Vicki Gunvalson of Coto Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

Today, we’ll hear from Victoria Gunvalson, better known as Vicki Gunvalson to viewers of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Vicki shares with us an inspiring story of how she turned turned her natural interests into a career she could be proud of and founded Coto Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

Update: Vicki wanted us to let our readers know that her new book, More Than a Housewife, is now available!

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Vicki Gunvalson: I own and operate a full service life, health, and annuity insurance agency representing every major insurance company in the United States called Coto Insurance and Financial Services, Inc. Additionally, Coto Insurance provides existing or prospective life insurance agents with training to become successful in this business.  We provide exclusive internet life insurance leads, quoting software, weekly training calls featuring me and my team and our proprietary client data base system.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Vicki Gunvalson: Since 1992

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in what that is now the basis of your job?

Vicki Gunvalson: I love people – I love working with people and I love helping people.  Being in the insurance industry has been a very natural way for me to use those people skills and turn it into a successful career.  I take pride in being a part of my client’s dreams – at all levels of their lifespan and business cycle.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time… What was the turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a career?

Vicki Gunvalson: I learned the importance of insurance after my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 59.  In the process of helping to pay for his care, I realized that I could help others as well to provide security for their families so they do not have to carry the burden of paying for medical care.

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Vicki Gunvalson: The tools that I offer to my agents are all of the same tools that have made me so successful in selling life insurance (internet life insurance leads, quoting software, weekly training calls, etc.).   And of course, my laptop!

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? Or any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely worth it?

Vicki Gunvalson: Being my own boss would be the best part about creating my own job.  I have always been able to determine my own success.  The harder I work – the greater the return.  I have been able to provide an amazing, rich, blessed life for my children that I always dreamed for them to have.  We have many lasting memories together through family trips and vacations that would never have been possible if I didn’t work as hard as I have.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Vicki Gunvalson: The toughest hurdle I have had in creating my own job is finding balance.  I tend to immerse myself 110% in my career, and sometimes I don’t take the time I need to for my husband and my adult children.  It’s still a daily battle for me in finding that right balance, but I’m fortunate to have found a career that I absolutely love and to me ….it isn’t work at all.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Vicki Gunvalson: I would say to never give up on yourself or your dreams.  There will be lots of lows but through hard work and determination, the highs will outweigh the lows.  When you are your own boss, there is no limit to your own success.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs? Products, supplies, tech tools, etc?

Vicki Gunvalson: For those interested in the insurance business, I have a fantastic book called “Internet Life Insurance Selling Made Easy” that I highly recommend.  Running an organized office is extremely important to me as well.  I am a big fan of label makers to keep all of my files organized.(TheCareerCreator.com note: Click here for more information about Vicki’s book!)

More About This Company:
Company name: Coto Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.
Founder: Victoria Gunvalson
Website: www.cotoinsurance.com

Awards & Special Recognition Received:
Victoria is a Senior Insurance Specialist and is an Ed Slott Elite IRA Advisor, member of American Association of Long Term Care Insurance, Past-President and Founder of LeTip of Coto de Caza  International, Member of the National Ethics Bureau, and a member of Saddleback Community Church.

Victoria has continually received national recognition as a qualified member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Top of the Table.  For more than 100 years, the Million Dollar Round Table has honored the very best individuals in the financial services profession from around the world. Less than 1% of insurance agents in this industry ever meet this benchmark of outstanding performance and service to clients and Victoria is a proud to be a member of this organization.

Vicki, thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to tell us how you turned your people skills and a desire to help others into a flourishing business!

More to Come…stay tuned!

~TheCareerCreator.com

Brendan Ciecko of Ten Minute Media

Today’s interview is with Brendan Ciecko, the founder of Ten Minute Media, a company that does media promotion for the music industry.

In this interview, Brendan talks about how his interest in computers and music led to him creating his own job!

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Brendan Ciecko: I’m the founder and CEO of Ten Minute Media, a company that specializes in design and development services for the music/entertainment industry.

We create anything a record label, music artist, entertainment brand would need to excel on the internet.

