so it's official
posted 2004.04.27
After 14 years of working a steady job...
After 6 years of being an office worker...
After years of dreaming of owning my own business...
It's official.
Friday is my last day of working for someone else, and then I am officially a self-employed small business owner. After all these years of regular paycheques and a job to go to every day, I will be out there, on my own, without a net.
The small business, of course, is Pampered Puppy. If you haven't visited before, I'll warn you that it bears little resemblance to my geek side. It's an online magazine and shopping portal for dog lovers; specifically, it's for luxury lifestyles for dogs.
Some of you may be saying to yourselves: luxury lifestyles? For dogs?
You bet. I know it may sound odd.
Strategy Magazine ran a great article last year on the topic, and one of their sources was quoted as saying that it's the fastest growing niche market. You'd better believe it. I've been involved in the business for two years now and the growth has been exponential. People just love to spoil Fifi or Fido. My puglet, of course, is the most spoiled of the bunch.
For now, the company's revenues are mainly advertising and commissioned sales. But that's going to change as I finally get 8 full hours every day to work on the thing, and begin rolling out the ideas that have littered my notebook for the better part of a year.
Is it wrong to have plans of Pampered Puppy Omnimedia running through my head? ;-)
The thing I'm looking forward to most is standing on my own. Win, lose, or draw, this will be a chance for me to spread my wings and really make the kind of impact on a company I've been dreaming about. My ideas on marketing, product development, editorial, company relationships, business plans, and of course user experience will get to come out and play. I have no doubt I'll make some mistakes. But they'll be mine, and I'll get to learn from them, and build an even stronger company from it. I hope.
Wish me luck! And please, think of me when you're planning a purchase for your pooch. My puppy will thank you. As will my landlord.
There are 13 comment(s) so far for this entry.
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Best wishes for much success. I've been on my own for almost a year and love every minute!
Excellent. Good luck with your business especially now that you can devote a "full-time" amount of time to it.
Way to take the big leap! We all think about doing it, but only a few actually do it. Best of luck. I'm sure you will do well.
Congratulations and best of luck to you! I took the plunge myself in January of last year, and there's no way that I am going back.
that's the spirit. in my 3rd year now, and i cannot go back.
and yes, working with puppies makes it that much better
Awesome!... all the best!
Another one joins the ride. Took the step a couple weeks ago.
Without the puppy though.
Good luck.
Congratulations Angie!
As someone who has worked with you in the past, I can attest to the fact that your site is great. I am sure you will do fantastic. Best of luck going forward.
We will be contacting you soon about buying some ads!
All the best
Eric from Pup Life
Thank you to everyone who's shared best wishes so far. I had no idea I was in such great company, or that so many of my readers were out there on their own as well!
I'm very excited, although there are a few butterflies as well. More to do with conditioning than anything, really - my brain is not quite used to the idea that after Friday, I won't be getting up and going out to a 9 to 5 job any more. "What do you mean I just get to go to my second bedroom and work in my p.j.'s if I feel like it?"
I have a feeling, though, it won't take me long to adapt...
you'll love it angie, pj's and company of pets is the best office environment around... congrats and have fun!
Wow, really nice site. You don't mind if I keep you in mind if I ever need a site designer?
And good luck to you...welcome to the 'team' (of self-employed that is.) :-)
Good luck, Angie!
Great work throughout your site(s) - especially enjoyed the Santablog, along with your obvious Santa'fettish'! We'll be linking to your Santablog.
(Self-employment isn't so bad!)
Thank you for the kind words/plug - I haven't heard from you in a while....(years?)
pleased to see you are doing well.
Heaps of luck to you, Angie. For the last few weeks I've been spending my study time for university daydreaming about running my own small business website. Nice to see someone dreaming out loud. :)