From Communications to Solopreneurship

From Communications to Solopreneurship Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Communications to Solopreneurship “Things started to feel right again: like 'going home.” * From Communications to Solopreneurship When Julienne DesJardins' job changed, she felt like she no longer had a purpose. She started a side hustle which surprisingly ticked all her boxes, and which grew from hobby to full-time pursuit. Here's how she took charge of her lifestyle, sidestepped the naysayers and moved into work she loves. What work were you doing previously? I was in nonprofit work, focusing on communications, such as social media and web management. What are you doing now? I'm a virtual assistant, offering a range of digital marketing services to help solopreneurs grow their businesses. Why did you change? I transitioned to a new position at a different nonprofit and the communications work I loved became a lesser part of my job. This made me feel a bit lost. I liked the work I was doing, but over time the sensation of there being something missing continued to grow and I felt confused about my purpose. I started virtual assistant work on nights and weekends as a hobby â€" simply because I missed doing things like newsletter creation and Facebook Page management. My business grew from there. When I started freelancing, it was invigorating. Things started to fall into place and feel right again: it felt like 'going home'. The pull to self-employment was a long time coming. I'd actually worked from home in a previous position, so I got to experience the benefits of time and location flexibility. And when I didn't have that anymore, I really missed it. For instance, while working from home my auntbecame ill with cancer and needed around-the-clock care. I was able to adjust my work schedule and become her primary caregiver. I wouldn't have traded that time with her for anything. Now, my husband and I are actually expecting our first child, Luke, in a few weeks. I'll get to have that time with him that I envisioned â€" and still provide value to my clients. It's an awesome thing. When was the moment you decided to make the change? Although at first it was the perks of working at home that drew me in, the pull became stronger when I started to get more and more clients who really needed what I offered. And I realised I could make a living doing work I loved and have the flexibility I craved. I hit a tipping point where there was more demand for my services than I could fill on a part-time basis. I was struggling to balance my growing business and my day job â€" and to find enough time to sleep! Are you happy with the change? Y-E-S! The benefits definitely outweigh the challenges. What do you miss and what don't you miss? Sometimes I miss being able to turn to another team member for support during challenging situations, such as filing a tax return or handling a difficult client. That said, there is a lot that I honestly don't miss. I don't have to get dressed up for work. I don't have to compromise on the temperature in the office(I control the air conditioning!). And I don't have to be at work at a particular time. (I'm actually pregnant at the moment, so a flexible schedule has been super helpful for days when I'm not feeling my best.) How did you go about making the shift? The immediate preparations came just before I gave notice to my employer. I found a business coach who helped me with my 'message' and creating my initial opt-in to build my email list â€" something I wasn't doing before. I set up my business infrastructure, including an invoicing system and online scheduler. And I built up my website to include information on my services. When I decided to make the shift to working for myself full time, I gave a generous two-month resignation notice to my company. This meant I was able to focus on transitioning the position to ensure all loose ends were tied up. That felt nice. Then, on my first day home as a full-time solopreneur, I already had a system in place to get new clients on board and a ton of work to get started on with my current ones. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? There was one thing that really surprised me: it was more difficult than I thought to explain to some friends, family and coworkers what I was doing. No matter how many times and ways I explained why I was leaving to run my own business, some people just couldn't understand. It seemed that some folks just struggled to comprehend the draw of self-employment. And, of course, not everyone I shared my plan with was supportive. I can definitely understand the conundrum on their part; it was just quite unexpected for me. When I had those conversations, I was usually struck with some self-doubt. But I was able to combat those feelings by immersing myself in my 'community'. Chatting with other like-minded folks, or with my husband who is totally on board, usually reminds me that I'm on the right path! (And I always try to remember that the doubters aren't trying to be mean â€" they just truly don't understand me.) How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? First, there were the long-term preparations. These mostly focused on finances. I talked with my husband often about becoming self-employed, but didn't think we could afford to do so. So, we decided to commit to getting out of debt (from our car and student loans). We worked really hard and paid off a huge amount over three years to become completely debt free. Next, we saved enough to cover three months' expenses: our 'rainy day fund'. That was all before I launched full time. Now that means that when my self-employed finances fluctuate (inevitably!), our household doesn't head into a downward spiral. That preparation has been such a gift to us now. In self-employed life, it's easy to run into difficulties, from things such as the late payment of an invoice, or a client needing to pause their retainer for a month; those hiccups are just annoyances now, rather than huge, stressful emergencies. What was the most difficult thing about changing? I became the sole decision-maker for a host of brand new things I'd never encountered before. And, in my experience, most of those things were related to the government, so it was sometimes really intimidating! There were things like registering my business name, dealing with tax matters. I have to be completely on top of my game as a business owner: if I don't diligently research all aspects of my business, I could be looking at fines or legal issues. It's manageable, now I've surrounded myself with knowledgeable people, but it's definitely overwhelming in the beginning. What help did you get? I have an accountant who helps me file my quarterly taxes and my tax return every April. My business coach was a big help in terms of my branding in the beginning. I gained a lot of clarity through working with her. I also consume tons of content every day â€" podcasts, blogs and info from government websites. Organisations and individuals often willingly share their knowledge and I learn a lot about growing a business that way. What have you learnt in the process? So much! I've learned a lot about myself by gaining clarity on my brand, my ideal client and the services I want to offer. And there's a huge sense of accomplishment and achievement when you persevere through the difficulties of self-employment. It’s actually incredibly rewarding. What do you wish you'd done differently? Nothing. Obviously there are things that I look back on less than favourably. But they shaped my business and me as a business owner. They've informed me and prepared me to serve better, so I have to be at least a little bit thankful for them! What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Truthfully, when you're working solo, it's easy to engage in negative self-talk and get down on yourself when things don't go well. Some friends of mine at One Woman Shop taught me a trick for this, though. They call it their 'Rainy Day File'. You save testimonials or nice notes from clients and business-building friends to a special folder. And when you're having a tough day, open it up and read through them. It's such a breath of fresh air in those tough moments! What resources would you recommend to others? For a sense of community as a female solopreneur, visit One Woman Shop. For info on business building and creating evergreen products, take a look at Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income blog. For those just starting out, check out the Freelance to Freedom Project or Freelancers Union. For more information on Julienne's business, visit www.jdesjardins.com What lessons could you take from Julienne's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Conduct a Workshop For Writing a Resume For An ATS

