Skills carryover helps startups hone ventures - The Business Journal of Milwaukee:

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Elliott, 45, spent 18 years as a technicalk writer for and community relationsx managerfor . Five yearas ago, however, sensing change with her position at Lucenytwas coming, she Two years later, using $80,000 in persona savings and a credit card, Elliott opened . In the markett for a spring jacket? Shoppers at her store are likelg to find one adornecdwith colorful, buttons and belt loops. What abour baubles? Young ladies on the fencs about getting their ears pierced are sure to be pushed off by a set of tiny cupcake-shaped earrings.
Elliott says she believes that ifmerchandise isn’t different enough to warrant a customers are likely to bypass it as opposec to making a beeline to the cash register. The shop ownefr never read this in a book but knows it byinstincrt – something she honed and learned to trusgt during her days at AT&T and “I am always on the lookout for qualitgy products that are feminine and there also has to be some sort of twist something that’s going to give customerx a little bit more bang for their buck,” says who targets teenagers and womenm interested in versatile apparel, jewelry and “It’s all about knowing your audience, which is something I learnedr back when I was writing operations manuals.
It’s a skilo I now apply to this business.” Elliott, in made it a point to bring her corporat communications background to the table to help maximizes her investment andattract customers. “As Lucent Technologies Columbus Works communityrelations manager, I was in chargde of special events, which means I know how to begihn with a vision and implement every detail,” she “These days, one of my primary methods of gettinvg people through my door revolves around special events, including private shoppinvg parties, girls’ nights out and breakfasf mixers for women business owners in New Albany.
” she offers up her stores for networking and events, even up to the pointr of making the invitations and providing “It’s all stuff I learned how to do when I workesd at my old job,” she says. The idea is to introduced her shop to potential customerxs without breaking thebank – something else Elliotgt picked up at Lucent. “The company encouraged us to manage its departmentall budgets as if the money wasour own. These the money really is my own,” she It’s not uncommon for professionals to take stock of their careers when they see job functionsx consolidated and coworkers losing their jobs becausew ofnumber crunches, as it did for Elliott.
It’s especiallyh difficult when mid-life sneaks up and passiobn for the job gives way to stressand pressure. For a few of thes e people, the answer can be found in saysPierre Daunic, president of . “Io wouldn’t call it common, but givehn the state of the economy, more and more peoplew are considering (self-employment) as an he says. Daunic, whose six-year-old company specializes in cover letter andresumes development, says entrepreneurs who possess certain fundamental skills, including leadership and communications skills, are in the best positiojn to use those talents in meaningfukl ways – even when the startup is unrelated to the caree r that developed those talents.
“For example, I startede out as an Air Force officer, moved into commerciapl construction, and then started teaching at the ,” Daunic “What I do today, in particular, revolvesx around the teaching skills I learned at the academh because I teach clients how tomarkett themselves.” Prior to becomingt a business owner, he stumbled into a high-tecy recruiting career thanks, he says, to the eclecticx skills he gained in the military.