Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

Jennifer Krosche, our guest under the “Our Heroes” series, worked as an Account Supervisor for a PR agency, a PR Director for a major National magazine and several other PR agencies throughout her career. After getting laid off last year, she started out doing some freelance work while looking for another job. But once the clients started rolling in, she realized that this was the right time to start her own PR business. Today, when she looks back, she thinks that was the best decision she could have made! Let’s talk and find out more…

DD: Who are you and what kind of corporate job were you at?

JK: I am a Public Relations Professional/Publicist, and before starting my own PR business I was an Account Supervisor and Media Specialist at a PR Firm in Soho (NYC). I have worked at several PR agencies in NYC and I was the Public Relations Director for Men’s Fitness Magazine. I was also a Merchandising and Retail Store Manager for 5 years.

My background is diverse in terms of the different types of client accounts I have worked on. They include: fashion, accessories, beauty, travel, technology, non-profit, environmental, nutrition, health, fitness, entertainment, celebrities, athletes, sports, etc. Like I said, diverse, but I love that I have overall PR experience and have not been pigeon-holed into one type of account. It is much more fulfilling this way. I would say that the concentration of accounts in my business can now be considered small businesses and start-up companies that have a vast range of categories. But that’s not to say I wouldn’t work with larger companies!  I just love helping out the smaller companies and start-ups that can’t afford a traditional PR agency.

DD: What made you leave the job? When did you realize that you wanted to be an entrepreneur & why?

JK: Getting laid off twice in a little over a year may have had something to do with it – ok – a lot to do with it. It put me in that, “you have nothing to lose” category. My ah-ha moment was when I started freelancing while I was looking for ANOTHER job and the jobs just kept coming! I was like, hold on! There is a real opportunity here! I always had people encouraging me to do something for myself, but I always wanted the stability of a paycheck; being a single mom you need to have a definite income, but after being laid off multiple times, that just didn’t exist anymore in this economy.

DD: What did you do to break the corporate jail? How did you prepare yourself for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

JK: I started as a freelancer and slowly made the transition into a full-fledged business, allowing me to slowly transition and build up an income without having to jump in all at once. I did a lot of research on technology, products, services and software that could help me run my business smoothly without having to waste resources or income on costly employees or equipment. I also made sure to use freelancers and assistants that I had worked with before. This way I was already familiar with their capabilities. The hardest thing is balance and prioritizing my day.

DD: What are your Top 5 tips for employees who want to be entrepreneurs but are hung up on something?

JK: 1) Go for it! It’s easier than you think! I used to think it was going to be really hard to get started or have my own business, but it was surprisingly easy!
2) Start small and build. You aren’t going to have a million dollar business overnight, and there’s no rush. Create a solid platform to build on first.
3) Keep it simple. Don’t hire employees in the beginning unless you absolutely need to. Interns, assistants, freelancers and part-timers are a great way to get help and conserve money.
4) Research, research, research. Make sure you do your homework on everything from tax info to laptops.  Make sure you chose the best options for you and your business

And perhaps the best bit of advice I can give is NETWORK! Meeting people – a lot of people – is critical when you own your own business and is a key ingredient for life as a whole. You never know who you are going to meet or when you are going to need them or they are going to need you. Most business comes from networking sites, word of mouth and requests. I have yet to pitch a company cold, nor have I needed to do so. Networking is also key in any part of your life; in your business, career opportunities, friendship, romantic life, etc. Life is all about interacting with people, especially in business, no matter what you do. I am currently writing a book about the power of networking and promoting yourself in your own life. It is just so important.

DD: How are you now? Are you still in the same business, and how do you feel?

JK: I am still in the same business and I feel amazing! I’m kicking myself for not doing this sooner, but I know that this was the right time for me. You will just know when it’s time to stop making excuses and go for it. It’s like an alarm goes off in your head. Having my own business has given me the ability to make my own decisions in my life, chose the clients I want to work for, and how I go about doing it. It has given me more time with my daughter and she desperately needs it after having a mom that was out of the house for 12 hours a day. I can actually make dinner now! It has given me a freedom I had never known before. I am actually answering these questions from my “outside office” today! Sunshine while working – you can’t beat that! Have I mentioned I am also more financially stable than I have ever been in my life! Before I would struggle to just pay the monthly bills and now I am paying off my debt, saving up for a house and living the life I have always wanted. I have already doubled my income this year, with unlimited growth potential for the future. There is nothing better than working for yourself!

DD: Wow Jennifer! Thank you for sharing your story with me and for being so enthusiastic about your entrepreneurial experience! I wish you all the best in the future with your Public Relations company.

JK: Thank you, Devesh, for having an interest in my story and for understanding the freedom and happiness that comes with being an entrepreneur. I have never been happier than I am now and I owe it all to myself and to that wonderful word “entrepreneur”! I also wish you the best of luck.

DD: Jennifer Krosche everyone, professional PR lady turned entrepreneur. I think it is wonderful that all of her previous work experience really helped to shape her own business. All those years of hard work really did pay off for Jennifer! I thoroughly enjoyed one of the things she said: “Life is all about interacting with people, especially in business, no matter what you do.” True, very true!

Success to all!