The world of music comes to us for websites, viral widgets,
branding, social networks, and other promotional tools.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Brendan Ciecko: I started building websites when I was 12 years old. I’ve been doing this for almost a decade. But in 2003, I officially started Ten Minute Media.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in what that is now
the basis of your job?

Brendan Ciecko: At a young age, I was mesmerized with computers and
the internet.  By around 7th grade, I realized I could combine all my
interests – art, music, design, computer – and started to build
websites for local bands.

Fast foward a bit… business started to boom.  Once I landed Capitol Records as a client, I knew it was time to step up to a whole new level and Ten Minute Media was born.  Now we work with the biggest names in the music industry.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? (Or
any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely
worth it?)

Brendan Ciecko: I dig the everyday challenges and excitement of the
fast-paced field that I work in.  Being immersed in music, design and
technology is a dream come true.

Cool moments and perks have been working with record label executives, backstage passes, hanging out with Mick Jagger, and meeting some of the world’s most dynamic entrepreneurs.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Brendan Ciecko: Find something you’re passionate about and see if you
can introduce an idea or service to that field.  When you love what
you do, you’ll be far more devoted to your business/career and
motivated to learn and grow.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs? Products, supplies, tech tools, etc?

Brendan Ciecko: There are endless amounts of books, blog, magazines
that are great to pull inspiration from but I believe you’ll always
learn most by getting your hands dirty.

More About This Company:
Company name: Ten Minute Media
Founder: Brendan Ciecko
Website: www.tenminutemedia.com
Blog: brendanciecko.blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/brendanciecko

Awards & Special Recognition Received:
- Inc. Magazine Cover feature – “Cool, Determined, Under 30″ (2008)
- Web Marketing Association’s WebAward (2008)
- BusinessWest “40 under 40″ (2008)
- Grinspoon Entrepreneurial Spirit Award (2008)
- ADDY “Best in Show” Award, Western MA (2008)
- GSEA New England Regional Finalist (2007)
- PC Magazine SMB Award (2007)

Thanks, Brendan for sharing your story with our readers! We really encourage you all to take Brendan’s advice and find a way to bring a new and exciting product or service to an industry you already know and love!

More to Come…stay tuned!

~TheCareerCreator.com

Alex Andon, Founder of Jellyfish Art

Alex Andon, owner of Jellyfish Art created his own job by solving a problem for potential customers–giving people what they need to safely and creatively enjoy live jellyfish in their homes.

In this interview, Alex shares some practical tips and resources for getting your small business up and running!

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about
your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Alex Andon: Jellyfish Art makes jellyfish tanks and supplies them live
jellies from a global catalog.  I started this business making
high-end custom installations but I just started selling a desktop
jellyfish tank online for $249.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Alex Andon: Since September 2008.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now
the basis of your job?

Alex Andon: I studied marine biology in college and wanted to be a
marine biologist for a while.  Scientists only recently discovered how
to breed jellyfish in captivity, so I wanted to push the envelope in
jellyfish research.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got
started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time… What was the
turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a
career?

Alex Andon: I started Jellyfish Art with the full intention of turning
it into a business from the beginning.  People were getting a huge
kick out of the jellyfish exhibits at public aquariums, but you
couldn’t have a jellyfish in your home.  It seemed like if I figured
it out, jellyfish could be the next big thing in ornamental aquariums.

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology
you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Alex Andon: I worked out of my cousin’s garage, tinkering with tank
designs from parts I picked up on craigslist.  I kept the jellyfish
breeding tanks in a shed in her backyard.  There are solar-driven
algae ponds on my roof right now, which I use to make food for the
jellyfish.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? (Or
any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely
worth it?)

Alex Andon: If I don’t have any meetings, I don’t have to wear a shirt to work.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how did you overcome it?

A Jellyfish Art Tank

Alex Andon: I was installing a large custom aquarium in Seattle right before Christmas so I had to meet the deadline in order to make it home for the holidays.  I had to drive all my equipment through mountain passes during a blizzard with triple the maximum payload in my truck.

