My Journey Into Entrepreneurship Started with Cards and Chocolate

What do handmade greeting cards and holiday truffles have to do with entrepreneurship?

In this special solo episode, I’m taking you back to the early days of my business journey, back before I ever even knew, or dreamed where I’d be today! From childhood creative projects to unexpected pivots, this is my story and how I got here. 

Maybe this episode inspires you to reflect on your own early days. What were the unexpected experiences or skills you were gaining that you never imagined would be laying the groundwork for your business?

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Transcript

Natasha (00:00)

Hey everyone, and welcome to this solo episode with me, your host, Natasha Claussen. I have just finished 20 podcast episodes, so I thought that we would do this podcast and get to know me a little bit better. In honor of that, if you don't know, only 20 to 25 % of podcasts make it past 20 episodes. So we are in the top 25 % now and it's feeling good. I have had so many amazing guests on. I've learned so much and even the people who I just met, I now feel like.

from all of those interactions and I hope that you've been getting some great takeaways from our time together and let's jump into it and get to know me a little bit better. So the first question is how did I get started in entrepreneurship? So ever since I was super little I was doing something with my hands and my mom was really crafty so I was doing card crafting and so I don't know if ever been to

craft stores, but they have stamps and embossing and I use these metallic mica powders that you could color into the embossing. And some of the ones I hand painted, I had these lavender bushels that I would paint and I do card sets of like five and I'd sell them to my family. So that was probably my first entrepreneurial endeavor. I'm sure we had a lemonade stand at some point as well, but since we lived at the end of a dead end road,

There was like a little offshoot of that road, but it wasn't the main road. were just some people that lived down there, but we didn't have a lot of traffic for a successful lemonade stand. We will say that. And I think I was really inspired to follow this path of entrepreneurship because of my family. Every year at Christmas, my family would make chocolate truffles and we would sell those. And for my family, it was supplemental income so that we could have a nice Christmas. And, you know, I just remember that was a family tradition.

Probably it even like goes further back than that. My grandma would always make cookies with us. So making Christmas cookies is a big tradition. And then the chocolate truffles as they got older was something. And my dad invented this recipe and made these beautiful chocolates, different flavors. And so we would do like a cottage business every Christmas and do that. So we'd make trays and trays of these chocolate truffles. And they are definitely a hit. Absolutely delicious. Haven't found any better. And then...

In high school, I got the opportunity to do a trade class and the program was called ROP, Regional Occupation Program, and I signed up for graphic design. And the great thing about this was that I got like fourth period off. So I got off early, like, or maybe I didn't even have to go to class on Friday. It was something like that. But maybe I just got out early at like one and everyone was going to school at about three. So that was really cool at that time.

So I took that class and this was really a trade-based class and learning all of the skills to do design work, talking with different print shops and getting to know all the process of that trade. And from that, I really had a jumping off point for design and I started doing some kind of one-off projects for people. And then that would actually lead me to going to college for graphic design. So what was my first business? Right in college, I think probably you've...

either sophomore or junior year, I formed a partnership, formative studios with two other men. And so there were three of us, me and two men, and they were my friends. They were both going to Monterey, somewhere in Monterey for school. But I knew one of them through ⁓ high school and then the other was his friend. And they were both into web design and web development. So I was the designer. So it was a nice little agency. And, you know, we thought that's a local project and started working on those things.

And actually fun fact, I remember kind of before we wrapped up the partnership, there was actually at one point, one of our clients was threatening to sue us. These are the things you go through in entrepreneurship, but just learning and looking back now, it feels kind of hilarious because it felt so scary at the time. It was, you know, a project of a few thousand dollars and there was just some kind of miscommunication and we were able to address it and make everything right. And that was fine. But at the time it felt kind of insurmountable.

And then now looking back, feels like such this little road bump, but these are the experiences that we have. ⁓ and that's the only time I've ever had any kind of difficulty with a client to that level of just not feeling, you know, happy. I've got, I've learned so many great communication skills over the years that I can kind of see when things are going on. Thrills talk people back in and you know, there's always a way to make things right. So if you have ever been in any kind of situation like this, you're not alone. ⁓ I've.

for many small businesses and there's always something that comes up and sometimes you're blindsided by something you're not expecting. So you always have an opportunity to work through that and see the other side and it will be a blessing in the end because you will have learned something very valuable and maybe something to avoid in the future. So what was one of the best things entrepreneurship has ever allowed me to do? I would have to say the best thing has been living abroad.

