Celebrating Women's Entrepreneurship Day: My Journey in Business
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Chapter 1: A New Beginning
On May 17, 2023, I officially launched my online education business, a date that resonated with my annual horoscope. With National Women's Entrepreneurship Day approaching, I felt compelled to share my reflections on the past six months.
Background Overview
With over 12 years of experience in the higher education sector and advanced degrees in higher education and student affairs, I have a deep understanding of university operations and student development psychology. In 2022, I made the tough decision to leave my job due to a series of significant health issues within my family. This challenging period prompted me to reassess my priorities in life.
Ultimately, I chose to pursue my passion for helping individuals access higher education on my own terms, leading to the creation of my new business. Today, I assist working professionals in applying for graduate school. My mission is to simplify the application process, guiding clients through their journey and helping them create standout applications that catch reviewers' attention.
Section 1.1: Six Months of Entrepreneurship
Transitioning from educator to entrepreneur has been a whirlwind experience. I’ve navigated the process of defining my niche, determining my approach (whether to offer one-on-one services, digital resources, or speaking engagements), and embracing the reality of frequent setbacks.
Learning new technologies while trying to avoid distractions has been both refreshing and challenging. To commemorate this six-month milestone, I've identified three common pieces of advice that I have put into practice as an emerging entrepreneur:
- Done is better than perfect
- Action Taken: I launched The Graduate School Application Bootcamp even before I felt fully prepared.
- Outcome: Ten professionals are now confidently ready to submit their applications. I've gained valuable insights into applicant needs and learned to use a fantastic new email platform, ConvertKit, in less than a day.
- Lesson Learned: By taking action on something that had been on my "to-do" list, I was able to assist those in need while learning from my mistakes in a low-pressure setting. The content I developed and the feedback received will streamline future iterations, and I’ll be more adept with technology next time.
- You miss 100% of the shots you don't take
- Action Taken: I offered personal statement review services to a client who discovered my articles on Medium and reached out for assistance.
- Outcome: The results surpassed both my and the client's expectations, and I established a process for future offerings.
- Lesson Learned: It's important to embrace learning throughout the journey and maintain clear communication with everyone involved. Instead of spending months perfecting a step-by-step process, I acted on my years of professional experience, which allowed me to refine my approach in real-time.
- Do one thing every day that moves the needle
- Action Taken: On a whim, I shared my new business on the AmeriCorps Alumni LinkedIn group, where I connected with others after completing two years of national service.
- Outcome: This led to a podcast interview, multiple speaking engagements, and a webinar series. Most importantly, I forged incredible connections with people whose work I respect and who are supportive of my endeavors.
- Lesson Learned: A simple social media post can open unexpected doors. I’m beginning to see how momentum can build in business; sometimes, one opportunity is all it takes to spark progress.
Stay tuned for what lies ahead in 2024!
Interested in learning more about my journey?
Dr. Jena Pugh has spent over a decade at a Big 10 university, evaluating thousands of applications (which is less glamorous than it may sound). Now, she equips working professionals with the tools needed to successfully apply for graduate school and achieve their career aspirations.
➡ Follow Dr. Jena on LinkedIn and join The Education Mindset newsletter community to discover when to apply to graduate school and learn how to craft an application that stands out to seasoned reviewers.