Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jessie Wilkie, Founder, and CEO of YOR Careers, located in Davie, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I believe there needs to be more HR Professionals dedicated to employee success. So, I use my HR experience to help professionals like land better jobs, salaries & promotions in half the time. My goal is to give my clients options. So that every time they submit an application and walk into an interview, they can walk in with confidence, walk out with the job they want, and walk away from the ones they don't.
I also believe in fast rapid career advancement, getting paid what you deserve — & not having to take years to achieve that. The days of "paying your dues" are over. It's not about how many years of experience you have. It's about how much value you can bring to the table.
It's not about who you know. It's about who knows you. And I have helped over 150 professionals learn how to sell their best selves & take ownership of their careers through Career Coaching, Resume Writing, and Strategic LinkedIn Profile Updates.
Tell us about yourself
I had just come out of the best professional year of my career. I had made all the right moves, I had built all the right connections, and I had won Leader of the Year in my first year at a new company. I was on top of the world, and BAM! Hello, 2020.
The pandemic hit, and overnight I was laid off with this sinking feeling that this was only just the beginning of a long and unprecedented road. My heart ached watching an industry that had given me so much crumble before my very eyes, and I was devastated for those treading the same waters as I was—wondering, WHAT NOW? And all I could think was: I have to do something. So I did what I do best. I wrote. I ran to my LinkedIn, shared my heart and tears with those struggling, and offered to write resumes.
And there was the birth of YOR Careers. In the first year, I wrote over 100 resumes and gave hope to those who had none. I helped 100 professionals regain their freedom in the Corporate USA by giving them OPTIONS! Options to seek new opportunities and sell their best selves so that they could continue their career growth in a time when most couldn't. And this is what continues to motivate me every day. To provide a way out of a career that no longer inspires them so that they no longer have to feel trapped by the day-to-day monotony.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is every single text message I get saying, "Oh my gosh! I got the job!" I call myself a Success Enthusiast. I love to see people and businesses succeed, and if I can be a small part of that, I am grateful.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Scheduling time to log off. Most people think owning a business is the easy way out until they realize you never stop thinking about your business, worrying about your clients, or strategizing how to continue scaling it. So, one of the most challenging things for me has been to learn how to have work-life balance and set boundaries, or as some would call it: office hours. (As I write this at 10:15 pm, LOL)
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just Start! - I know that sounds cheesy but true. Entrepreneurship is fucking up every day and learning how to fix your mistakes FAST. You will never have it figured out, but doing it helps you learn what works best, and the faster you learn, set processes in place, and get a groove, the faster success will come.
- Overnight Success is NEVER Overnight Success - Remember, most people only show you the sexy parts of the journey. It isn't until they have a "platform" that they become transparent about the tough times. So, don't compare your level of success to someone else's--or as one of my favorite sayings goes: Don't compare your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 20.
- Understand your Audience and that it WILL Evolve - You can't sell to everyone just like you can't make everyone happy! You have to narrow in on figuring out who it is you want to help and be specific. It wasn't until I narrowed into the fact that I wanted to help people who were in my shoes 2-3 years ago that I truly became able to narrow in on what I was going to offer to help them. AND! Don't be afraid if that audience changes over time--because guess what? So do you! And as you evolve, so will your business, and so will your audience.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
My favorite quote is, "Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by the ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." – Albert Einstein.
Also, a few fun facts about me are:
I have my aPHR Certification and am also Certified in Wine Management because you can't have a successful career without a good happy hour! Am I right?
I've had three promotions (& salary increases) in the last three years. Some of my favorite things are: old word wine, a good charcuterie board, traveling to new places, laughing until it hurts, being outside, and watching other people succeed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.yorcareers.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yorcareers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yorcareers/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yorcareers/
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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