Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jen Berson, founder of Jeneration, located in Sherman Oaks, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Jeneration PR is an award-winning boutique public relations agency specializing in promoting beauty, baby & kids, and lifestyle brands. We create impactful and strategic campaigns for our clients that leverage the full power of PR, from social media and print, digital, and television placements to celebrity and influencer relations and brand collaborations. At Jeneration PR, we provide the same caliber of resources, industry access, and strong media connections often found at a large agency without sacrificing the close attention and superior personal service typical of a smaller firm. Our focus is always on delivering the best possible service to our clients so they can reach their goals.
Jeneration Academy is an online educational platform and community that brings communications professionals together to support one another and continue improving their skills. Through our array of programs, workshops, and resources, we’ve empowered PR entrepreneurs to grow their agencies, fine-tune their strategies, and step into their full potential as business owners. The Profitable PR Pros community within Jeneration Academy has led thousands of international boutique PR agency owners to quickly scale their agencies to six figures and beyond and was recognized by Inc. Magazine with a “Best in Business” award!
Tell us about yourself
I founded Jeneration PR in 2005 after several years of practicing as a civil litigation attorney. Frustrated with the lack of creativity, slow pace of work, and poor work/life balance in law, I began craving something more. I didn’t want to constantly feel torn between my work and my family. While on a trip to Europe, I discovered a perfume line and began promoting it in the USA unpaid. Ideas for helping this brand gain a presence here in the US just clicked! I absolutely loved helping the brand succeed, and this chance discovery became the catalyst I needed to leave the legal field for good. I took the leap of faith to pursue a full-time career in PR and have never looked back!
Now, nearly 18 years later, I’ve built a career I love where I work with clients who inspire me while also being a present and involved mother to my two sons. With Jeneration Academy, I want to help other ambitious women achieve this for themselves. It’s possible to build a satisfying, high-powered career that doesn’t require the sacrifice of personal and family time — I’ve done it!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly, my biggest accomplishment is starting a business in the first place! Stepping away from practicing law meant leaving behind an established career at a top law firm and starting from square one all over again. I founded Jeneration PR with zero experience and zero industry contacts! But a career in litigation didn’t fulfill me or bring me joy, and I knew I needed to make this change. Leaving law is the best thing I’ve ever done in my professional life. Running Jeneration PR has given me the control I craved for my own life and has empowered me to set my own terms for how I want my career to look. In PR, I get to do something I love that brings true value to the multitude of clients I serve. Plus, I can be there for my kids and support my family while staying happy and fulfilled professionally.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Since I work from a home office, I’ve really struggled with the loneliness of entrepreneurship, especially at the start of my journey. I’m naturally an extrovert! I missed having co-workers to chat with every day, whether I had a question on a case or just wanted to dish on the latest episode of my favorite show. Of course, I was reaching out to media contacts and current and potential clients each day, but it wasn’t the same. I was there to support and serve them — but I still missed that same level of personal connection you get from co-workers. This is what led me to create Jeneration Academy and the Profitable PR Pros community. Working on your own or with a small team is infinitely more difficult when you don’t have a strong, plugged-in community you can lean on. I wanted to build the support network I craved for myself — and now, with our weekly live training videos, Q&A calls, and online chats, that loneliness I started with has disappeared!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Set clear and firm boundaries surrounding your availability right from the start. You shouldn’t feel the need to instantly reply to every client communication or stay at your computer all hours of the night. Giving your clients 24/7 access to you doesn’t guarantee success — honestly, it’s a recipe for burnout!
- Get specific and niche down your business. Entrepreneurs are naturally curious and have lots of interests, but you need to become a subject matter expert and a go-to authority in your space. Once you do, your dream clients will come to you!
- Learn how to say no. This is one of the hardest things for entrepreneurs to do, but being confident and standing your ground will bring you more joy in the long run. Saying no to what doesn’t serve you allows you to focus on growing a successful business that truly lights you up.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.jenerationacademy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitableprpros/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationacademy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenerationpr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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