Like many lawyers, Lisa spent time at a large law firm learning the trade and working 90+ hour weeks.  She was working in New York City where the legal field is intense and competitive and Lisa was able to move from her firm to an in-house counsel position that seemed to be a better fit. This was 1999 and the Y2K craze was consuming all business sectors including the legal field and Lisa started thinking seriously about finding a different career that honored her passions while still playing to her strengths.

We Plan Lives

A dear friend sent Lisa an email telling her about the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and encouraged her to learn more about this field. The long time friend knew that Lisa was a talented organizer and encouraged her to establish her own business. Lisa’s husband then named it Montanaro, Inc. with the slogan – We Plan Lives. Lisa was known for sharing her wisdom and life planning skills with friends over the years.

Lisa’s friend was not too far off the mark because after researching NAPO and attending an event she discovered her true professional peeps and found that people actually organize for a living. This association was leading the profession for organizers and Lisa’s career world opened up.

Monetizing Your Passion

Lisa’s interest was piqued and she began to really consider how to make a career as a professional organizer. As one would expect from a natural organizer, Lisa had a plan to execute her new career goals. At the time, she was working as Associate General Counsel at Pace University, her law school alma mater. During an 18 month period, she articulated a plan on paper, paid off her remaining student loans, and banked 25K to start her new business venture. She even shared her plans with her employers at Pace knowing it would take time to conduct a search to find her replacement.

Her superiors at Pace recognized her organizational expertise and encouraged her to work part-time – with benefits while launching her new business. That career boost was delivered on a silver platter and allowed for Lisa to build her business and her brand slowly while still having the security of a steady income and benefits at Pace. She knew she was very fortunate to have such a well cushioned exit strategy.

Recognize Your Calling

Understanding the importance of being credentialed in the industry, Lisa became an inaugural Certified Professional Organizer® through a rigorous and intensive training program through NAPO launched in 2007. This put a stamp of approval on her business and validated her as an expert with additional learned skills that go beyond her natural organizational abilities.

Lisa’s business is called LM Organizing Solutions, LLC (LMOS).  She realized that as a multi passionate entrepreneur, her company is an umbrella organization with many spokes that include professional organizing, business and life coaching, and motivational speaking.

Lisa was able to identify her calling a second time in her life. Her first calling was as a performer. She spent her childhood singing, acting and dancing, and wanted to go professional. While she decided to pursue the law after college, she never gave up performing and turned it into a wonderful hobby that continues to this day. Lisa is also able to tap her performance skills as an engaging motivational speaker.

Equalize Your Work and Life

Her attorney background makes Lisa a sought-after business expert, mediator, and trainer for entrepreneurs. She offers business coaching to a variety of clients from solo-preneurs and non-profit organizations, to major corporations and municipalities. Lisa serves as an instructor for New York State’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program.

As a life coach, Lisa taps her mediation skills and guides clients to achieve results by motivating and encouraging without judgment. According to Lisa:

“During my time of career transition, I realized that I had been organizing people’s lives on an amateur level my whole life, and that my organizing and coaching skills transcended my work as a lawyer, teacher, mediator, writer, speaker, and performer.”

Lisa’s LMOS clients rely on her for leadership, guidance, support, encouragement, and coaching.

“I took a leap of faith and created a business that allows me to meld together many different, but related callings at the same time, while helping people live better lives and run better companies and organizations. The result has been both successful and rewarding.”

Break the Roof off the Cottage

Lisa was well equipped as a lawyer to create a business plan and establish her LLC for the business. She set up her separate business bank account early on, even before she had steady clients and tracked expenses and kept meticulous records for tax purposes.

She pursued a lot of industry research and became a self described organizing geek and read every book on the market to study her competition and distinguish her value-add in the industry. Lisa talked about visiting IKEA and The Container Store to learn about the latest organizing products. From the beginning, she wanted to treat her business as a real venture and pursued trademark and copyrights for her signature themes and strategies.

The messaging of a real business is powerful and Lisa encourages her entrepreneurial clients to adopt this mindset immediately. She recalled a NAPO conference with a famous speaker telling the participants – “If you want to break the roof off your cottage industry – do it. Don’t treat your business as if you are the Avon or Tupperware Lady.” This was a powerful message that helped Lisa legitimize her business in her own mind early on.

Are You Ready?

Lisa’s target market is success minded individuals and busy professionals. Clients must be committed to behavior modification and be ready to work. An example of an organizational project she works on with clients is de-cluttering the paper in their home or office. She helps them sift through mountainous piles of paper and develop a filing system for management. Some papers may be scanned, archived, or shredded but the goal is to develop a system so the client can manage their files (on their own) in the future.

