Accountant
Adoption Agency
Advertising Agency
Advertising Sales Representative
Animal Breeder
Antiques Dealer
Apartment Preparation Service
Artists’/Photographers’ Agent
Arts Festival Promoter
Association Management Service
Auctioneer
Auditor
Automotive Detailing
Automotive Loan Broker
Automotive Maintenance
Automotive Paint Touch-Up Professional
Band Manager
Bankruptcy Service
Bartending Service
Bartering Service
Bed & Breakfast
Bicycle Rental
Boat Maintenance/Cleaning Service
Book Indexer
Book Packager
Bookkeeper
Bridal Consultant
Bridal Show Promoter
Building Maintenance Service
Business Broker
Business Form Production and Sales
Business Networking Service
Business Plan Writer
Cake Decorator
Calligrapher
Career Counselor
Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning
Catalog Retailer
Caterer
Childbirth Instructor
Child-Care Referral Service
Collectibles Broker
Collection Agency
College Application Consultant
College Internship Placement Service
Color Consultant
Commercial Cleaning Service
Commercial Photographer
Commercial Plant Watering Service
Computer Consultant
Computer Maintenance Service
Computer Programmer/Database Consultant
Computer Trainer
Concert Promoter
Consulting Engineer
Cooking Instructor
Corporate Art Consultant
Counselor/Psychologist
Courier Service
Credit Consultant
Damage Restoration Service
Dating Service
Day-Care Service (Child or Adult)
Desktop Publisher
Digital Imaging Service
Disability Consultant
Disc Jockey
Dog Trainer
Doll Repair Service
Draftsperson
e-Book Publisher
Efficiency Expert
Electrical Contractor
Employee Benefits Consultant
Employee Leasing
Engraving Service
Envelope Stuffing Service
Etiquette Advisor
Event Planner
Executive Search Firm
Fan Club Management
Fax-on-Demand Service
Feng Shui Consultant
Financial Aid Consultant
Financial Planner
First Aid/CPR Instructor
Food Item Manufacturer
Framing Service
Freelance Writer/Copyeditor/Illustrator
Gardening Consultant/Landscaper
Genealogical Service
Gerontology Consultant
Gift Basket Business
Government Contract Consulting
Grant Writer
Graphic Designer
Hairstylist
Handbill Distribution
Handyman Network
Home Business Consultant
Home Entertainment System Service
Home Health Care Service
Home Inspector
Home Preparation Service
Homeschooling Consultant
Image Consultant
Incorporation Service for Businesses
Insurance Agent
Interior Designer
Jewelry Designer
Knitting/Crocheting Instructor
Lactation Consultant
Laundry Service
Lawn Care Service
Lawyer
Licensing Agent
Literary Agent
Litigation Management Service
Magician
Mailing List Service
Makeup Artist
Management Consultant
Manicurist
Manufacturer’s Representative
Marketing Consultant
Massage Therapist
Meal to Go
Mediator
Medical Claims Processing
Medical Transcriptionist
Meeting Planner
Message Retrieval Serivce
Messenger Service
Mobile Paper-Shredding Service
Modeling Agency
Monogramming Service
Mortgage Loan Broker
Mover
Multilevel Marketing
Music Instructor/Professional Musician
Mystery Shopper
Nanny Service
Newspaper Delivery Service
Notary Public
Online Auction Consignment Service
Online Marketing Specialist
Online Message Board Manager
Online Retailer
Online Service Consultant
Outdoor Adventures
Outplacement Serivce
Paging Service
Party Planner
Personal Assistant
Personal Development Coach
Personal Instructor/Fitness Trainer
Personal Shopper
Pet Grooming
Political Campaign Manager
Pool Maintenance
Printing Broker
Private Tutor
Product Designer
Professional Organizer
Property Management Service
Public Pay Phone Service
Public Relations Consultant
Publisher of Personalized Children’s Books
Rare Book Dealer
Real Estate Broker
Relocation Consultant
Repair Service
Resume Service
Retirement Planner
Reunion Organizer
Roommate Referral Service
Rubber Stamp Business
Sales of Novelty and Promotional Products
Sales Representative
Sales Trainer
Seamstress
Secretarial Service
Seminar Service
Silk Flower Arranger
Small Business Consultant
Standardized Test Preparatory Services
Stock Photography Service
Systems Integrator
Tax Preparation Service
Telemarketing Service
Temporary Employment Agency
Ticket Broker
Time-Management Specialist
Trademark Agent
Translation Services
Travel Agent
Upholsterer
Used Computer Sales
Vacation Rentals Broker
Vacuum Cleaner Repair
Vending Machine Service
Videographer
Web Site Developer
Window Treatment Specialist
Word-Processing Service
Workers’ Compensation Consultant

I recently spoke to Jennifer about her own journey into solopreneurship and the advice she collected while interviewing dozens of entrepreneurs for her book. Read on to learn more…

An Interview with Jennifer Remling

Noelle:

Thanks so much for making time to speak with me today. I’m really excited to chat with you about how you found the strength to strike out on your own to begin with – as I know you had several fabulous, well-paying jobs before you became a solopreneur.

