We were lucky to catch up with Jen Herrmann recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jen, appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Yes, I’ve successfully transitioned to earning a full-time living from creative work through three revenue streams and a well-planned approach. I prepared for 18 months by saving half of my corporate salary, which eased the initial transition. Initially, it was daunting, but I focused on immediate steps to combat overwhelm.
Crucially, I developed a financial forecast and revenue formula to track progress. Staying disciplined with my top three priorities helped me stay on track. In hindsight, the early stages demand grit and passion; there’s no shortcut to success in creative entrepreneurship. You can read more about my exact steps here (please link to below).
jennaye.com/blog/girl-meets-party-full-time
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
It all started when I realized my passion for propelling more women-owned businesses become a dream I couldn’t put on the back-burner anymore. I wanted to do that full time and decided to turn that passion into a thriving business.
I created my own instagram following, built a blog and started sharing my marketing consulting services with anyone looking for help. My goal was to work with really smart women that did not know the business side of things. What sets me apart is my unique approach. I’m passionate about building a lifestyle AND a business for people. I’m a firm believer that as an entrepreneur, your lifestyle must match your business ambitions to be successful. I’ve not only honed my skills and expertise in this field but have also experienced the challenges firsthand. I’ve walked the same path my clients are on, and that makes me relatable, pragmatic, and dedicated to helping them succeed.
One of the aspects I’m most proud of is becoming a ’40 under 40′ brand marketer. It’s a testament to the dedication and hard work that goes into my creative work.
What I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about me and my brand is that I’m here to make a difference. I’m not just about delivering products or services; I’m about empowering individuals to be the best version of themselves and create the most profitable, sustainable business possible.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission is simple: I want to see more women-owned businesses thrive in the world.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I’ve had to pivot many times throughout my career. I co-founded my marketing consulting business during “14 days to flatten the curve” aka the VERY beginning of the pandemic. At that time, people were fearful to make business investments, so I pivoted to smaller projects that were great beginning, foundational pieces of work. It allowed us to grow with clients who ultimately spent what we forecasted — we just did it in more steps to get there.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennaye.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen.naye
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-naye-herrmann/
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/lauren.michelle.photography/?hl=en