Everyone Entrepreneur has a story. This is mine.

A short narrative by H. Dean Hua

Upon graduating from college with a degree in business marketing, I entered the financial services industry. I worked in financial sales helping small business owners plan for their retirement. I enjoyed the profession as it was very rewarding. But I eventually wanted to move on and try something new. That was when I decided to launch Sachi Studio-- a web design and blogging consultancy boutique.


Instead of helping small businesses with their retirement planning, I now spend my days helping small to medium sized businesses tell their story. Yes, you heard correctly- tell a story. Not just design a website nor install a blog. As Principal and Chief Web Evangelist, I`m responsible for helping to develop and evangelize the stories of my clients and their businesses. I believe every entrepreneur has a story. It`s my job to help shape and mold the stories of my clients into the medium of the web.


In his book, "All Marketers Are Liars," Marketing Guru, Seth Godin shared with us that some of the best ways to attract new customers is to find out what our story is and tell it to the world. Godin preaches that we should be genuine, be authentic, but most importantly, be ourselves. Because at the end of the day, that is what everyone buys- the self. And that is a philosophy I often try to adhere to in my business services.

I believe the web that we know of today offers more opportunities to help tell our stories to the world than at any time in the past. With blogs, search engine marketing, website design, online marketing, more and more entrepreneurs are able to take advantage of these tools as viable resources to help them market their business. As someone who understands a few of these mediums, I am able to educate my clientele on how to best keep telling their stories and increase their bottom line. There is nothing more personal that touches the soul of a human being than to learn the story of another. It`s what connects us and validates our humanity. That`s why I do what I do.

So this is what I do on a daily basis- help tell a story for another entrepreneur.

So why do I need a vacation? Quite simple really.

The 3 more obvious reasons are;

1. A need to get away from it all, if even for a few days.
2. Needing a few days respite from the organized chaos that I face [especially here in the Washington DC area]
3. Take a few pics with Mickey Mouse of course. But don`t we all?
   

But there are 2 more reasons which may not be as obvious;

1. Being picked winner means validation. If you pick me and my story then you validated what I`ve always believed in; that stories are what sell. Stories are what helped make this country as a great place to live in. Picking me means that you believe what I believe-- that story tellers are very much in demand and we provide value to the world. That we realize a story can touch another person`s life.
   
2. Being picked allows for time and reflection on my personal journey so far. It allows me to ask myself, "How far have I come so far with my own entrepreneurial story? How do begin chapter 2 of this story? How do I envision the rest of my journey playing out?"

Every single day, there are thousands of busineses being launched. Many have hopes of striking it rich. Many hope to break free from the tyranny of a job. Others hope to deliver to market a product or service they believe can impact society. Irregardless of what differentiates us, there is one element that unites all entrepreneurs-- we all have a story to tell. What`s yours?

Sinerely,
Dean | Chief Web Evangelist & Story Teller

Hello Startup Nation,
After reading everyone’s examples and reasons, I have determined my life isn’t so bad. Therefore, it’s difficult to ask for a vacation for myself. So I would like to write this on behalf of my wife.

I’ll keep it short and to the point. My life is great because I quite my “day job” and started my online business with my wife’s consent. The business world was much more difficult than I had anticipated, and our bank account has went from plenty (first time in my life I have had plenty) to struggling.

My wife’s birthday and our anniversary are within days of each other (Anniversary is the 21st of July) and I have nothing to give. Our business is slowly moving forward, but does not keep pace with the job I once had. My wife, Mai (pronounced My), is always encouraging and tells me how well I am doing. But with dwindling funds it may become my part-time job. Maybe I will be finding a part-time or freelance position as I continue to build the business.

I am asking for everyone to vote for me… or should I say, my wife. I am the person working very hard on the business, but she seems to get the short end of the stick. She works very hard, and even financially supports areas of our business from time to time. She works her “day job” them comes home to help me with tradeshows, inventory, shipping, and even mundane tasks like cleaning the small warehouse.

