As a vivacious and dynamic corporate employee for a number of years, I found myself and my colleagues downsized and outsourced out of positions which prior to the proliferation of the internet, were fairly secure and stable. We were all acutely aware that manufacturing jobs were being outsourced to other countries, but never considered that our own positions were also ripe for the same outcome. After all we had direct, personal contact with all of our customers and worked for a company whose relationship with clients was labeled "fanatical", where the number one product was continually re-enforced to be that of customer service! This fanatical service we were so proud to adhere to actually granted me a coveted customer service award. Today, I look back to the experience of having been employed by a company who places the customer at the top of the organizational chart with a ton of gratitude. The philosophy of arming employees with the self-empowerment to do whatever it takes to create customer satisfaction has stayed and followed me into my current professional endeavors. It has also drawn my attention to the many companies who really do not adhere to this philosophy, whether I'm at the grocery store or on the phone with a customer service representative, I am always highly appreciative when I encounter one who understands the core principles of this concept.
Living in an area where unemployment rates are one of the highest in the country and potential employment bleaker than ever, I decided that I needed to do some deep soul-searching and make decisions about a next step. After re-assessing my core values and with the encouragement of some great career coaching, I decided to follow my intuitive voice and give birth to "Jitterbug Creations", an umbrella company where the projects I am passionate about meet sustainable living and socially responsible values I most care about. These include values of creating peace with non-violent communication, respect for diversity, ecological wisdom, supporting local community economic justice, gender equality and a focus on personal responsibility. I can unequivocally state that this decision has not only been the most risk I've ever exposed myself to but also one of the scariest. It is a journey outside my normal day to day comfort zone and seen by some who know me as courageous and by others, the most insane thing I have ever done is to embark on the journey of an entrepreneur!
Jitterbug Creations has given birth to and serviced a growing portfolio of virtual projects. Virtual-e-Yours™ is a provider of affordable flash websites, social media support and virtual administrative projects. Eco-Friendly101™, one of our special projects, offers lifestyle coaching which concentrates on the creation of an eco-friendly environment, both internal and external. Some other projects include, Gluten Free Ethnic Cook™, Eco-Friendly101 Travel™, Magnolia Mansion® and others. Some of the industries we service are non-profit organizations, small business start-ups, schools, artists, life coaches and authors. Our attempt at keeping our services affordable is based on the notion that small business or solo-preneurial start-up websites can be low-cost and professional and should not cost an arm and a leg. Jitterbug Creations operates in a virtual environment, communicating via email, chat and phone only, thereby keeping overhead low and the ability to pass on the savings to our clients.
Today, while attempting to create steady income stream with my Virtual-e-Yours™ business, one of my greatest passions is in coaching people from all walks of life to enjoy greater personal success. I am utilizing another great passion, technology, to assist me in the development of online interactive learning modules, allowing for a unique coaching process. My long journey has taught me a great deal about what it really takes to succeed both at home and in the work place. I am a great believer in balance and take pride in my success which did not come without bumps, bruises and mistakes made along the way. I could not have done this without a few primary influencers to whom I will always be eternally grateful. Thomas Leonard, who in his short life, developed and helped pioneer many of today’s life coaching models. His “Clean Sweep” personal development coaching program started me on a path I am still traveling today and changed my life. Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, authors of “Conscious Living” and “Conscious Loving”, Deepak Chopra, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Daniel Goleman and others, profoundly influenced and validated for me the core value that this world of relationships and interactions with each other, on a personal, professional and global level, is all about the science of love and commitment.
Jitterbug Creations is committed to our core values and hold ourselves up to the highest standards of integrity and customer service within a supportive, collaborative team environment. We actively encourage feedback by welcoming suggestions and offering critiques of how we are doing. Our commitment extends beyond our walls and we encourage our team members to participate in peaceful activist advocacy of causes leading to the vision of a world we seek.