Once I got to the install location, I slept at the renovation site to save time and avoid the icy roads.  I finished the installation just in time to drive 23 hours back to San Francisco and make my flight by half an hour.
I kept my resolve by remembering that every hurdle makes a good story. (See above paragraph.)

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Alex Andon: It’s a lot simpler than most people would have you believe.  Simple, but not easy.  I hope you like roller-coasters because you can go from the highest highs to the lowest lows in a few hours.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs? (Products, supplies, tech tools, etc?)

Alex Andon: There are tons of great free resources out there and it’s
worth using them before you jump into starting a business.  Everything
is online:
http://www.sba.gov/
http://www.tannedfeet.com/
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/
http://www.guykawasaki.com/
http://www.workhappy.net/
http://www.elance.com/

More About This Company:
Company Name: Jellyfish Art
Founder: Alex Andon
Products or service offered: Jellyfish tanks and live jellyfish
Website: www.jellyfishart.com
Twitter: @alexandon
Facebook: Alex Andon (San Francisco, CA network)

Thanks, Alex for sharing some good really good advice!
We think it’s really cool that Alex found a niche that could use his expertise and offered mainstream consumers a cool product that they might not have the luxury of being able to own before Jellyfish Art came along! If you’re starting a business, don’t be afraid to focus on a small niche and go from there.
And, if you haven’t already, check out this video of Jellyfish Art’s desktop jellyfish tank!

More to come…stay tuned!

~TheCareerCreator.com

Victoria Stiles

Victoria Stiles is a makeup artist based in Washington DC working worldwide for various media, celebrities, and events.

Her publication credits include Glamour, Oprah Magazine, Vogue Bambini, Ladies Home Journal, Washingtonian, and Virginia Living Magazine.

Her advertising clients include Revlon, Tigerlilly, Alagasco, and Wal-Mart, while her celebrity clientele has included Jordin Sparks, Star Jones, Roberta Flack, Sabrina Bryan, Gary Sinise, Emmitt Smith, and Universal Music Group Recording Artist Melody Gardot, as well as album cover and promo shots in Paris, France.

Today, Victoria talks with us about how she created her own job doing something she enjoys doing!

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Victoria Stiles: I am a makeup artist for various media, celebrities, and events.  In addition to artistry, I am a beauty writer for my blog, www.makeupartistbackstage.com which is a member of www.totalbeauty.com.
My blog gives an insider’s view at life as a makeup artist and a first look at new beauty products and trend.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Victoria Stiles: 5 years

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now the basis of your job?

Victoria Stiles: At the age of 15, I knew my career path.
Makeup artistry is what I’ve always wanted to do and I’m very happy and thankful to live my dream.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time… What was the turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a career?

Victoria Stiles Makeup Artistry

Victoria Stiles: Since makeup has been my love since a young age, when I started college at George Mason University in Virginia, I applied for work with M.A.C. Cosmetics.

Through M.A.C. I learned about their products and how to work with different clientele.  They gave me opportunities I would not have been able to book on my own at that time, like working on concerts for Cher and Missy Elliot.

Although the work and opportunities were fantastic, after 4 years with the company, I decided it was time to try my hand at freelancing.

In 2004, I started my business, Victoria Stiles Makeup, providing makeup services for brides mostly.  Through a lot of foot work, networking, slow times, and dedication, my business flourished into what it is today!

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Victoria Stiles: I would say the number one thing to focus on first is branding your business.  Brainstorm and set in motion the particulars of your services or products you are supplying.

Have a set business plan.  Create a logo or have a logo created for you.  From there, you can design your website to fit your brand.  In these times, the Internet is a major networking and marketing tool.

It is important to have a strong on-line presence with a user-friendly website that is also searchable and easy for your clients to locate– particularly through major search engines such as Google and Yahoo or social networking sites such as Twitter (yes Twitter!) and Facebook (they have a fabulous option for a public page which is a popular option for businesses!). Also, in starting any business, visit your local government office for detailed information on business licensing and tax information.