Lisa developed and trademarked her own unique organizing process after years of noticing that disorganized people have difficulty making decisions. These decision making road blocks in turn cause delays and stress which translate into personal and professional frustrations.

She believes a client must decide to be organized and buy into the premise that becoming organized will empower their future. Here is Lisa’s DECIDE™ plan to allow clients to take control of their lives.

Discover what you have and want at home, at work, and in life.

Eliminate what is unnecessary and does not further your goals.

Categorize what remains.

Implement a system designed to match your needs, habits, work & lifestyle.

Dedicate yourself to maintaining your new system and integrating it into your life.

Enjoy the freedom and positive results that being organized brings.

Lisa feels strongly that – “DECIDE™ is an empowering process that leads to change. It will assist you in achieving results at home, at work, and in life in general. While the process guides a person or organization in making decisions that lead to a more organized state, it is itself a decision; a decision to take control.”

The Solutions Expert

In addition to a multi-tiered business model that honors her work values and allows her to play to her strengths, Lisa maintains a blog www.DecideToBeOrganized.com that delivers organizational strategies we can all use. Her blog was recognized by a national publisher and she was asked to write a book about organizing.

The Ultimate Life Organizer: An Interactive Guide to a Simpler, Less Stressful & More Organized Life will be published by Peter Pauper Press in April 2011.

The target audience for the new book is women and Lisa has incorporated 2 pages of journal space at the end of each chapter so readers can map their plans and take notes directly in the book.  She calls the book a best friend to help you get organized and purposefully made it an easy and enjoyable read to demystify organization. It’s a learned skill and Lisa believes anyone can do it if they are taught how.

Rent Her Brain

Lisa shared that often she feels like clients are “renting her brain” during a session and there is a lot of truth in that description. Lisa is the brand of her own business and has built her success by earning the trust of her clients and obtaining referrals.

She is using social media and a fabulous website to market the business and her national public speaking engagements certainly get her noticed out in the field. Lisa knows that working for yourself can be the hardest endeavor since you can only hold yourself accountable. But LMOS is built upon integrity and loyalty to her customers and Lisa has earned her many accolades and positive testimonials.

As for work/life balance – it’s easy to want to do it all, especially for a professional organizer who manages her time so well. Lisa has learned to say no to clients if they are not a good fit or if they don’t work into her schedule. Every good organizer knows that you must schedule time for yourself and your priorities first.

Lisa is thrilled with her career reinvention and even though it’s not her official slogan – she is helping to plan lives and loving every minute of it.

Lisa’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Figure out what you love and what you are good at and do it!
• Focus on skill sets not job titles or industries.
• It’s ok to be multi passionate but pick one to focus on for your reinvention. Add other passions incrementally.
• Dump your brain on paper and create an action plan. Seek the help and wisdom of others to achieve your goals.

Quote:

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~ Jane Goodall

Resources:

www.LMOrganizingSolutions.com – website

www.DecideToBeOrganized.com – blog

www.Facebook.com/LMOrganizingSolutions

www.Twitter.com/LisaMontanaro

www.LinkedIn.com/in/LisaMontanaro

Wanderlust Leads to a New Career

This “recovering attorney” has stellar credentials that have empowered her with a myriad of transferable skills. Tonya graduated from the London School of Economics, East China University of Law and Politics, and Wayne State University Law School.  She is also a student of the arts and previously worked at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and the Globe Theatre (under the late Sam Wannamaker) in London.   According to Tonya, her greatest education has come through traveling—discovering different cultures, learning about the history, and meeting the beautiful citizens of the world.  This is how she transitioned into her new role as a travel broadcast journalist, multi-media producer, and global citizen.

But how does one make the break from a secure legal career to make a livelihood traveling? According to Tonya, you honor your passion and the rest will follow.  Tonya and her husband, Ian, also an attorney, left their law practices behind to create a unique global community through their travel radio show – World Footprints (formerly Travel’n On). Their decision to grow a community of fellow responsible travelers was affirmed when they were awarded the 2009 First Place Travel Broadcast from North American Travel Journalists Association.  Since forming Travel’n On Media Productions, LLC, the producer of World Footprints Radio, they have expanded their broadcast platform to include additional multimedia digital platforms including internet, TV, and multiple social media platforms. This allows them to stay connected with their fellow travelers and grow their audience, even while on the road.

In addition to her role as Executive Producer of World Footprints and CEO of Travel’n On Media Productions, LLC, Tonya is also an author and speaker.  She and Ian are currently writing a chapter in a book with Stephen Covey and they are producing new travel video content for major online media companies.  Tonya also frequents and covers travel-related legislation at the White House and Congress. 

