historical land that dates back to the Spanish land grants of the 1800’s. The 48 acres features a natural spring and a breathtaking landscape that nurtures the grapes for their signature and highly sought after cult Cabernet.

The Harris Estate wines are sought out by collectors with 93% sold business-direct to consumers. Alicia takes pride in developing each relationship with her clients and the estate motto is achieving success one customer at a time.  Alicia has come to understand that the wine industry is a lifestyle and not just a job. Entertaining is a big part of the business and the wine world is very social.

Alicia shared that “money orbits her” and as long as she is playing to her passion – the money has always followed. This is also the case with the new GM position which she loves. If you believe you can do it and envision what you want then Alicia believes opportunity will follow. You just need to be ready!

Limited Edition

Like rare books, the Harris Estate wines are produced in limited quantities, which is part of their allure. With only 1,000 cases produced, collectors always want more of what they can’t have which makes the job exciting.

The ultimate goal is to sell out before the wines are even officially released. That would be a sensational wine success story. While Alicia is thriving in her new role she also sees the potential to work too much and tries to take time to separate work and life. The need to recharge is very important and she is learning how to set boundaries in order to establish a balance.

In the dream category, Alicia sees more travel in her future and would like to buy another house. She is fine with changing her own linens and would celebrate the opportunity to create a home for her and her husband. Her self-described juicy goal is to become an auctioneer for wine auctions as this would be a great way to combine her fundraising and sales skill sets. That’s all part of the game plan but for now, business has never been better and Alicia is living another dream. 

Alicia’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Believe in yourself and have the intention to make a change.
• Take time to recharge.
• Learn to sell and market your strengths – especially if you are changing career fields.
• Separate your work from your personal life.
• Decide who you want to be and tell yourself every day who you are…I am a trusting, successful, world class moment dancing through life like nobody’s watching.

Quote:

“I love money and money loves me.” – Michelle Fischer

Resources:

Harris Estate Vineyard http://www.harrisestatevineyards.com