Victoria Stiles Makeup Artistry

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? (Or any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely worth it?)

Victoria Stiles: You are in complete control.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Victoria Stiles: There are ups and downs, like any business.  During the down times, it is difficult to stay motivated.  Having goals in mind has been the main motivator when it comes to keeping my nose to the grindstone!  Always strive for higher!

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Victoria Stiles: It will not happen overnight.  However, with hard work and dedication it will happen.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs?

Victoria Stiles: Web/Graphic Design Company
www.saxonycreative.com – they created my brand/website that got me noticed.

More About This Company:
Company Name: Victoria Stiles Makeup
Founder:  Victoria Stiles
Products or service offered: Makeup Artist
Website:  www.victoriastilesmakeup.com
Blog:  www.makeupartistbackstage.com
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/victoriastiles
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Stiles-Makeup-Artist/18710241359

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Victoria! You’ve given our readers some sound advice about how turn to something you love into a job that is a lot of fun!

~TheCareerCreator.com

Lisa Price

Entrepreneur and author Lisa Price is the founder of Carol’s Daughter, a very successful line of skin and hair care products she began mixing in her kitchen.

Lisa shares a bit about how she got started and then gives some sage advice about sticking to your vision and goals.

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”?  Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Lisa Price: My job title is President and Founder of Carol’s Daughter Inc.

I am also the author of “Success Never Smelled So Sweet”, a memoir that chronicles my transformation from a young black
woman deep in debt to the president of a multi-million dollar
business.

Carol’s Daughter is a complete line of hair and body care
products made with love and natural ingredients. From the brand name and its products, to the delicate care and attention mixed into each recipe, its heritage is a treasure that I have set out to share with the rest of the world.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Lisa Price: I officially established Carol’s Daughter in August of
1994 and opened the first free standing Carol’s Daughter location in
Brooklyn in 1999.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now
the basis of your job?

Lisa Price: I had a longtime hobby, love and interest in mixing up
fragrances and creams at home, which has in turn channeled into this
beauty empire.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got
started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time… What was the
turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a
career?

Lisa Price: For as long as I can remember, I had an inherent love of
fragrance. My mother, Carol, always encouraged me to use my knack for
mixing essential oils and my innate feel for fragrance to create gifts
for family and friends.

Inspired by my mother’s words, I began whipping up products right in her kitchen that became an instant hit with loved ones. In the early 1990’s, I branched out and sold my homespun hair and body products at local flea markets and crafts fairs, turning my longtime hobby into a career.

Soon after, my products had a dedicated following. A few years later, I opened my first boutique in Fort Green, Brooklyn.

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology
you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Lisa Price: I started selling at local church fairs – all I needed was
change, a positive outlook and some sort of branding.  It’s important
to keep track of funds and exactly what you sell so that you can adapt
to your environment and always stay fresh.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? Or
any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely
worth it?

Lisa Price: Knowing that I’m actually touching my consumer is my
favorite part.  To bring something that I always dreamt of creating
and seeing how it affects customers – wow! I love when women tell me
I’ve changed how they feel about themselves with products.  I get that
all of the time with Hair Milk.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Lisa Price: Managing my time – and knowing how to balance work with
family life.  When you are an entrepreneur there are certain
sacrifices you have to make – both in personal and work – in order to
keep your sanity.  It’s tough but very rewarding.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Lisa Price: Stay true to your vision … Often times I see
entrepreneurs change their vision to accommodate what people say, how
they feel, etc. and they end up with something that is so different
than their dreams.

They lose interest, their heart isn’t in it and it doesn’t work.  I say, stay authentic and adapt to your environment.  Never lose sight of who you are and where you are going.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs?

Lisa Price: Anything you need to help you turn from entrepreneur to
mom, dad, sister, brother, daughter, son.  Whatever you need so that
you can switch and balance your life.  For me, it’s a special mix of
music I keep with me.