Planning for Change

Every move Tonya has made in life she has planned for and her exit from the legal profession was no exception. Her legal training helped her hone her research skills and she performs due diligence on every project she pursues. While she admits to being a risk taker, she also knows the importance of staying afloat financially. Tonya worked with a life/career coach to help her reinvent her passion for travel and turn it into a viable career. She also saved money to live on for a full year since she knew it would take time to turn a profit with the show and her new company.

The radio show makes money from investors, paid sponsors and advertisers but securing those has been a challenge in this tough economy. Tonya and Ian are now expanding their broadcast platforms and growing their audience by tapping into new markets like university students who travel, study, and work abroad, and providing them with resources and a venue to share their experiences.

While Tonya is always using her transferable skills in contracts, negotiations, and communication & writing for the show and her company, she found it tough at first to “sell” her ideas and thought it would be easier to market someone else’s product. But, she has since overcome that feeling of insecurity and embraced her humble confidence in this project and the company that she truly believes in.

Celebrity Power on the Show

Prominent personalities and celebrity interviews on the radio show have given the program extra cache and increased the listening audience. Those special guests include actress and wildlife advocate Stefanie Powers, NASCAR icon Kyle Petty, philanthropist David Rockefeller, Jr., Rajmohan Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Travel Channel hosts Samantha Brown, Andrew Zimmern and Kirsten Gum, and many more celebrities and newsmakers.

World Footprints was recently granted accreditation to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  Although some sporting events were covered like the Luge, Bobsled and Biathlon, the broadcast focus was on the cultural stories behind the Games, i.e., how the First Nations people were represented, Vancouver’s sustainable/green development legacy and animal conservation efforts of the Olympic mascots.  Tonya and Ian hope to travel to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup where, in addition to covering events and unique attractions, they will also volunteer for a South African-based charitable organization that supports disadvantaged children.

An influential commentator, journalist, and thought leader in the travel space, Tonya has been heard or seen on MSNBC.com, NPR, Retirement Living, AllAfrica.com, local CBS and NBC affiliate stations and others.  Tonya is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers, the National Press Club, the North American Travel Journalist Association, and the Society of Professional Journalists.  Both Tonya and Ian are members of the International Speakers Network.

Tonya and Ian are currently writing a chapter in a book entitled, Success Simplified, with Stephen Covey, Patricia Fripp and Tony Alessandra.  This book is expected to be released in December 2010.

The Joy of Being Your Own Boss

The reality of being an entrepreneur is that you have total control over your business and that you are solely responsible for your success or failure. Tonya has always had a strong work ethic and she believes it is now even stronger because she has taken ownership of her career future and her business. According to Tonya, she relies on her spiritual strength, prays a lot, and has created a work environment with Ian that puts value on integrity, work ethic, and authenticity.

While Tonya’s life has consisted of many exciting travel experiences, she has learned to take calculated risks and plan for them.  She has lived, studied, and worked abroad in England, China, Russia and Romania and her many travels have taken her through many regions of the world including a 5-week backpacking trip through Asia where she returned to China and visited eight other countries in the region.  As an avid scuba diver, she gravitates to coastal areas.  She loves adventure and wants to trek through Nepal and climb Kilimanjaro someday soon.  

But, this adventurist has made a conscious effort to grow her business wisely instead of quickly honoring the vision she and her husband have created.

From the beginning responsible travel, culture and heritage were values that Tonya and Ian brought to their show.  World Footprints is unique in that its entire focus is about leaving positive footprints by fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendships, encouraging positive impacts on local people and their environments, supporting local trade and fair markets and promoting authentic travel experiences that respect cultural heritage.

Tonya is on a quest to help others respect the natural environment and eco-balance of the planet by encouraging travel choices that minimize negative environmental impacts. One trip and one radio show or media product at a time, she and Ian are spreading their message, fulfilling their purpose and living their dream.

Tonya’s Advice and Action Steps

• Honor your “red flags” and trust your gut.
• Grow your business wisely and not just quickly.
• Utilize your mentors and personal resource team.
• Be ready to pay-it-forward and help others.
• Be aware of your total skill set and tap into your strengths.

Mantra: Honor Your SELF and the rest will follow.

Resources

World Footprints Media www.WorldFootprints.com

International Speakers Network: www.bookaspeaker.net

Facebook World Footprints community http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/WORLD-FOOTPRINTS-Media/272337714084

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/WorldFootprints

Breath Mint Maven

Working as in-house counsel for an event an interior design company, Jacqui found herself longing to be her own boss, to take charge of her own career destiny and start her own company. Her idea was unique, an all-natural breath freshener that would really eliminate your garlic laden lunch breath and not simply mask it temporarily like so many other products on the market.

