physics springboard: from ba to entrepreneur
DESCRIPTION
Talk given at Sonoma State University's What Physicists Do program on March 10, 2014.TRANSCRIPT
Melissa GeissingerBA in Physics Sonoma State University, Spring 2007
Owner: New Skin MediaCo-founder: WIMP (Web & Interactive Media Professionals)
Lead Designer: Wine & the Web Author: 1 Day Web Designer
Program Director: Dreamer Connect
www.newskinmedia.comwww.beawimp.orgwww.wineandtheweb.comwww.1daywebdesigner.comwww.dreamerconnect.com
Owner: New Skin MediaCo-founder: WIMP (Web & Interactive Media Professionals)
Lead Designer: Wine & the Web Author: 1 Day Web Designer
Program Director: Dreamer Connect
www.newskinmedia.comwww.beawimp.orgwww.wineandtheweb.comwww.1daywebdesigner.comwww.dreamerconnect.com
Serial Entrepreneur:Business person that successfully starts (does not kill) a number of different businesses.
• About me & why I’m awesome • About my education and experience• My companies, communities and
projects• Top 12 reasons why you should work for
yourself• 10 lessons in being successful working
for yourself
2007
Arches In the Round2nd Place Illustrative 2013
Vintage Puppy3rd Place Portrait 2011
Old Time Love1st Place Wedding 2012
B- C D
• First Job ever• Self-discipline• Working on a team.• Skills I use every day.• Importance of educating young
people and getting them excited about learning
• Physics is hard.• NASA should never trust me to do calculations• I love optics!• Start to photography passion• Never ever give up
• Worked part-time as a web design engineer for WebPex.com, Inc. • 5 years• Small team = more exposure to inner workings
of company• Boss supported starting my own business.
• Started in 2006 (6 months before graduation)• Started out general, almost failed.• Learned the beauty of specialization.• Specialize in designing & building websites and
brands for professional photographers. • SmugMug, WordPress• 1 Day Build Sessions• 80% income
• Advertise/partner/SEO to bring in inquiries• Engage, educate and make sale• Inform and set expectations• Do awesome work, wow client• Don’t forget to follow up to propel business
forward
• Lead Designer/Front End Developer• Websites for small wineries• Build on WordPress and Vin65• Hand in Business development but not project
management• 20% income
• Founded in April 2011• Today have almost 500 members• Meetups 2x month• Strong network of industry professionals• Educate, inspire, refer and raise standards of local
industry• Raise awareness of local talent pool (Partnered with
SRJC)• WIMPgives, WIMPcamp, North Bay Web Conference
• Plans to expand geographically• Corporate sponsorship• Membership Services & Incentives
• March 5, 2014 Self-published eBook on Amazon.com• Teaches web designers how
to be more productive and work smarter.• Referral network =
Commission• http://bitly.com/PhbRZI
• Mission Statement: Dreamer Connect is a career exploration program that pairs students across the nation with mentors employed in their dream field in order to inspire and motivate them to work hard and accomplish their goals. • Launch pilot program Fall 2014• Path to nonprofit, Crowdfunding campaign
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
1. Work from anywhere
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
2. Do work you enjoyTop 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
3. Opportunity to create jobs
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
4. No limit to how much money you can make
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
5. No Boss.
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
6. Work as much or as little as you want
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
7. You will become more mature and self-disciplined
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
8. Your skills will grow at an astonishing rate
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
9. Every day is full of infinite possibilities
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
10. No Pants.
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
11. Taking risks can pay off big
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
12. It can give people a reason to remember you
Top 12 Reasons Why You Should Work For Yourself
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
1. Dream Big
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
2. Set goals and work hard to get there
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
3. Don’t sit on it. Take action now.
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
4. Don’t be thrown off by failure.10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
5. Charge what you’re worth10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
6. Don’t nickel and dime people.
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
7. Be transparent.
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
8. Be flexible, but organized.10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
9. Don’t ever stop learning.
10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
10. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.10 Lessons in Being Successful Working For Yourself
Surround yourself with people who inspire you.Family, friends, mentors, anyone who pushes you to work
harder, achieve more and aspire to be better tomorrow than you are today.
Melissa GeissingerBA in Physics Sonoma State University, Spring 2007
Owner: New Skin MediaCo-founder: WIMP (Web & Interactive Media Professionals)
Lead Designer: Wine & the Web Author: 1 Day Web Designer
Program Director: Dreamer Connect
www.newskinmedia.comwww.beawimp.orgwww.wineandtheweb.comwww.1daywebdesigner.comwww.dreamerconnect.com