I went to college, I was out, I worked for about two years with a ⁓ package design company doing lots of design and it got really burnt out and was ready to do something different and I had always wanted to study abroad. That had been a dream of mine, just couldn't make it happen during my actual college career. So after two years of working, I decided it was time to make change. So I saved some money and I...

decided to do a program abroad to learn to teach English. There were many of them in-state, but I wanted to kind of get oriented and wherever I was to make sure that I was comfortable because living in a different country is a big leap if you don't have the support of say a college program or something like that. And I had traveled abroad once for like two weeks. So I had a little bit of an idea, but you know, it's a different language all the things. So I found a TEFL teaching English as a foreign language program in Prague.

where they take a month to do the training with you, you're put with other folks and you're housed everything for a month. So I went and did that. And I firmly thought that I was going to be moving to Germany. And my mom had lived in Germany when she had been younger. She was in the army. She was stationed in Germany. And I always remember there was this photo on the wall in her house at the new Scheinstein Castle in Germany. And so, you know, I guess

It's kind of interesting when you think about your vision for life. And I think I just kind of took the vision of my parents. didn't make this huge vision for myself. Like they went to Cal Poly and they traveled abroad and these things. And I just kind of took those on. And fun fact, I did not get into Cal Poly. And it was kind of a technicality that you weren't supposed to send your design portfolio until they asked for it. And I never got the email and I guess it went to spam. They, they know it was a problem because I call them like, Oh, did it go to spam? Like, well.

I don't know, but I didn't get it. And you said not to send anything until then. And there was no like timeline on it. So I was really heartbroken about that because I had always thought I was going to go to Cal Poly. My aunt and uncle lived there and that was just kind of, that was the future career path I thought I had. But I did get into UC Davis, which is another popular school. So of course, another Ag based school from the country in Utah. So I went and did that. So.

I've gotten a little off track from wherever I started. So we'll kind of go back to this question. But yes, the best thing entrepreneurship ever did was allow me to live abroad in Prague. And so, yeah, I thought I was going to go to Germany and oh, my mom had that, you know, she had lived in Germany. So that was like what I thought. That's what I thought I was going to do. And I had always wanted to go to Germany. So I'm in Prague. I've met all these people, but I made these amazing friendships and I didn't want to leave. So I didn't.

So I found a place in Prague, changed my plans and it was just this amazing experience. Prague and Europe are so different than the United States in that they're these small little countries. California, you know, it can take eight hours straight across the Prague take maybe two. So I was close to Germany and all these places. So I got to travel and have this home base all year and it was the most magical year of my life. Truly amazing. And if you have the chance to travel,

I encourage you to travel and travel far and wide because the people you will meet, the experiences you will see, we get trapped in our bubble and we think that things are certain way. ⁓ and it's interesting to hear other perspectives and really learning from people and just listen and see it will give you such depth and richness in your life. So, I had started teaching English there for many, but I actually decided that I was not a English teacher. And looking back another kind of

big failure was I had had this interview and I was supposed to teach this piece of English and I got so mixed up in my head and so nervous I just bombed it. I remember like if it first went in an interview I was like yeah I didn't get the job did I? And she's like yeah no absolutely not and I had a hard time interviewing anywhere after that. I'm terrible at this. Those things can really kind of knock you down but I could do design and here's what I found. I could make a lot more money doing design.

because in Prague you're getting paid the local currency and the local wages are much less than the US, at least at that time, and maybe still today, I'm not sure. So I just worked with US-based clients and I made quite a bit more money doing that. So that was great for me. And I was really one of those kind of pioneering digital nomads. And it's funny because this was before really people were using Zoom. I don't even know if Zoom existed, but we use Skype.

And I remember, you know, chatting back and forth with friends on Skype, much like we would use like Slack or Microsoft Teams now. Um, but that was the, that was the early days. Um, and you know, video calls with family and you know, I didn't even have an iPhone. I had some phone that died when I got to Prague. And so I just had a flip phone with, um, you know, could text someone like the old flip phone kind of thing. Um, because at that time it was still pretty expensive.

to have a phone plan. Now it's a lot more realistic, but then it just didn't make any sense. So it was such a different time than now. It's crazy to see how much has changed. So that was the best thing I think entrepreneurship has allowed me to do up until this point. It's allowed me so many great things, but traveling is just so much a part of who I am and my heart. And so that was just, yeah, magic. And then my next question I had for myself was what was my formal education and degree?

I touched on this a little bit, but I went to UC Davis and my formal education was graphic design. And I actually have a minor in religious studies and Spanish. So you can see I'm a little eclectic. I have lots of different things. I'm a lifelong learner. I love to learn. I love to learn and love to curate information. And here's another thing where I always thought, you you kind of create this vision.

your life and in my case it was almost a borrowed vision. I didn't really think much on college. I just thought I was gonna go to school and get married and travel to Europe because that's what my parents did. ⁓ And then you kind of get into your own life and you realize that things might be little different. so I thought I would probably be you know an academic or a writer. A lot of my family, my grandpa actually worked at UC Davis in the art department. My uncle worked at Cal Poly.

so I just, and my other uncle worked at another college. So I just had this idea for my life that I would work at college and I love, love learning. And I thought that would be it. And then I also thought maybe I would write books and I guess I have written books. I, at the time I thought I write fantasy books. So that's why it feels a little bit different. I am a published author now, but that's a little different from fantasy to more business related and life related and things like that. So I am still a writer. ⁓ just not in the way that maybe I was thinking at that time.