More About This Company:
Founder: Lisa Price
Company Name: Carol’s Daughter
Products or service offered: Natural Haircare, Natural Beauty
Products, Natural Skincare
Website: www.carolsdaughter.com

Lisa, your story is very inspiring and we are very thankful that you took time to help encourage future “kitchen table entrepreneurs” who may be wondering how to bring their products to a wider market.

~TheCareerCreator.com

Patricia Handschiegel

Patricia Handschiegel is a self-described “serial entrepreneur” who is currently at work on her newest creation, 9.

She also writes a column called The New Power Girls at the Huffington Post.

Today, Patricia talks about what goes into creating your own job and how she works her way to meeting big goals.

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Patricia Handschiegel: I’m a serial entrepreneur on my second company, 9. 9 is a multiplatform research/consulting and production company that helps brands, entertainment, internet and media companies do business on TV and the web.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Patricia Handschiegel: 9 is 9 months old.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now the basis of your job?

Patricia Handschiegel: Putting things together. I like to see if I can accomplish what I have my eye on. It is now the basis of my work.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time… What was the turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a career?)

Patricia Handschiegel: I initially launched my first startup, Stylediary, to try to angle into a journalism career, but saw the opportunity to get into more of the business side and that’s when it all started.

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Patricia Handschiegel: Laptop, internet connection.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? (Or any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely worth it?)

Patricia Handschiegel: I am always excited to go to work. I love what I do. I have boundless energy for it. one cool thing is that I work as much as I did when I was an employee at someone else’s company, only now I can decide where and when.

If I need to take a few hours off, I can.  It’s not an issue, and my company doesn’t suffer at all if I do it.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Patricia Handschiegel: Endurance. Everything you do that’s big will require that more than anything else of you. I have seen it make or break people’s projects.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Patricia Handschiegel: Big things happen in small steps. Every step you take towards what you want, if it’s the right thing for you, doors will open up.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs?

Patricia Handschiegel: I love all of Guy Kawasaki’s books — he is the founder of alltop.com.

More About This Company:
Founder: Patricia Handschiegel
Company Name: 9
Products or service offered: Multiplatform research/consulting and production
Website: www.whatis9.com
Learn more about Patricia at: www.dailypatricia.com

Thank you, Patricia! We really enjoyed learning about your approach to using your natural interests to create a successful company.

Books by Guy Kawasaki:

Rules for Revolutionaries

The Art of the Start

Reality Check

Pitch! Press

Shannon Estrada and Pam Roberts are friends who put their PR savvy together and formed Pitch! Press, a “strategic editorial” PR company that helps companies in the fashion industry get media coverage on a regular basis.

Their clients benefit from their years of combined experience, and Shannon and Pam have a good time in the process.

Shannon graciously offers up some advice about what went into getting Pitch! off of the ground and working with a business partner, and we think you’ll learn a lot from what she shares!

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Shannon Estrada: Pam Roberts and myself are publicists in the fashion industry.  We represent designers and brands in the accessory, apparel, beauty and children’s categories.

We created Pitch! because there was a need for an agency that focused their efforts exclusively on securing editorial in the lifestyle, beauty and fashion publications, weeklies, dailies and blogs at an AFFORDABLE monthly rate.  We are not a full service public relations firm, but a strategic, editorial one.  Editorial hits not only increase our clients’ retail sales but wholesale as well.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Shannon Estrada: Pitch! has been pitching for five fabulous years.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now the basis of your job?

Shannon Estrada: Pam and I both have public relations backgrounds.  Pam has had a lengthy and hugely successful career in broadcast, as well as running the Fashion Mart here in Los Angeles.  I came from a fashion marketing, branding and public relations background and was sole proprietor of a full service fashion public relations agency prior to launching Pitch!.

For me, editorial: working directly with the editors to get them the product they need, has always been the most fun and most rewarding part of the job.  So, when Pam and I discussed this void in the market for an agency that just, well, pitches, I jumped at the chance to be a part of something new, something needed and something that I love to do.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time… What was the turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a career?

Shannon Estrada: Tenacity has always been a part of my genetic makeup.  Pam’s too.  It has never occurred to us, something ‘couldn’t’ be done.  I moved to Los Angeles 15 years ago with a dream of making movies.  I had always wanted to be in film production but after 2 short years became disenchanted with the industry.