How to Conduct a Workshop For Writing a Resume For An ATSIf you are looking for ways to conduct a workshop for writing a resume for an ass, this article can help. It will share some of the most common mistakes that people make when they try to write their resumes and how to avoid them.The first mistake that you should avoid is to try to save time on writing your resumes by skipping to the basics. You need to know what you are going to put on your resume. In other words, you need to write what you know.For example, if you are searching for jobs as an accountant in Georgia, you do not want to write something like this: 'Ms. Sherry Taylor is licensed in Georgia to do payroll for Accounts Receivable in the Big Business Office.' In this case, the Applicant should type the job title and the state of the company into the search engine and see what comes up. She will notice that Accounting is one of the jobs listed. If it is a state or a city job, she may be able to contact the organization to get more information.By the same token, there is no reason to go beyond the legal limits when writing such documents as letters, proposals, or job descriptions for administrative positions. There are many job descriptions that deal with this topic. In fact, you can use the documents that are available at your state's department of labor to help you.The second mistake that you should avoid when writing a workshop for writing a resume for an ats is to place too much emphasis on your qualifications. For example, you should only write about your experience as a requirement.One of the things that the Applicant should do when writing a workshop for writing a resume for an ats is to list all of her qualifications first. Then, let the reader know how many years of experience she has in each particular field. For example, if she is looking for a job as an accountant, she should only write down her experience as an accountant. Then, the reader will realize that the Applicant does not have many years of experience as an accountant.Finally, the final mistake that you should avoid when writing a workshop for writing a resume for an ats is to try to sound a lot more polished than you really are. It is important to let the reader know that you are a normal person just like them. What you write down is what you are.Hopefully, these tips will help you better understand how to conduct a workshop for writing a resume for an ats. Remember, you want to write what you know, so the resume is just the starting point.

