gaiavisiondesign

Self-employment journey

The vision for a cooperative, sustainable future must be held despite what is happening around us. I am able to hold onto that through art, design, community events, and connections with like-minded people, who become friends.

GaiaVision Design is my first real business venture, and I am excited to be self-employed. I considered doing so a few years ago, but got no farther than the initial idea. Then, in 2011, I was fortunate to stumble upon Business Works SE program. I qualified b/c of Mat leave in 2010. Here was the opportunity I needed to learn how to run a successful home-based business, while receiving coaching and financial support in the first year. I knew how to do what I was offering (art and design, marketing, publicity), yet was missing the financial knowledge. After an intense 10-day Business Plan Boot Camp Dec. 5-16, 2011, I entered Phase 1 of the program, did more research, was “adjudicated” and approved by a committee, and accepted into Phase 2 – “in business.”

The program is actually ending on March 31, as the contract is renewed, and a new employment company takes over. Unfortunately, there will no longer be a self-employment “program” such as Business Works offers; there will simply be self-employment services. So, I feel very lucky to have been in that last group of participants!