Posted Under: Entrepreneurship, Our Heroes

Our next guest under the “Our Heroes” series is J.D. Docheff, Juris Doctor He used to be a corporate strategy consultant and then a finance lawyer, who quit that world to start his own business doing Career, Resume, and College/Grad school Admissions Consulting.  So basically, he helps *other* people work their way up in the very world that he chose to leave. Let’s talk to him and find out more…

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

JD: My name is J.D. Docheff, Juris Doctor and I am an alum of Harvard Law School and Dartmouth College (Economics). I spent several years in the strategy consulting world, and then in the finance law world after law school.  I quit law once and for all last year to pursue my entrepreneurial dream full-time and really make it a success.

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

JD: Circa 2004 I already had some good business experience including interviewing candidates and successfully being interviewed for jobs myself.  I had also gotten into Harvard Law and started helping other people strategize and package themselves to do the same.  I also had a knack for helping people make their resumes sharp, package themselves for their career targets, etc.  So I figured I had some cool intellectual capital that people could benefit from and might even be willing to pay for.  So from 2004-2008 I had a part-time practice doing Career and School Admissions Consulting and it was a lot of fun. It grew to ancillary stuff, too, that drew on some of my prior skills like writing business plans, strategic thinking and working with a client to understand the competitive landscape of their business, their work environment, etc.

Last year I decided to take the plunge and make my break from the 9-5 (or 7-7) world for good.  I felt like my part-time little practice, almost a hobby to me, was my true calling, my true love, and I had already poked my toes into the market and decided demand was strong – I could support myself this way, and try to make it big!

I just plain hated the grind of BigLaw and knowing that my work really wasn’t as sexy as I had originally thought it would be made it even worse.  I realized my values were off – I was really into the “success” and the “achievement” that goes along with high-level corporate strategy consulting and big legal/finance deals.  But I really felt unfulfilled and knew that I should be doing what my core capability really was: helping other people with their careers; I knew I should drop my own career in order to use my assets and experience to help others meet their career and life goals.  And it would actually be inexpensive – my brain and my past experience are my key assets and my only costs of doing business are really just a computer, internet connectivity, a telephone, a printer, a fax machine, etc.

I also had a thought and this was key to me: “Why, with the power of the Internet and modern telecommunications, should an intelligent, motivated guy who has cool assets (the Law school success, the past business success, being an interviewer, being successful on the job hunt, etc.) have to be a slave to bosses?  Why could my idea not have a national – no, international – reach?  I can touch anywhere with the power of the Internet!”

DD: How did you prepare yourself for the employee to entrepreneur transition?

JD: I started using social networking and free internet advertising like Craigslist to get the word out and to build a national client base.  The idea: I don’t need to have sit-downs with clients – most are perfectly happy working remotely with me – telephone conference calls, email, shooting documents and memoranda like this back and forth, Skype, etc.  Once I started getting clients, they started referring and I had particular success with certain communities here in the U.S.; Indians, for example, who have relatives in India and want to get into an American college or find a job here. They contacted me for help.  Also, the Saudi student community here has been a good inter-community referral source.

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

JD: 1) Do careful market estimations; be meticulous; make sure it actually IS an idea that there’s a realistic market for.

2) Make a list of absolutely everyone you know and check-mark everyone whom you would feel comfortable asking for contacts, referrals, help, etc.  Let everyone who knows you know about your new venture.

3) Use the social networking tools – they are powerful.

4) Be crazy about client service.  Go out of your way.  Let your “brand” state that you cater to your clients needs, whenever they need you.  Get a reputation for this.  Personalize things – hand written thank-you notes, for instance.

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

JD: My business is doing really well.  I’m at the point where I almost have too much work for myself, and I’ve been getting bolder and bolder in the fees I ask.  I grew 220% over the past MONTH! I feel incredible.  I have profound job satisfaction.  I am finally running my own life!  And I am the go-to “expert” in what I do, rather than someone else’s lackey! It feels great!

DD: Wow! Thanks J.D., for sharing your story with me! It is such a pleasure to hear your enthusiasm about entrepreneurship and to see you thrive as an entrepreneur. I wish you the best of luck.

JD: Thanks for the opportunity, Devesh!  I like your site and your ideas! We need more people like you in the world who understand the importance of being your own boss and enjoying your job…entrepreneurs are very special people and thank you for supporting us!

DD: That was J.D. people, successful entrepreneur and founder of “J.D. Docheff – Career, Resume, School Admissions Consulting & Strategic Business Planning”. He used his education and experience to found a successful business, a business which helps others do the same: become successful.

Much success to all!!