“This wasn’t a well-thought out plan… I was just pursuing a dream.” That’s how Priscilla Lopez describes her transition from IT consultant to tennis wear designer. While essentially a summary of her story, this article does include some interesting points, including how she got her start by wearing one of her own creations at her…
Inspiration to Follow Your Blueprint
Unlikely Business Owner Creates Success by Following His Passion
Not everyone who starts a business fits the classic mold of entrepreneur. In this story about Jim Carpenter, founder of the Wild Birds Unlimited stores, we observe how revelations gradually emerge in one’s career and life and how acting on those revelations by taking that one next step leads you to the next. “SUCCESS Stories:…
Do You Know the Value of Your Own Stock?
by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor Bird in the Hand After a 22-year career with the company, Rose became part of a downsizing. Though her severance package was fairly generous, she was very anxious about finding a job, as she was a single mother with the pressures of a high mortgage in California. After two months, Rose…
Becoming a Franchisee
Here are three people who opted to buy franchises in order to do something entrepreneurial but with the support of a proven model. Also of note is that there are services that match clients with franchises. While it’s not for everyone, it could be an interesting formula to consider. “Having your own biz, but not…
Leap of Faith
Jeanne Cole’s visit to a monastery was to help her rest and recover from the profound grief of losing her young son. What she found there was not only the grace to heal but also the inspiration for a new business. Here she describes her huge leap of faith out of a dream job in…
Right Under His Feet
After Wall Street laid him off, Richard Kadlub decided to create a business based on his love for his home town. A Tour Grows in Brooklyn turned out to be the career transition that was right under his nose… or shall we say, right under his feet! “Give up? Fuhgeddaboudit! Laid-off Wall St. worker turns…