 Start, Grow, Reinvent: Tips and Tools for Building Your Business or New Career Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

How did I get here… Parents met across a jewelry counter Making since 5 years old Opened business BFA in Jewelry & Metals with a minor in Marketing from Kent State University Exhibitions & Publications

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2009 “My Country Song Year”

Now what?  Almost quit  Re-evaluated resources  Greatest wealth is in relationships  The current path was no longer acceptable  Nothing to lose by trying new things

Getting started on a new path  Reached out to my network  Introduced to professors at Baldwin-Wallace College  Utilized every available existing and new resource  Network, network, network….

Tips & Tools  Get Clear  Seek Feedback  Be Curious  Get Out of the Office  Practice Gratitude  Ask  Plan

Get Clear: Mindset & Values  Do, Have, Be vs. Be, Do, Have  Values: the non-negotiables  How do you live out your values both professionally and personally?  Lesson learned:  Create opportunities in alignment with my values

Seek Feedback: Blind spots  What are you doing well?  Where are you shooting yourself in the foot?  What are your opportunities for personal and professional growth?  Lessons learned:  Taken certain skills for granted  The best of intentions can get lost in translation  Better collaboration

Be Curious: Assumptions  What are your assumptions/excuses about what you’re capable of accomplishing, experiencing, etc?  What are your assumptions about your field?  Where did these assumptions come from?  Lessons learned:  Holding onto ideas and excuses that weren’t serving me  Get out of my own way

Get Out of the Office: Voice of the Customer  Purpose is to learn about them, their day, and pain points  Not selling anything  Meet with top customers, former customers, and others you want to learn more about  Identify opportunities for new business  Improve an existing business or new business idea  Lesson learned:  Paid attention to the common “complaints” and identified opportunities for applying my talents in new ways to add significant value to my field

eMERGE: A Business Blog for Creative People

Practice Gratitude: Send Fan Mail  Recognize what you want to see repeated  Build network and new opportunities  There’s always more to the story  Lesson learned:  A well written note can have a great impact

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Ask for what you need  “It” can’t happen if you don’t ask  Build connections with retailers  Build connections with performers, fashion media and stylists  Venues for speaking engagements and teaching workshops  Arts based economic development organizations

Plan  Business Plan: You’re not too small  Why your business is needed  Your resources and goals  Strategic Plan: Commitment to pursue a particular set of actions to grow your business/career  Where are you now?  Where do you want to be and when?  How are you going to get there?  How do you know you’re getting there?

Final thought “ You come from a long line of tough broads who have all lived to be about 100 years old and don’t know the meaning of the word can’t. Don’t EVER let anyone tell you, you can’t do something.”

Contact info: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds eMERGE: A Business Blog for Creative People