Of course we are in this together, but it would be so wonderful to give her a gift on behalf of the Startup Nation. I am not one to layout a bunch of “whoa is me,” events or situations. But I would really love to surprise her with a trip to some place other than her office and our home business office.

Vote for my wife Mai. She would like to see someplace other than her cubical.

(chanting)
My my, vote Mai
My my, vote Mai
My my, vote Mai



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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Independence to me is freedom.  Freedom to express myself through my photography both commercially and artistically.  Freedom to meet my husband for lunch during my day at any time that I want.  Freedom to go to my daughters school functions without any boss standing over me telling me `your job comes first, no you can`t go`.   Freedom to be with my family whenever necessary or whenever I want to.

The past 4 years have been such a struggle for my family and I.  I am married and we have an 11 year old daughter.  Four years ago, I finially had the emotional support of my husband for me to go back to school to earn my degree in commercial photography.    Before then my animosity towards my husband and his cruel remarks about me wanting to become a photographer were so bad that I had moved out for a month and we nearly divorced.

Becoming a professional photographer has been my dream since I was 13 years old.  I`ve never thought of doing it any other way than to have my own business.  It is true that you don`t need a degree from a college to do anything in life.  There are many talented and successful people who own their own businesses who never went to college.  But for me, this is something that I`ve always wanted.  I will be graduating this December with my associates of applied science in commercial photography.  I have sacraficed so much to get to this point and I know it`s just the beginning.  More importantly, my family has sacrificed right along side of me.

I told my husband after December that I was done with school and that I would be concentrating on my business so that I could quit my other day job.  I have had my business, Joy of Photography,  officially for one year now and it`s been very slow going - mostly because I simply don`t have the time between my full time day job and school.  I am still struggling with the actual guts of "running" a business.  God may have blessed me with an eye to take amazing photos but He certainly didn`t bless me with good business sense.

I recognize my weakness when it comes to running my business.  Recently an opportunity has opened up for me to start an internship with a local successful photographer and business owner.  It would be a great opportunity.  He has told me basically that he would be willing to take me under his wing and help me navigate the business world of photography.  I haven`t decided yet what I`m going to do but if I decide to do this it will just crush my husband.  Yet again, something else to take more time away from him and my daughter.  I, myself, feel like I am hanging on by threads.

All three of us need the break from my crazy schedule.  I have missed out on my daughters school plays, recitals and volleyball games - moments that are forever gone.  My husband and I haven`t had a date since I can`t remember when.  Family vacations are something we read about in books or see in movies or hear about from other families who are able to take them. 

About three years ago I started stashing away money so that when I graduate I could give my family a vacation not only so that we could have a break, but also to show them recognition that they both played a major role in me getting my diploma.  Trying to secretly save the money up has not worked out.  There`s always something that we`ve needed the money for, the car breaking down, the pool pump broke, the dog got sick, the cat got sick, the other dog needed to be put to sleep, computer equipment, lighting equipment, printers, software, the list goes on and on. 

I can`t say much more to convince you that we need this vacation.  I`ve always wanted to take my daughter to Disney World and always thought I would.  She`s 11 years old now and has never been there.  I was at Disney World as a child and 11 years old is getting up there for the magic of Disney World.  Before too long my daughter is going to be too busy with friends and all her activities at school that hanging out with mom and dad would be, as my daughter puts it "L7" (make and "L" with your left hand and a "7" with your right hand put them together and it makes a square).  My husband and I crawled our way out of hell through marriage counseling once a week for a year to get to get to where we are in our relationship.  We have a better marriage than what we could have ever dreamed of having.  Surprisingly, he`s done a complete 180.  He`s become the wind in my sails when it comes to my business. 

I would love to win this vacation not only so that the three of us could have a long deserved break, but so that I could give this to my husband and daughter to show my appreciation in all that they have done to help me get to where I`m at. 

Thank you.

Joy Wolfenbarger


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JM