And entrepreneurship really called to me and I had never really seen that in my future. But what I found was there was a constant problem to be solved. It was helping people and it's always a new project and I really like new things. I'm kind of a creative, so getting just a variety of interests is helpful for me. And then I think a big, really big part of me too throughout the years.

is volunteering. I have volunteered most of my life in some capacity. My parents were in search and rescue and I, you know, was in 4-H all growing up. And then I had leadership roles there. And then in high school, I was part of the Leo Club. I actually ended up being president of the Leo Club. They're a subsidiary of the Lions who do lots of volunteer work. So I got to work with lots of different organizations, doing spaghetti feeds, things like that. And then in my adult life, I've committed.

time to animal welfare, especially equine horses, and helping horses transition off the track, helping horses need, raising funding for that. That's been a really big piece of the last 10 years. there is this local community aspect, I think, about business owners, especially small business owners. They are the backbone of America. And people say that.

But what does that really mean? Right? Okay. Taxes, all of that. Right. But what I have seen over the years is that business owners, especially like the local chambers, they are so involved in your community and making events happen. And, you know, a lot of them are volunteering. I really do. When I look at the world and I feel a little bit, you know, sad about things that are going on. I think about entrepreneurs and innovation and their dedication to their communities. And I feel so hopeful because the people I am surrounded with are making it.

the world of other place every day. So that's why I love entrepreneurship and why I was really called to it. And then the final question I had for myself was, what's the biggest up level I've experienced after my college years? And I just mean like it had been my career development, things like that. And there have been so many, I've had the privilege to work with so many amazing people. As I asked myself this question, was like, my gosh, it's hard to pick just one. So,

I'll just say that I'm a blend of corporate experience and entrepreneurship. I've held multiple director roles at companies. I've gotten to be on the ground floor of, you know, these small businesses, several, you know, million dollars, but still small businesses in terms of, you know, small business in range, literally from zero to 50 million. But that might not be the exact range, but you know what? That's still a small business. They're not necessarily ⁓ big corporate names that you would know, things like that. And I've been able to be on the real ground floor of these.

companies and the position I tend to attract is the right hand of the CEO really involved in those strategic decisions. And these companies have been startups. And so you have to wear so many different hats. And because of that, you're constantly switching gears, problem solving, doing something you've never done before. And that has just spurred so much growth and I really enjoy it. I think.

Yeah, the biggest up level I've experienced is just like diving in head first in those companies and just looking at it as a challenge and being as useful as I can and establishing myself as a linchpin in those organizations and really like learning the story and just getting really involved in it ⁓ and wearing all those hats. You know, it can be frustrating. And I think one of the things you learn too, especially if you're working in, you know, the setting of

not being an entrepreneur, but being in a corporate setting, working in a company is the dynamics of people and getting to know how to work with people, how to motivate them, how to overcome, you know, the hard conversations. And this is something that will benefit you as an entrepreneur as well, because a lot of people I've noticed, they might want to step away from their corporate jobs because entrepreneurship sounds really appealing. There's no one to tell you what to do. But if...

you're listening and you're an entrepreneur, you know that it becomes actually even more important that you listen and work with people and have accountability to people in your corporate world because now you are the company owner. You still have to talk with and work with people. And when there's an issue, guess what? The buck stops with you. So I think the biggest up-level I experienced was really growing those communication skills in those settings, which were challenging and fast-paced.

And I'll just throw this out here too, because this made probably the biggest difference in my career was taking a crucial communications class. And you might laugh now because I have a podcast and I, you know, do lots of kind of, um, you know, starting groups and conversations and things like that. But I was very introverted and very shy. And if you want me to do a podcast, breaking that down, drop me a line and I will.

But let me know if you want to hear about that. But yeah, I had a hard time picking up a phone to call someone when I started out of college. So communication skills are something you can absolutely build and that crucial conversations one is so good because it helps you defuse conversations before they ever become this big kind of what they call a crucial conversation where all these things have lined up and you have this perfect storm that's hard to back out of. But you can avoid those crucial conversations by taking care of those.

little things tending to those things before it becomes this big blow up. So I hope you've enjoyed this conversation today. I sure have. ⁓ Just sharing a little bit about myself. ⁓ If you relate to something, if you want to hear more, just drop me a line. I will respond to you personally. And I am so excited and thankful you're here. So cheers to 20 episodes and now today 21.