Real Career Girls Meet Celebrity Stylist ELSHANE

Real Career Girls Meet Celebrity Stylist ELSHANE We FINALLY arrived  in Israel after a 13 hour flight across the world.   Most of us chicks are dragging through the airport in sneakers and stretchy pants, but there is one colorful, confident, charismatic blondie  decked in platforms, prints, and funky sunnies.   Who is this crazy fashionista?!   What does she do, and can we be friends?! Lauren Shane, www.elshane.com, has moved and shaked  her way to the top from NYC to LA.   Carly Rae Jepsen  and Bill Guilliana  Rancic  are three of the many celebrities Lauren has styled after her years of  working directly for the one and only Diane von Furstenberg.   You can find Elshane on the homepage of Zara  and Asos.   It is an honor  and privilege  to feature my homegirl, Elshane, this week on Chicks who ROCK!!! Tell me about your gig what do you do?   Im a celebrity fashion stylist based in LA. Some days Im on set styling a photo shoot or a television series; some days Im on the road with my client on a musical tour or press junket. Some days Im personal shopping for clients, and some days Im laying by the pool! How did you know this was the path for you? Fashion was an obvious choice for me I started working for Diane von Furstenberg in NYC and she helped me establish who I was and who I was meant to be. How does a chick like you keep it all together?   Do you have a routine or trick to keep balance? My work is the opposite of a steady 9-5 job, so in order to stay balanced, I make sure to get in Physique 57 or Soul Cycle   workouts every morning at 6 or 7am. Half the time, my mind is completely distracted through classbut my instructors will never let me quit! Who is your role model?   Famous or not? I actually dont have a role model I just have a strong idea in my head of what I want to be each year. Its ever-changing, but it always starts with the same word Strong. When you feel your absolute BEST, what are you wearing? My closet is filled with beautiful clothing I cant go a day without layering all of the best pieces I own. In the end, as long as Im dressed from head to toe in something fabulous, I feel my best. Do you have a personal mantra or motto you live by? My own motto is based around the life of a #lalalollipop a girl with infinite swirly colorful dreams. I always say, Life is always greener when its candy colored. What is your advice to career chicks who want to ROCK in 2013? Confidence will take you to the top.

Is It Time to Move On In Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Is It Time to Move On In Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Time to Move On? Are you reaching the point where it is time to move on in your career? Why are you staying? Inertia. Inertia is a dangerous thing. You might be saying: I have been here too long to just leave. I am too valuable to let go. I will wait for the next package to come along. Or, are you just comfortable in your position, and to move on would be a lot of work? Either reason is dangerous. In most cases, you probably have not yet formulated a Plan B. Example #1 I am currently working with a gentleman who has worked for a large technology company for over 30 years. Last year, everyone on his team was offered an early retirement package. My client turned the offer down. The problem was that everyone else on his team took the package! His boss even took the package. He is now doing the work of four and, best he can tell, there are no plans to back-fill the other positions. He has been offered a generous retirement package again. Is it time to move on? You tell me! Example #2 I just talked with a nice lady today who has been programming IBM mainframes for the same company for 20 years. Her employer has rarely laid anyone off. The plan is to migrate off the IBM mainframe over the next few years. She is being offered opportunities to learn new programing technologies, but it does not excite her. She really does not know what she wants to do. She is in her early 50s and has been doing the same thing for a very long time. It is time to move on! The problem is what to move on to. 18-24 Month Plan She is like several clients that I have whose time to move on is very near. With each of these clients, we are putting together an 18-24 month plan. They know the future lies in working for themselves in one way or another. That plan includes: Performing market research on starting a business, freelancing, or finding multiple employers that would be interested in their services on a contract basis Creating the business plans for the next step Establishing their business on paper as either an LLC, LLP, S-Corp or C-Corp Creating a budget and allocating resources You are probably saying, How will I do all that? I am sending all of them to their local Small Business Development Center for help! These centers are funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and are FREE! When the time comes that they are approached with a business opportunity or told by their current employer that their services are no longer needed, they will be ready. They are ready financially. They are ready with the business plan. They are ready emotionally. It is the third piece that is really crucial. When I started Career Pivot, I had my business plan in place. I knew the financials. I am a recovering engineer, so I had everything logically laid out. That still did not stop me from waking up at 3 AM every morning in a sweat thinking, I do not have a paycheck. Being ready emotionally, when the time to move on comes, is critical. Are you going to be prepared when the time is right to move on? This will be my last post for the Personal Branding Blog. You can always find me on the Career Pivot Blog every week. Marc Miller â€" Career Pivot Check out my book Repurpose Your Career â€" A Practical Guide for Baby Boomers Do not forget to follow me on Twitter or FaceBook

