How One Indie Took Her Dream Full TimeWhen I left my full-time job to launch the Indie Beauty Network in 2000, my exit plan was simple: exchange a career that paid well, but which no longer suited my lifestyle, for a career that allowed me to do what I love and enjoy my lifestyle. While my exit plan was pretty basic (and risky!), other people like Kristen Fraser Cotte and her husband Peter, had a smarter strategy.
As co-owners of The Grapeseed Company (TGC) in Santa Barbara, the couple planned Kristen's exit from full-time work as an educational diagnostician years in advance. Their planning and dedication paid off last week on June 12, when Kristen left her job to work TCG full-time.I caught up with Kristen to find out a little about her exit plan and how things are going.dM: What was your exit strategy?Kristen: Altogether, it was a 3-year transition, ending just last week. I did it in stages. At first, I cut my hours a just a little to get things started in the business. I worked 4 days a week and ran the business at night, on Fridays and on weekends. Then, a year or so into it, I cut back to about 50%.I worked out a "job sharing" arrangement with another educator to ease the transition. She worked the days I wasn't there, and vice versa. It was a great arrangement. After doing that for a year, I left the educational arena to pursue our family business! I maintain my teaching credentials in case I need them in the future.As of June 12, I am 100% devoted to TGC, and I couldn't be happier.dM: Were you able to keep your health insurance?Kristen: Fortunately, I have health insurance through my husband's full-time job. (He also serves as TGC's accountant.) Without insurance through his job, I would have had to consider alternative exit strategies and I think it would have been a more difficult transition.dM: What tips can you offer others who want to create an exit strategy so they can take their dream full time?Kristen: Think outside the box. Look deep within your career path or profession to find creative ways to maneuver your work hours and responsibilities so that you can simultaneously accommodate your business. If you look hard enough and want it badly enough, you'll make it work.dM: How do you like being a member of IBN?Kristen: It's great! It offers members a huge wealth of resources. Whenever I have time, I check out all of the great information at the site that helps me run my business and stay on top of things. I really enjoy the Group Coaching.We are working hard to update our online presence and the Group Coaching sessions have been great for that.Of course the affordable products liability insurance is great too!!dM: What's your best selling product at TCG?Kristen:Our Surf Body Lotion, a moisturizing lotion made with grapeseed oil, coconut, lime and mint. We like to say that one whiff will immediately transport you to the beach!
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