I decided fashion was my true calling (which my entire family responded with a “Duh!”) and jumped from one fast paced industry to another.  I worked on staff at several key Los Angeles fashion companies before the fashion editors themselves urged me to go out on my own and start my first agency.

I have loved being an entrepreneur and Pam has as well.  We work stress-filled, long hours, are committed not only to our business, but to our clients, our contacts and to one another.  She is a terrific business partner to say the least.  Pitch! Press could not exist without her!

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Shannon Estrada: One of the beauties of Pitch! is that there were no start-up costs.  That is incredibly rare.  We were selling a service where people retained us for our media contacts.

Editors work consistently with publicists they know and like and publicists that make their jobs easier.  So from the start, we had the essence of our business in place.

We made a landing page for our website (www.pitchpress.com), created our name and logo in-house and designated pink as our branded color because it is memorable and recognizable.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job?

Shannon Estrada: Being your own boss is wonderful.  Both Pam and I have a work-aholic-work-ethic, so as much as we love it, we are tired, needless to say, at the end of our long days.

But it is rewarding, rewarding to work with clients that love and appreciate you and work with editors that love and appreciate you.  We truly care about each of our clients, their businesses and futures as well as our editors.

Some of these fabulous women I have known for 12 years.  We’ve gone from being single to being married to having children.  There really is a bond with so many of the people I work with.  And that is priceless.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Shannon Estrada: The biggest challenge the first couple of years was to learn how to best work together as business partners.  We were a team from day-one, but we work and communicate very differently.  So there were definitely tense times in the beginning.

BUT, we are both very open to constructive criticism and to learning and evolving a business, and as individuals.  I have learned so much from Pam.  So much.  And she from me.  We are a team.  And most importantly we are life long friends.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Shannon Estrada: Do what you love.  We as a society have created a rat-race in how we live and work.  If you are going to spend 8 to 10 hours a day at a job, make sure you LOVE it.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs?

Shannon Estrada: In this day and age, it is a necessity to have a professional, branded website.  Everyone Googles everything; it is imperative to have a positive and memorable first impression so invest in your site and evolve it with consistent updates, product, verbiage etc.

More About This Company:
Founders: Shannon Cavanagh-Estrada, Pam Roberts
Company Name: Pitch! Press
Products or service offered: A press service for fashion industry clients seeking ongoing editorial at an affordable monthly rate.
Website: www.pitchpress.com
Additional Contact Information: Editorial Offices: 310.791.0033.
More About Shannon & Pam: Guest Blogger at PRcouture.com and BusyBeeLifestyle.com

Thanks, Shannon for sharing your road to creating your own job with our readers! In addition to being hard workers who are committed to excellence for their clients, they also understand that creating your own job can be lots of fun and a way to build long lasting friendships!

~TheCareerCreator.com

Colleen's Cookies

For Colleen Thompson, baking was a hobby…until word of mouth spread about her shortbread cookies. Now she runs Colleen’s Cookies, a specialty cookie boutique that can create fresh, custom cookie art based on the client’s needs and the company’s motto: “It’s all about the taste.”
Colleen’s Cookies is a great example of how being passionate about things you make can turn into a new job, and in this interview she shares some tips about her unintentional path to becoming an entrepreneur.

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Colleen Thompson: Colleen’s Cookies is a special order cookie company.  Our house specialty is creating decorated shortbread cookies that match any occasion.
For instance, a friend had a moped accident and we created (once we knew she was not seriously injured) a crystal ball stating “we see you feeling better very soon”, some fun sayings like the old Batman “wham”, “pow”, “bam”, a moped cookie that we broke in half, her favorite beer – Stella Arteois, etc….we’ll you get it.  Fun…but very personal – that’s it in a nutshell.  It’s so enjoyable.

Colleen's Cookies

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business? Can you tell us a little about how you got started? What was your “Once upon a time…?”