Writing an Active Resume

Writing an Active ResumeWriting an active resume is no easy task. It requires careful planning and organizing. In order to come up with an attractive resume, you need to put in a lot of effort and should be dedicated to writing. You need to organize your thoughts and determine how to write a resume.Writing an active resume can be easy but if you do not put the effort in, it will be dull. For you to write an attractive resume, you need to have all the information that you need about yourself. You should have a list of all the qualifications you have to be able to find a job. If you have any training or any education that was taken, you should also include it on your resume. This is one of the most important things to be included in your resume.Your career has different kinds of job responsibilities so you need to note all these things on your resume. You should also mention the position you are in and what the responsibilities are in your job. By doing this, you can easily figure out whether you need to change your resume or not.You should also remember to include some specific skills that you have. For example, if you are a writer, you should also have some writing skills. There are many freelance writers who require writers to take their projects and write the project for them. This means that they do not need to be with the company for that job. Therefore, you should always remember to mention the skill you have in your resume.If you want to be an editor, you should also write a good number of editing projects. Some editors also need to write books, articles, and other things that are written for publication. In order to be successful in all these kinds of jobs, you should take some courses on writing. Besides writing an active resume, you also need to study these things because you need to write the necessary documents for these jobs.Even though you have a lot of work experience, you should still leave some extra years of experience to be added on your resum e. Some employers may also check the ages of the candidates. Some may check your personal details like your date of birth and other numbers. If you are not sure how to add them, you can use a middle name for ages and other personal details.The format you should follow for your resume is what you should write on the first page of your resume. If you want to write the other pages of your resume, you should first write the details on the first page of your resume. Then you should write the detailed description on the second page of your resume and then you can begin writing your resume on the next page.Just by following these few tips, you can start writing an active resume. All you need to do is get started and enjoy the process of writing a resume.

Baby Boomer Brain Drain - Does Anyone Care [Infographic] - Career Pivot

Baby Boomer Brain Drain - Does Anyone Care [Infographic] - Career Pivot Baby Boomer Brain Drain NextAvenue.org published America’s Coming Brain Drain: Retiring Boomers which contains an infographic from MBA@UNC. This infographic, seen below, chronicles the issues that will be caused by baby boomers leaving the work forceâ€"the Baby Boomer Brain Drain. What I find disturbing is that so few companies are preparing or seem to care at all. Baby Boomers in the Workforce Let me spell out some key statistics: Baby boomers have 56% of corporate leadership positions 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day and will continue to for almost 20 years In 2029, all baby boomers will be 65 years old or older Baby boomers account for 31% of the workforce 4 million companies, which make up 66% of all businesses with employees, are owned by baby boomers Baby boomers will leave the workforce in the next 20 years, but not in the way we planned. Are Companies Planning for the Baby Boomer Brain Drain? Heck NO! 62% of employers at Fortune 1000 companies believe that future retirements will result in skilled labor shortages in the next 5 years 68% of employers have not analyzed the demographics of their workforce 77% of employers have not analyzed the retirement rates of current employees Only 19-37% of employers have taken action to prevent baby boomer brain drain Baby Boomers and Retirement Many of us do not want to: Retire like our parents. Learn new skills and stay current and active. Cannot do this alone. Returning to college is cost prohibitive. I wrote about this in my post College Degree After 50 â€" Worth It? Companies will need us to stay on the job, but are they doing anything about it? The statistics below say NO! Brought to you by MBA@UNC’s online MBA programs Listen to the most recent episode What do you think? What should companies and/or the government do? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

