About the Editor
How I Got Here…
My professional history is a prime example of what it looks like to make over a career. My resume includes titles like classroom teacher, administrative assistant, employment coordinator, and principal e-learning designer over a 20-year span. I’ve worked in New York’s financial district, and for two Fortune 500 companies including a global software development company. During the last four years of my corporate life I more than doubled my starting salary by reinventing myself to get into the industry and job that I knew would be a great fit for my skills and interest. I also made sure that I chose companies and bosses that would allow me to advance.
As I look back over my career it has been an amazing ride – especially as a single working mother. One of my first major career goals was to climb the corporate ladder and earn a six-figure income. As I’ve watched my daughter grow over the years, she’s inspired me to pursue different goals: work that allows me to love what I do, get paid to do it, and spend more time enjoying my daughter and life outside of work. The bottom line – more control over my lifestyle. This was the tipping point for me choosing to step into the world of entrepreneurship.
From 9-5 to Side Hustle
The success I experienced with my own career coach, inspired me to launch my own coaching practice. I started out coaching other professionals through career transitions. However, I quickly attracted a following of ambitious and talented individuals who wanted more control over their lifestyle by becoming their own boss in a field based on their passion and purpose. These were my kind of people. I followed my clients and began to help them use technology and social media to build an online presence for their side business. And so www.taigoodwin.com was born and I began to work with clients helping them create practical and profitable social media marketing plans.
From Employee to Employedpreneur
In building a profitable side business as a social media coach and consultant, I began to look for resources and networking opportunities that fit my needs. I was frustrated with the available resources that failed to address the dual roles that most people take on when they first start a business. According to them, if I didn’t have 6 -12 months of savings in the bank, I couldn’t launch my business. While being able to move from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur in one leap seems ideal, that is not how it has to be. In fact, the more research I did, that is not how it was for many who are now thriving entrepreneurs – Daymond John of FUBU, Sarah Blakely of Spanx, and Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter to name a few of my favorite former Employedpreneurs. They weren’t CEO’s who decided to start a consulting business. They were everyday ambitious individuals courageous enough to pursue their business ideas. Just like you and me.
So what’s an entrepreneurial minded multipassionate girl to do when she can’t find what she wants? She creates it. I decided to solve the problem myself by creating the first official online resource for EmployedPreneurs. And that’s how Launch While Working was born.
So not only am I an employedpreneur – I guess you can call me a serial employedpreneur. In addition to helping clients with social media marketing, I edit this blog and write most of the content. I created the 12- step Launch Pad course and am currently working on “Employedpreneur” – the book.
Other places you can find me online:
- #SmallBizChat – co host with Melinda Emerson (@SmallBizLady)
- Tai Talks on BlogTalk Radio
- Other Websites: The Career Makeover Coach and TaiGoodwin.com
- Featured Articles: ForbesWoman.com, The Success Center, CAREER Magazine,EmpowerMe!, The Sales Divas
My plate is full and my cup runneth over – I love what I do and hope I get to help others have the same experience.
Until next time…Stay Brilliant!
Tai