Jennifer:

Well, that’s somewhat true. Out of college, I had three goals: I wanted to be a vice president, I wanted to do international work, and I wanted to make six figures within five years! (Laughing) I went into executive search and from there I transitioned into corporate recruiting. Looking back now, I see that my goals were very superficial, but at the time they were meaningful to me and I therefore managed to hit all of those goals within my timeframe.

Noelle:

Wow! And then what?

Jennifer:

Well, there I was – the vice president of global recruiting for a big global commerce company – I was doing international work – I had actually even moved to London! I hit all my goals, but I still felt unfulfilled. I found myself wondering, “Wow, is this all there is?” I was successful by all traditional standards and by the standards I had set for myself, but I was still very unhappy and unfulfilled. And then… I got laid off!

Noelle:

Ha! Talk about divine intervention!

Jennifer:

Yeah, but it took me some time to see the positive side of this situation.  It happened a few months before September 11^th and I wound up unemployed for about five months. On the day September 11^th happened, I was laying in bed feeling miserable about my unemployment. I realized that I had defined my entire life around my career and so when I lost my job, I felt like I lost my identity. My dog had just died and I was in a really bad mental funk… and then real tragedy struck and I knew it was time to make some major changes in my life. 

I started a journey of self exploration. I found myself asking why I was here on this planet and how I could make an impact on it. The journey lasted quite a few years and I read over 300 books during the process!

Noelle:

So did you start your business right after September 11^th?

Jennifer:

No. Like I said, my journey lasted quite a few years. I went back to corporate America first. I had known for a long time that I wanted to start my own company, but that’s a really scary thing for a lot of us who’ve had a corporate job and a solid pay check coming in. I wasn’t sure how I was going to start my business, but I did start doing some things on the side which is something I talk about a lot in the book – I call it “Building a Bridge”.

Noelle:

And what do you mean by that?

Jennifer:

Well, what I did was start to do some recruitment consulting on the side with people that I knew well. I started to build some income that way and I gained confidence that I could actually drive revenue from consulting.  Then one day I was meeting with a client, actually a potential client who was also a good personal friend whom I had known for a long time. I was trying to sell the services of the company I was working for at the time to him, and he said to me, “Jennifer you just don’t look happy. I have known you for a long time and I can see it.”  Then he said, “I have an idea. How about I tear up this contract and I sign a one year contract with Jennifer Remling, Inc.” (Laughing)

This was a total gift and just what I needed because I was really ready to quit my job, but until that point I didn’t feel like I had the net I needed.  That contract was my net.  We signed it on a Friday and I quit my job on a Monday!

Noelle:

Super!

Jennifer: 

Yeah, the contract didn’t equal my current compensation but it covered a good portion of it and with that contract in my pocket, I had the confidence to go out and get additional business which is what I did!

Noelle: 

Well Jennifer, that’s a great story. In The Freelance Mom we talk a lot about how building a successful transition plan can make or break a business, so I’m glad to hear how building a bridge between your corporate career and solopreneurship was so helpful.

What are some other lessons you picked up during the many interviews you did for Carve Your Own Road?

Jennifer:

Well, the idea for the book was to go out and interview people who had either quit a corporate job to pursue an entrepreneurial dream or passion or figured out how to stay in a corporate environment and do something really cool and innovative that was really meaningful to them.  So needless to say, we gathered a lot of great information and ideas; however one of the key things that stuck with me and one of the things that I cover in the book is the importance of having some clarity about where you want to head.

Noelle:

And what do you mean by that?

Jennifer:

It’s really important to take some time to sit down and ask yourself some important questions like what you want your life and your business to look like and how you want these things to feel. I recommend putting a two year plan in place. I don’t think you need a five year plan – I think a two year plan detailing how you want things to look and feel is key.

I also think it’s really important to let go and look at all the possibilities.  Don’t limit yourself! When you start to think about these questions you may find that your left brain will go “Oh that’s not possible!” or “How are you going to fund that?”  You need to ask your left brain to take the back seat so you can go all the way out there and create something cool. You can always come back to those left brain questions down the road.

Then, once you’ve established a vision, you should test it. Tap into your network and test your idea. Get some people behind you and get some feedback from those folks – then start building that bridge! 

Be clear about what you want and find peace with it because if you are full of fear, you can’t make good decisions!

Noelle:

So true! Thanks for the great story and advice! Where can my audience get a copy of Carve Your Own Road?

Jennifer:

It’s available at Amazon.com and at Barnes & Nobles Bookstores.

Noelle:

Great!  I also really enjoyed your recent interview on CNN – so I’m including a link to that interview and a link to your great website. 

And finally, I’m including a link to Jennifer’s new retreats for women.  These are a great opportunity for busy moms to get away and spend some determining how they  can start working and living on their own terms!  I’m definitley planning on signing up for one in the near future!