Colleen Thompson: I started baking cookies in 2000 when a friend asked me to create 250 cookies for an event.  The guests enjoyed them, started calling, and that’s how it started.

In the beginning it was just a hobby – a few orders here, a few orders there and it all started word of mouth.  The hobby turned into a business a few years ago due to the growth in our client base.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now the basis of your job?

Colleen Thompson: I have always been a “foodie”.  I grew up in Colorado and food was what happened in our house.  From my mother to both of my Grandmother’s – we all loved being in the kitchen.  My family also has a restaurant that is celebrating 51 years in business – very successful for such a difficult occupation.

My first solo baking was at 10 years old – a scratch strawberry cake with strawberry icing – the icing had chunks of cake in it, lopsided, and I was sooooooooo proud!!!  I was hooked.

Colleen's Cookies

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Colleen Thompson: When I began it was in my kitchen.  All I needed was a mixer, flour and sugar, some creativity and an oven.  It is more complicated now that we have a production kitchen.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job?

Colleen Thompson: The best part about my job is having the ability to create.  That’s fun.  We’ve sent out some amazing cookies.  Last summer we were selected as a winner for the A List – Best Gift Cookie in STL.  One of the comments in the write up was “if Amos is famous, someone should call Oprah”…Forever imbedded in my mind.

We also were selected to create cookies for a cartoon that launched last fall, Turbo Dogs.  The production company contacted us to bid on the project and create a cookie for the New York promotion and the LA promotion and we won.  These were works of art.  So very proud of them.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Colleen Thompson: The toughest hurdle…hmmm.  Had I chosen to start a business, It would have started out differently.  What was just a fun hobby became a business.

Colleen's Cookies

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Colleen Thompson: Be passionate.  It is an old adage but if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life….it’s all fun!

More About This Company:
Founder: Colleen Thompson
Company Name: Colleen’s Cookies
Website: www.ColleensCookies.com

Thanks, Colleen, for taking the time to encourage our readers with sound advice for starting a business from a hobby! Hopefully, Oprah will come calling soon!

~TheCareerCreator.com

Omar Soliman

Our People Who Created Their Own Jobs interview today is with Omar Soliman, the CEO of College Hunks Hauling Junk.

He was named a Top 30 Entrepreneur under 30 in America by INC Magazine. He is also a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Omar has been a guest speaker at many high schools and colleges across the country, and he’s taken a bit of time to tell us about the history of College Hunks Hauling Junk.

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”? Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Omar Soliman: I am the CEO and co-founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk, the largest US based junk removal company. We haul away and remove junk and trash from commercial and residential properties. We are like a dumpster service but we provide the labor.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Omar Soliman: Since June of 2005.

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in ??? that is now the basis of your job?

Omar Soliman: I never said that I wanted to be a “trash-man” when I was growing up. But I had a natural interest in entrepreneurship and starting my own business. My natural interest is in people and that is the basis of my job. As a CEO I empower and motivate the people around me to reach their personal and business goals.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got started…give us a bit of your “Once upon a time…” What was the turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a career?

Omar Soliman: I started hauling junk as a summer gig in Washington DC when I was on break from college. I used a beat up cargo van that my mom had for her furniture store. My senior year of college I wrote a business plan for College Hunks Hauling Junk that won 1st place and $10,000 in the Rothschild Entrepreneurship competition at the University of Miami.

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Omar Soliman: We needed a logo, website 1-800 # and a truck in order to get started on a basic level.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job? Or any really cool moments that made creating your own job completely worth it?

Omar Soliman: Seeing our vision grow into a national company and a soon to be household name. We started with 1 beat up van and now our orange and green trucks can be seen in 20 cities across the country.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Omar Soliman: The toughest hurdle was to get out of the mind frame that I was creating my own job but rather I was creating something bigger than just me. I wanted to give everyone that joined our company an opportunity to grow and to look at College Hunks Hauling Junk as something more than just a job.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Omar Soliman: You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. I created my own job in something that has existed for hundreds of years, trash removal. But I added my own innovative spin to it. In the words of Nike…JUST DO IT!

