Enterprising Women Fall 2021 Edition

We were alerted by Personalized Payroll regarding a phishing attempt... the team at Personalized Payroll have your back and are there to help whether your problem is big or small. Biddie Webb Partner, LIMB Kathleen has done a fantastic job, and her customer service is excellent. She’s on top of the industry and disseminates proper information to her customers as we wade through the challenges of today’s working environment. Sharon W. Reynolds, President/CEO, DevMar Products, LLC We’ve been working together for a year and I can’t tell you how easy it’s been. The set-up, paperwork and processing—all of the admin work I do on a weekly basis—this is the easiest. Kristen Preau, "Jambalaya Girl" C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 2021-small.pdf 1 8/31/2021 2:47:02 PM realize “oh wow, you trust me with your business.” That’s both scary and awesome and as my list of happy clients grew, it removed any whiff of impostor syndrome – I realized that this is my business and I’m enough. It’s unbelievably rewarding when people buy into your vision and they really love the work. That’s the other best part: your clients form a fan club and as that word of mouth grows, the business grows with it. You might not have the same brand equity or recognition as bigger brands but through the quality of your work, the clients you work with will champion you in ways that more than make up for it. How have things changed for Women-Owned businesses in the last five years? There has definitely been a shift since I started J&L in how diversity is viewed and prioritized. Right across the business landscape, companies are being more vocal and more transparent. When I was pregnant, I didn’t want people to know. We say it’s okay to take maternity leave but there was still that sense of “if she comes back at all will she still perform at the same level?” I actually think that remote work during Covid has radically changed the ways that we view work, home and caretaking. It’s okay that the dog barks, the child cries and the spouse walks by. We’ve seen the human side of co-workers and I think that will make it easier for all of us to bring our whole selves to our working lives going forward. There has also been a slow march in the last five years from people reaching out to us as a Woman-Owned Business simply because they need to “check the box” to companies truly looking for diversity of talent in their supplier pool. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting their own business? If you don’t do it, you’ll never know. That sounds flippant but if you have any feeling that this might be for you and you’ve done the work to make a solid plan, then know that the corporate world will always be there for you. If I hadn’t taken the leap, I would have missed out on one of the most profoundly rewarding experiences. Building this business has given me a better understanding of the importance of how each of us moves through life. When you start your own business, the beautiful quilt th t you’ve made over time, both professionally and personally, really comes to life. People will support you and believe in you because they know you and what you’re capable of and that’s both incredibly moving and really empowering. JENNIFER COMPTON is the founder of J&L Communications and a member of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board. enterprising Women 85