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| | Post New Topic | | The story of YOU | Views: 223 | | Jun 22, 2009 8:28 pm | | The story of YOU | # | 
Bobbi Jo Woods | | I'm sure we've seen some stories about how members got started in their business, strewn hither and yon in other posts, but I've yet to see a collection devoted to JUST these stories.
I'd like to start such a thread...
So tell us... how did YOU get started doing what you do NOW?
Was it an accident, when you started your business? Did you choose this as a field of study for years, get a specialized degree, etc.? Or was your fate just destined in the stars for you? Do tell. What did you do for work before now? Inquiring minds want to know!
-Bobbi Jo
Ask BJ - free website advice & tips
http://tiny.cc/AskBJ919
A Bit of Humble Pie - Down-home Bid'ness Chitchat
http://abhp-network.ryze.com/
B. Woods Design - Professional Websites & Hosting
Twin Cities (651) 774-0811
Toll - Free (877) 99-MY-WEB
Website: http://bwoodsdesign.com
Website marketing & tips blog: http://webprospeak.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Jun 23, 2009 10:02 am | | re: The story of YOU | # | 
Donald Smith | | I got started with the present company that I am with because one of my friends thought that it was something that I would like doing. When I saw what was coming, I almost flipped out!
The Opportunity is going to be awesome! And I am so glad that she thought of me. As for what I have done in the past..I have a varied past. I served as Minister of Music for my Church for 27 years and after that, I served in AmeeriCorps as a Tutor helping Kindergarten through 3rd graders become better readers. Most recently I served as a Cashier for a Corporate Gas Station(Sunoco)
http://www.mygvbiz.com/mrmillionaire
Private Reply to Donald Smith | | Jun 26, 2009 5:26 pm | | re: re: The story of YOU | # |
Bobbi Jo Woods | | Hi Donald
Long time, no see.
Thanks for sharing your story. We all have interesting beginnings!
We are glad you are part of our netwook, too :)
Here is my story, copied and pasted from my Google Profile, at:
http://www.google.com/profiles/108152252385291870699
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I am a geek :)
I heart computers, blogs, web sites, e-mail and the list goes on. I "get" them, understand how they work, and can make web sites that tick, do a lot of neat stuff, etc. My web site designs may be pretty, but they also mean business.
Early Inspiration and Geek-ness
I've been in to computers and technical stuff since I was younger... as a kid I took apart my transistor radio and tried to put it back together again. I got a Kodak Brownie for a gift and took that apart, too. Now that I think about it, I pretty much de-constructed everything in my path as a kid, in an effort to learn how to put it back together again! My parents had a Texas Instruments computer in our basement which did pretty much everything that the Commodore 64 did, and I used to play around with TI Basic language commands and stuff on it, plus play the Atari games that came with the game setup. I remember playing Par-sec, Centipede, Donkey Kong, Munch-Man (a Texas Instruments clone of Pac-Man), Alpiner, Space Invaders and Hunt the Wumpus.
Problem-Solver and Magician
I'm a problem-solver. I enjoy finding solutions for people and making them happy. I spent years working in office environments and thrived on solving problems, but as I learned to use computers to solve many of them, I found my jobs getting too small because I would figure out ways to make the computer do most of the work! It was like magic. At one of my jobs as a mail clerk and supply manager for an insurance company, I set up an inventory database just using an Excel spreadsheet, which I had hooked up to an Access form, so that when people ordered forms/supplies from the mail room, the stock level would change. people couldn't figure it out :) And I sure wasn't telling them my secret! The job got too small for me and I couldn't move up in the food chain there, so I moved on to a larger insurance company and became a clerk in the purchasing department where my data guru skills were put to the test.
Tech Self-Teaching
I eventually got my own computer for use from home, and my curiosity of the Internet got the better of me. It wasn't long before I was studying HTML and tinkering with graphic design in my own spare time. In a few short years, I became busy making small web sites for local non profits and for my own friends and family, mainly for fun.
Movin' on up...to the east side
Before too long, my services started to be in demand for actual, professional business owners. I decided since I enjoyed it and was pretty good at it, to start making money doing web & graphic design on the side. I moved to another side of town, got some fresh perspective, and started on my first actual contracted project, creating and managing the web site for a local chamber of commerce near my hometown, and from there, I began working more and more for other businesses and creative professionals.
I'm glad to say that after seven years in the making,
B. Woods Design is now a professional, full-time endeavor that's thriving--little by little, and is becoming a strong web solutions force in the Twin Cities business community.
B. Woods Design is your friendly, dedicated and local resource for good design and good service, but I'm branching out here and there. Whether you're in St. Paul, St. Louis, or St. Petersburg, I'm here to help. Moreover, I'm wanting to start mutually beneficial relationships with others, so we can help each other succeed.
Where I grew up
Newport, MN
Places I've lived
South St. Paul, MN; Saint Paul, MN
=====================================================
(PS - if you don't already have one, I strongly suggest you get a Google Profile, too! I have had several hits from there to my business site, and many of my other social networking profiles!)
-Bobbi Jo
Ask BJ - free website advice & tips
http://tiny.cc/AskBJ919
A Bit of Humble Pie - Down-home Bid'ness Chitchat
http://abhp-network.ryze.com/
B. Woods Design - Professional Websites & Hosting
Twin Cities (651) 774-0811
Toll - Free (877) 99-MY-WEB
Website: http://bwoodsdesign.com
Website marketing & tips blog: http://webprospeak.com
Private Reply to Bobbi Jo Woods | | Aug 14, 2009 10:35 am | | re: re: re: The story of YOU | # | 
Parag Pattani | | I used to be a Banker since 1975 and in 1991, was posted for a brief stint to the bank's branch at Singapore. I was re-transferred in 1993 and when I returned home there was a strange feeling that I had to return to Singapore, that I had left something unfinished.
