Anti 9-to-5 profile: Jen Guyer
The anti 9-to-5er: Jen Guyer, Seattle (featured in The Anti 9-to-5 Guide!)
My job: Home stager. [Jen makes the rooms in houses for sale look nice so that people will buy.] I started a career in home staging so I could get out of the mundane lifestyle of a 9-5′er! So far so good, the staging career has taken off!
What makes my gig anti 9-to-5: I work for myself. It was important to change my lifestyle and workstyle when I had kids. I just didn’t want to be stuck at the office when I could be picking them up from school and participating in field trips. Never thought I would have kids or my own business, but I have found that the two really do work well together.
What I did in my former 9-to-5 life: Digital Video Editor and Video Streamer for TV and Internet companies in Seattle.
How I made the anti 9-to-5 leap: I made the leap by…GASP…moving my entire family into my parents’ house. Now THAT was a sacrifice, for my parents. Ha.
My biggest obstacles: Every day was a hurdle. It was hard to learn to sell myself in a new industry. I worked very hard on how to speak to others in an authoritative or expert manner. People were putting their trust in me and I didn’t want to let them down. Every aspect of owning a business was a hurdle! Filing papers with the state, getting a lawyer, putting together a website, getting a good accountant, making and distributing marketing materials…yadda yadda yadda.
My tips for other cubicle expats: If you read about a career and it is something you really think you will be good at AND enjoy, then DO IT.
What’s that link again? StagedByDesign.com
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5 comments March 9th, 2007