5 Tips for Kick-Starting Your Bilingual Career - CareerAlley

5 Tips for Kick-Starting Your Bilingual Career - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Deciding on a career path is never an easy choice. When youre a student, and you have a world of possibilities in front of you, its hard to determine what fits you best. On the other hand, even if youve been on the job market for some while now, you might realize one day that you need to make a career shift because the current one doesnt fit your needs anymore. Regardless of the reasons, acquiring new language skills is never a bad idea, especially since theres currently a shortage of bilingual professionals in a variety of industries, such as teaching and health care. Learning a new language takes time, thats for sure. If youre already working, you might feel that you dont have the time and energy needed to invest in developing a new skill. Dont let yourself discouraged! Its vital you act quickly and make the time to improve your language skills. Here are five tips to help you kick-start your bilingual career. Follow a Strict Study Schedule In spite of what you might think, learning a new language doesnt have to take a lot of time. You dont have to study more than an hour a day to become proficient in any language. To make things easy, study first thing in the morning and last thing at night. In the morning, your mind is well rested and can absorb information faster than during the day. Thus, a 30-minute study will be more than enough. Make sure to devote 30 minutes to studying before you go to sleep. That way, you can consolidate the information acquired during the day. Use Any Free Moment to Study As weve mentioned above, more and more companies are looking to hire bilingual speakers, so you need to take advantage of these opportunities and use any spare moment you have to improve your language skills. Listen to audio lessons on your commute to work or during your lunch break. Instead of spending 20 minutes scrolling through Facebook mindlessly, take tests, read a new chapter, or watch a video in the language youre studying. Use Technology to Your Advantage Technology can come to your help when time is of the essence. Mobile applications such as Duolingo or audio recordings can make the process of studying a foreign language easier than ever before. You dont have to take special classes anymore. You have everything you need right at your fingertips. Listen to Music and Watch Foreign Language Films You probably already listen to music and watch movies on your free time. These are enjoyable activities, so why not make them useful too? That way, you wont feel like youre sacrificing your spare time to learn (which you might feel reluctant to do since you dont have as much free time as you would like.) Practice, Practice, Practice You cant acquire new language skills without practicing what you learn. So, take any opportunity you get to talk to native speakers. Use chat rooms and go to places where you know you might find native speakers, such as certain restaurants or marketplaces. No matter how you choose to learn a new language, one thing is certain: it is worth your time because it will bring along many advantages. Not only that it will open new career opportunities, but it can also help you earn more money that people who only speak English. So, stop wasting time. Get to work and kick-start your bilingual career! We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+

FINALLY. (Ready to work together one-on-one) - When I Grow Up

FINALLY. (Ready to work together one-on-one) - When I Grow Up Im rewriting my copy in preparation of a website refresh this summer, and I keep coming back to one word: FINALLY. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally ready to let that sliver of entrepreneurial optimism lead the way. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally  ready to have the uncomfortable conversation with her family that, yes, she wants to pursue the hard and scary path to her dream business. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes finally  ready to accept her identity shift instead of resisting it. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally  ready to say Enough! to what has suddenly become her day job, choosing to get off this ride shes been on for too long. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally  ready to do the soul-searching work of discovering, launching or building her dream business on  her  terms. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes finally  ready to get outside guidance thats free from judgment, thats not entangled in her past, that is full of optimism and energy, and that has no personal stake in her future other than working towards her own version of success. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally ready to stop puttering around in e-course after e-course, where shes able to hide, half-ass the work, or not participate at all. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally ready to put time, energy and money behind her Future Self. I dont have a client sign up to work with me until shes  finally ready. Full stop. And if youre (finally!) ready, then I (finally!) have some one-on-one spots that are open for you. Fill out a no-obligation application here to tell me more about your dream business goals and challenges. Ill get back to you within 24 business hours and let you know if were a good fit. I have only 3 spots available, and then Im booked through September. Applications are only open through Friday, but spots will be offered and claimed on a rolling basis. Theres no time like right now to claim your own Finally moment. If youre finally ready, click here.