Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Monroe.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been self-employed most of my life starting at 18. I’ll be 40 next month. I have preferred the flexibility that was available when you own your own business. I’ve been a realtor, owned a retail shop in quaint downtown, sales consultant for company that opened lots of doors, managed restaurants, have organized corporate events & vendor markets, and served on various advisory boards. I did all of this while nurturing my passion for animal rescue. I started rescuing animals in 2001 when I lived in my first apartment. After 10 years for working hard at getting animals off the streets and in proper homes, I started my organization Saved by the Heart Companion Animal Services with a focus on the abused, abandoned, neglected, injured, and elderly pets in Upstate SC. Over the years, I, along with partner organizations and rescue colleagues, have worked with local municipalities to form legislation to support positive animal welfare including Trap-Neuter-Return programs for outdoor cats and better definitions for dogs when they are kept outside. We have also pushed for and created more low-cost and free vet services to those that need it most.
I now spend my days offering marketing and business management strategies to companies in 8 states through my company WING Strategies. I really enjoy helping small businesses succeed as many don’t have the optimal support system. Over the past couple years, I’ve started downsizing my life to increase my ability to travel. As I explore new places, I hope to help more small businesses in different areas. My company also organizes the local farmers’ market. Our goal is to connect residents to our local food supply chain. In a time when store shelves are bare, local markets & farms can have an abundance of food available.
I’m born and raised in Upstate SC. My biggest hobbies are working around my mini-farm, gardening, & traveling.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When you work for yourself, it can often be feast or famine. In my younger years, there was much of that roller-coaster ride. The hustle lifestyle of working all the time and being a constant animal caretaker when I was “off-work” heavily affected my mental health and my relationships. I was known to my friends & followers as the girl that never sleeps and took pride in the fact that I was always serving something outside of myself. I’ve now learn to manage my time and finances to a point that I’m less affected by what going on around me. I’ve also learn that you can’t pour out on others if your cup is empty. As I hit a birthday milestone, I also recognize the need to focus a little time on self-care and personal growth. For me that is spending time in my garden, hiking in nature, exploring new areas. Recent travels to Alaska have brought me joy in breathing in a new landscape. There is a big world out there to experience.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Over the years, I have worked in and experienced a variety of industries such as restaurants, retail, real estate, services-related, non-profits, & events. The basic business strategies hold true across the board. My company offers strategy sessions and business marketing to focus on results. I have the experience to know what you are struggling with. We spend time on researching details unique to your company. We are also working on offering online training services to get more information in your hands quicker so you can start seeing results sooner. We serve businesses all over the US so your location or trade does not affect our ability to help you.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
In my youngest years, my mom was single and worked 8-5 so I spent much of my time with my grandparents. Breakfasts and dinners were are their house. My grandma and I would go on shopping adventures. My Grandpa was my first true love. I was always excited to do things with him. Once a year, my grandparents, my mom, and I would load up in the big conversion van that sat in the driveway all year and we would head off to Daytona Beach FL to enjoy the beach and visit family in the area. We always stayed at the El Caribe Resort which had a donut shop in the hobby and dance parties on the beachside lawn in the evenings. My grandpa was a hardworking man that owned his own company so I figure I get my business sense from him. He was a marine that served in WWII mostly based in Guadalcanal. He smoked most of his life, finally laying down the cigarettes when I was born. He died of lung cancer when I was 15. All of my best childhood memories include him.
Contact Info:
- Email: wingstrategies@gmail.com
- Website: jessicalmonroe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicalmonroe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaMonroe537/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/jessicalmonroe537
Image Credits
https://www.facebook.com/onyxandopalphoto