I returned to Singapore on 1st Jan 1996 to work for a shipping company.
In mid 1997, a friend of ours wrote to us a letter from India and one of the things she mentioned there was that she had just taken a course in Reiki. When I read this word "Reiki" something hit me hard. I knew I had to take a look at whatever it was. Those days I was neither spiritual nor holistic. Later that year, when I was in India for holidays, I made inquiries about what Reiki was, was given some notes to read which honestly I did not understand, but yet insisted on learning it. My friend found a Master who was willing to initiate me into Reiki Level I.
I returned to Singapore and Reiki was on the back burner. One year later, I had to visit India because my mother had met with an accident. She complained of giddiness when she sat up on the bed and I offered to do some hands on healing. My 'diagonosis' that day was exactly what the neuro surgeon said an hour later. That prompted me to take up the next level.
Within a few days, I received e mails from 2 ladies, one from Canada and another from USA asking for distance healing and since then there has been no looking back. Another gentleman, who was so satisfied by my healing, offered to create my website. Encouraged by the experiences I had, I decided to take up Mastership in 2000, for I wanted to teach, to tell people that Reiki works, based on my experiences.
It was sheer Providence because the shipping company I was working for decided to close its doors forever in 2002. I looked for jobs but they never happened. And as one door closed, little windows started opening wider. One thing led to another, After Reiki came Crystals, I designed a fun workshop on Chakras and my quest for knowledge led me into understanding Kundalini.
Since then Reiki has been my passion, my profession.
Parag
http://www.reikihut.com
http://singsling-network.ryze.com
Private Reply to Parag Pattani | | Oct 12, 2009 3:52 pm | | The story of YOU | # | 
Paul Steven | |
How did I start my biz???
With an idea and thought and it continues to grow each day...
So far it's our 3rd year in operation as a truly mobile photo studio.
We photograph inside our studio on wheels.
Let me ask you...When you look at the photo of the studio in our profile pic,
can you tell we photograph inside? Or do you assume we use a bus to transport
equipment???
We're having fun.
~Paul
:)
"It's NOT what happens, it's HOW U handle it!" $25 off Head shots til 10/31/09
My Treat-Trick or Treat!!* "Put Your BEST FACE, Smile & HEART Forward! HUGE!"
*http://paulstevenphotography.com Only mobile photo studio globally of its kind
*http://todaysjoke-network.ryze.com/ A very very funny way to business network
Private Reply to Paul Steven | | Oct 26, 2009 10:45 am | | re: The story of YOU | # | 
T.E.A.M. Mom! | | This is such a great thread, I am glad I just found it! I hope other's will too :)
How did YOU get started doing what you do NOW? Actually I got thrusted into the working at home field back in 2001 due to chronic health issues I have had since 1995 after I was hurt in an accident. I tried for several years to sustain the type of work/employment I had done, but found it nearly impossible (I was trained in the clerical field). With no other options open to me, I took time to heal (spiritually, physically) and move past the limitations I faced and have faced all these years.
Was it an accident, when you started your business?To continue, yes it was an accident that sent me on the journey I have been winding upon and NO it is not an accident (professionally) to where I am now in my life. I had been thinking of starting or owning a business for sometime, since doing the whole DS, Catalog thing was not working anymore. First, was doing the homework and educating myself to what working at home, online would entail. Not really finding any help in the beginning (almost 10 yrs now), I decided to make it my mission to share whatever resources I did find and have been doing it ever since.
Did you choose this as a field of study for years, get a specialized degree, etc.? Actually when I first graduated from HS, I was seeking to get into research and development for PBS or journalism, but found the whole task daunting (journalism), repetitive and boring. So I changed my focus, my career path and delved right into some non credit-inter work at a local shop right near my house (in JC). When I met my than husband (divorced now), I got completely blind sided by our relationship, my parents moving suddenly and was thrusted into working in the county courthouse. Marriage, a child, no time, bills, seperation, ultimately whatever dreams I had started to build, were put aside.
What did you do for work before now? Well I created my own line of jewlery called, "Punk Creations," from age 11-14 that I sold in a local boutique up from my house. Than I worked doing window/floor displays at a local store in our Mall from age 14-18. From here I enrolled in some non credit classes/interned studying research, marketing development, communications (aiming at PBS), childhood development and began working at the county courthouse. As time progressed (as I shared), I got sidetracked, dropped out of school, took a course on Tax Preparation (which I did for a few years) til I moved down where I live now.
During this time, I dabbled in direct selling (DS) with Avon, Tupperware, Popular Club to name a few; cleaned houses and worked as a curatoral assistant at a national musuem. This led to some p/t work for the township and a more pivitol role in the functions of the museum, the corporation and the fundraising end as well. When all this fell thru, I than picked up the torch again and began to work as an international sales rep for a family owned freigh forwarding company with hopes that I would eventually become apart of the company itself. Sadly, though, my aunt suddenly died from cancer, the company was dissolved and wa la, here I am today!
So that is me in a small nutshell :) My goals from here on in is to: begin school again, but get a degree in Business (not sure what yet) since I have been approved by a school (working on some grants to cover tuition).... create a business name, logo, brand.... finish working on some of my projects (poetry book) and 1 blog (aimed at youth/teens) on awareness (alchohol, drugs, aids, abuse, etc) and hopefully, be able to sustain my life without having to rely on other's. Some high goals I have set, I am prepared, I am almost there, I just need the faith to continue on.
Well, I hope that those who have known me here will get a better understanding of who and where I came from (since I never share) and hope that it will open up a better sense of communications and networking to other's.
Enjoy your day, Patricia
Founder of T.E.A.M.Mom!
Leader of 1StopBizReSource
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