More About This Company:
Founder: Omar Soliman
Twitter: twitter.com/OmarJunkMan and twitter.com/1800JUNKUSA
Facebook: Omar Soliman
Email: Omar@1800JunkUSA.com
Website: www.1800JunkUSA.com

Thanks, Omar, for answering our questions. We think your story is encouraging to others because you didn’t only create your own job, but you created jobs for many other people as well, which is pretty cool!

Dan Pavlik

Dan Pavlik is a video producer who used his storytelling skills to move from video production to create his own job as a filmmaker.

But he didn’t stop there.  Dan also decided to help others by forming a non-profit organization to help other aspiring filmmakers get access to equipment to help make their film ideas become reality.

In this interview, Dan talks about his path to creating his own job and a non-profit.

TheCareerCreator.com: What is your “job”?

Dan Pavlik: Writer/Director/Foundation President

TheCareerCreator.com: Please tell us a bit about your company and what you sell or what service you provide?

Dan Pavlik: I am a corporate video producer by day, writer and aspiring filmmaker by night (or the rest of the day).  I started Educational Films of America, a non-profit designed to get students who are aspiring filmmakers practical work experience of a movie set.  EFA will ultimately sponsor student projects, giving them an opportunity to start a career.

TheCareerCreator.com: How long have you been in business?

Dan Pavlik: 13 years

TheCareerCreator.com: You had a natural interest in story telling that is now the basis of your job?

Dan Pavlik: I’ve always enjoyed getting a reaction out of a crowd when telling a happy or sad story.  As a filmmaker, you thrive on the ability to lead your audience down a prescribed path.  When it works the way you’ve planned, it’s like a drug.

TheCareerCreator.com: Tell us a little about how you got started…give us a bit of your Once upon a time…What was the turning point where you decided to turn your interest or hobby into a career?

Dan Pavlik: I was going to school and working as a bartender at a restaurant. I started “producing” the holiday videos for the employee party.  I received such positive feedback that I was encouraged to pursue a career in video production.

TheCareerCreator.com: What were some of the materials or technology you needed to get started on a very basic level?

Dan Pavlik: When I got started all you needed was a camera and two VCRs.  Non-linear, computer based editing was not even available at the consumer level.  This put creativity at a premium.

TheCareerCreator.com: The best part about creating your own job?

Dan Pavlik: The best part about creating my own job is that I don’t miss a school play or a soccer game of my kid’s.  I can be completely creative, and still have the freedom to enjoy all the great things about family.

TheCareerCreator.com: What’s the toughest hurdle you’ve encountered in creating your own job…and how you overcame it?

Dan Pavlik: The toughest hurdle is the same ‘ol story – getting started.  The only way to overcome it is good planning and hard work.  People think they are gonna get rich quick and enjoy self-employment.  Such a mistake. In the beginning, it takes working a side job to supplement your income, working long hours and missing out on lots of fun.  But the rewards are great!

TheCareerCreator.com: Any words of wisdom or encouragement to anyone wanting to create their own job?

Dan Pavlik: Just like I said above, plan, plan, plan.  Have a reserve of cash and/or a way to pay your bills in the beginning.  Don’t take no for an answer, especially when people tell you “It can’t be done”.

TheCareerCreator.com: Any favorite resources you recommend to other entrepreneurs?

The internet. You can find any answer there.  Use email and ask a lot of questions.  Experts love to answer questions from up-and-comers!
More About This Company:
Founder: Dan Pavlik
Company Name:  Private: SouthPaw Productions; Non-profit: Educational Films of America
Products or service offered: Writer and Director
Website:   www.NominatedTheMovie.com
Additional contact information: www.twitter.com/nominated
Awards and special recognition received by Dan Pavlik: Multiple “Telly” award winner; semifinalist in the 2008 Nicholl Fellowship for Screenwriting

Thanks, Dan, for taking time to tell us about your goals to tell your own stories through film and to help others do the same. We know future film entrepreneurs will find your advice very encouraging!

~TheCareerCreator.com