Dream Chaser: Janet Barclay, Entrepreneur

Do you dream of quitting your job and starting your own business? Today’s dream chaser, Janet Barclay, did just that. The result? She loves being self-employed and can’t ever imagine going back! Read on to hear how Janet followed her dreams…

Q: Tell us about yourself.
JB: My name is Janet Barclay, and I’ve been a self-employed virtual assistant on a full-time basis for nearly five years now. My dream is to build my business, Organized Assistant, to the point where I can work only on projects that really excite me.

Within the past few months I’ve realized that the secret to achieving that is to really target my marketing efforts, so I’m currently in the process of re-branding myself as THE virtual assistant to successful professional organizers, with a special emphasis on creating and maintaining their Web sites, blogs, and social networking profiles.

Q: Describe a gray time in your life. How did you overcome it?
JB: My first real job was wonderful; I did my best and was rewarded with frequent raises and promotions. After I left that company to work closer to home, I discovered how rare that situation was and I struggled with boredom and bureaucracy in various positions with different employers for the next several years.

I finally found a job that gave me the autonomy I enjoyed and allowed me to make the best use of my talents, and that lasted for just over five years until the program was shut down (more bureaucracy, of course). My employer offered me another position, but it was completely different and I wasn’t at all happy. At that point I’d been running my business part-time for a couple of years, so I decided to take the plunge, quitting my job to work full-time in my business. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, so I thought I would give it a go. I’ve got a couple of friends who have also started their own businesses, so I thought I would be able to ask them for advice throughout. One of my friends told me that the most important thing I should do when creating my business is ensure that I have the correct business insurance to protect my business from damage. She also said it’s good for business continuity too, so that’s why I knew I had to get that sorted out quickly. Advice like that is amazing when you’re trying to set up a business, there’s often so much to do that you might forget essential things, like insurance. Another often neglected insurance is health insurance which could be particularly useful for business owners as, if they are incapacitated due to injury or illness, they might have financial concerns regarding how they will cover the cost of treatment if they are out of work. Having health insurance will help to eliminate these concerns.

Q: What challenges and fears have stood between you and your dreams? How did you overcome them?
JB: Leaving the safety net of a regular income was pretty scary, and I probably wouldn’t have taken that risk if I hadn’t been so unhappy in my job. My husband and I were in a fairly good position financially, having sold our house and paid off all our debts the year before, so it felt like the time was right. One of my clients was a business coach, and I asked her to help me grow my business to replace my lost income from my job, in exchange for my services. One of my other friends also told me about maybe getting one of the different valuation services omaha has to offer to come and value my company for me. This will make it easier for me to project the future of the business, which will then hopefully give me some motivation to try and reach those goals. Knowing how much your company is worth is an essential part of business at the end of the day, whether you’ve got a million pound business or an upcoming one like mine! As a business owner, you dream of growing your business into something bigger. Whilst it might seem that it’s never going to be possible, there are always options to help business owners grow their businesses. For example, some business owners could consider incorporating their business into an LLC (limited liability company). This would help them to save some money on taxes and give them easier routes to raise capital. If any business owners want to know more about that, they can check it out on Inc Authority’s website. Perhaps that’s something to consider if you want your business to grow.

Q: What inspires you to keep pushing forward when the going gets tough?
JB: I look back at what I’ve achieved already, and that helps me remember that I do have what it takes to succeed. After working on my own for several years, the thought of returning to a regular job is very unappealing, so I’m determined to stick it out! I actually feel that in today’s economy, where job security is non-existent, I’m better off than my employed friends, even if they are bringing in a higher income right now.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone else who is struggling to move beyond the gray and follow a dream, what would it be?
JB: Believe in yourself!

To learn more about Janet Barclay you can check out her blog (www.janetbarclay.com), visit her company’s Web site (www.organizedassistant.com) and follow her on Twitter (@JanetBarclay).

Are you actively pursuing or living a dream? If so, I’d love to hear from you! Please e-mail me at: Erika (dot) Liodice (at sign) hotmail (dot) com.