Level Up Your Trademark Practice!

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stacey Kalamaras, Founder of Trademarkabilities, located in Chicago, IL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is Trademarkabilities, a training academy for lawyers. At Trademarkabilities, we focus on developing practical training for U.S. lawyers and paralegals interested in learning how to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Unlike the medical profession, the legal profession (and trademark attorneys specifically) don't have a residency or apprenticeship program where they can learn the practical aspects of their craft, so we have set out to change that. Lawyers need the expertise of senior lawyers to train them to become successful practitioners. Mentors serve a different role. While many attorneys seek mentors to show them the ropes, the fact is that the role of a mentor is to serve as a guide or sounding board and not to show you the ins and outs of day-to-day practice. For solo and small firm attorneys, finding the appropriate training to elevate their practical skills can be challenging – where do they find it? Trademarkabilities fill this gap in a particular area of law that is of increasing importance to clients of all sizes. Trademarkabilities also offers group mentoring to the attorneys in our program so they can get much-needed guidance and support to grow their trademark law firms. It's a win-win situation, providing what nearly every attorney seeks – training and mentoring.

Tell us about yourself

I am a seasoned trademark attorney. I've been practicing law since 2005, but what's different about my background is that I'm a second-career attorney, having spent the first part of my career in marketing and advertising, focused on building multi-national brands. After 12 years of doing that and working with trademark and brand protection attorneys, I decided to pivot and attend law school full-time to learn how to become one of them. A new career was born! Once I became an attorney, I spent most of my legal career protecting global household brands. I was lucky enough to receive tremendous training and mentoring. However, when the economy shifted in 2009 and I was laid off, I started my firm. I realized that solo practitioners were struggling and didn't have the same resources I had in my large, global law firm. Today, many lawyers choose solo and small firm practice because of their entrepreneurial drive, and yet, they still lack the substantive and training resources that larger firms offer. In January 2020, I launched Trademarkabilities to leverage my 30+ years of business and legal experience to help aspiring trademark attorneys understand the Trademark Rules of Practice and the practical tips and strategies that go along with practicing before the USPTO.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I've owned a handful of businesses throughout my life, but this is by far the most rewarding business because of the impact I have on my clients and their clients. Through running Trademarkabilities and teaching the courses we offer, I'm having a direct and significant impact on attorneys looking to specialize in trademark law and, in turn, helping them represent their clients before the USPTO efficiently and confidently. Our training program has a ripple effect on these attorneys and their client's businesses. For me, it was important to develop this business to give back to the next generation of trademark attorneys and to ensure the survival of our profession – a profession that I love and that has given me so much. Additionally, Trademarkabilities allows me to combine my three loves – trademark law, teaching, and mentoring. I've had a front-row seat watching others succeed in their legal practice and knowing I've played a small role in that success. It's tremendously satisfying.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Being a business owner can be very isolating. Make sure you surround yourself with other business owners who are walking your same path, whether it's in the form of networking groups, small business owner masterminds, or community groups. You need a support network of similarly situated business owners to celebrate your wins and help motivate you when you want to give up or have a hurdle to overcome. For me, I've been blessed with terrific mentors and colleagues who have been my biggest cheerleaders and supported me throughout my entrepreneurial journey.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

There is no such thing as an overnight success. It takes time and a lot of hard work to grow a successful business, but the good news is that if you have a great plan, the hard work will be well worth it. So many entrepreneurs are looking for a plan to get rich quickly, but the truth is that it doesn't lead to lasting results.
Pick a subject matter you are passionate about. They say when you are doing something you love and have a passion for, it doesn't feel like work. For me, that's been true. Your clients will be drawn to that passion. In a world where it seems like customer service is a dying art form when you have passion, your customers will feel it.
Just get started. So many people have a business idea but never get started. The most important thing you can do is begin. As the writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe, said," whatever you dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." Don't wait to start until you can be perfect. The philosopher Voltaire knew that perfection was the enemy of the good. You can refine your idea as you go along. Make sure as you develop your plan, you talk to your target market to make sure your idea has legs. If it does, just go for it. Owning a business is not for the faint at heart, but I promise, the rewards are well worth the risk.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://trademarkabilities.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trademarkabilities/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trademarkabilities/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkabilities/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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