Jacqui enjoyed a similar breath mint product she found in Australia (and could never find state side) and used that as a point of departure for her new and improved breathalicious concoction. To distinguish herself and her mint, she was on a mission to make her product, fun, cute, and trendy. And so, eatwhatever breath fresheners were born.

Her vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free product is filled with organic oils. Jacqui’s two steps to kissable breath regimen is very simple. First, you swallow a vegan gel cap which freshens your breath from the inside, filled with organic parsley and peppermint oil. Step two – suck on one of the little white mints for a bit of instant freshness. Bring on the garlic, onions, and all your favorite stinky foods since this product really eliminates odors for hours. The spine of her packaged mints reads: Suck and Swallow – a glimpse of the sexy marketing that helped identify her brand.

Learn the Ropes

So how does a first time entrepreneur make her breath-of-fresh-air product a reality? Jacqui started going to trade shows looking for vegan gel caps to fill with her organic essential oils. Learning the ropes was tough since she didn’t have the vocabulary to describe what she wanted and feared that people would find her crazy and inexperienced. She mustered her courage to ask questions and eventually found a company that would do a small run of her recipe so she could test the market and see if her product filled a niche.

Financially it’s been tough. After investing her own money to make this dream a reality, Jacqui is at a point where she is looking for investors to take her business to the next level. But, Jacqui and her husband, Dean Bialek are the quintessential cosmopolitan, intellectual dream team. Both lawyers with a creative and international edge, they share a passion for food, wine, the arts and fashion that serves them well into their new business venture.

Being in Control

While Jacqui admits that she was terrible with numbers, taxes, and financial statements she had to learn enough to be a well informed consumer when she hired an accountant to help with these tasks. “You must be in control with distributors, brokers and the business people who will help you with all aspects of your business so you are not taken advantage of.”

Jacqui also shared that the food industry is still very male driven so as a woman entrepreneur she has to be on her toes to get the attention of her male counterparts and to keep it! Self motivation is also a must for this breath freshener queen. She loves having control over her own schedule but also knows the realities of having to do it all yourself, at least in the early stages of the business. If the mail has to be taken to the post office, Jacqui does it since she is the staff, the CEO and Co-Founder.

Fake it Till You Make It!

Clearly some of the transferable skills from her legal career and performing arts background have helped her run the business, but Jacqui says she learns a lot just by doing. From the law she learned how to read the fine print and knows why it is crucial for her business. She suggests that you do your homework on potential business contacts before you meet them because as an attorney, she knows how expensive litigation is and warns to avoid it at all costs.

As a former performing artist, Jacqui knows the importance of exuding confidence in front of her audience. She says that eloquence and professionalism are essential and her private tip is “Fake it until you make it – they’ll never know!” In the beginning, she devoured a myriad of books and magazines on entrepreneurship and relied on friends in the beverage and packaging industry to learn the ropes from the inside out. Learning the lingo was essential to be recognized and respected by the professionals in the industry with whom she would be working with to market and distribute eatwhatever.

The Value of a Strong Brand

Each day brings valuable lessons and Jacqui says that it is always a learning experience. She now realizes the importance of making her branding message clear, clean, and strong. While she originally loved the idea of the sexy factor with a kissable breath product, she now understands that in certain markets the sex appeal needs to be toned down to a flirt factor. She continues to tinker with packaging and now realizes the importance of investing money in PR during a product’s launch.

At the end of the day eatwhatever is about confidence. Everyone needs fresh breath. Whether we are kissing a loved one or interviewing for a new position, fresh breath empowers you with the confidence to feel good about yourself. Jacqui never leaves home without packs of her amazing product.  A walking and talking billboard for her product, her samples are sure to make a believer out of you.

I can now add my name to her list of positive testimonials. The product is fantastic – it really works and for a breath freshener to empower us with that kind of self confidence is a beautiful thing!

Jacqui’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Really take the time to think through your ideas and plan your strategy.
• Be realistic about how much time (24/7) is takes to launch a new business.
• Avoid negativity and develop a thick skin; everyone has an opinion – sift through those you really want to consider.
• Trust yourself – you are your best asset.
• Great things happen through networking.

Quote: “Failure is not an option!” Jacqui Rosshandler

Resources:

eatwhatever  www.eat-whatever.com

Savor the Success www.savorthesuccess.com

Ladies Who Launch  http://www.ladieswholaunch.com