1.  One of my favorite questions when I want to learn about someone  is by asking them to give me their 5 second introduction when I pose  the question:  “What do you do for a living?”

I help clients sell their products and services online 24/7 through website copy.  As an SEO copywriter, I help people look great online and get noticed!  Most people are too close to themselves to really see the true value that they bring to the world.  My job is to dig in, get excited, understand the value that they or their products provide, and make them look outstanding while also getting search engines to take notice.  I am also a serial entrepreneur and have been dreaming up crazy business ideas for as long as I can remember.

2.  Tell me in 3 to 5 sentences something we can’t read in your bio or at the “About Page” at your blog Self Made Chick.

One thing a lot of people probably don’t know is that I traveled around with the Grateful Dead in a VW bus during the summer of 1993 when I was 17.  I didn’t have anywhere to go ‘home’ to and had no money - only some handmade dresses and jewelry that I had made to sell.  That experience taught me to trust that something will ALWAYS work out.  I think it gave me a lot of confidence in terms of taking risks because something always works out - and even what could be considered ‘down and out’ is really not that bad.

3.  How long have you been blogging at Self Made Chick?

I started Self Made Chick on September 16, 2007 - not that long ago!  I’ve been amazed by the results and am so incredibly grateful to the incredible people who contribute to the conversations there.

4.  How did you come up with that very interesting and eye catching 
title?

It just fit.  I had finally reached a place in my life where I didn’t need to count on anyone else for help financially or emotionally.  Until this point, I had either been traveling on a dime, had roommates, had college loans that covered housing, or relying on a husband’s income because I was living beyond the means of my own personal earnings.   It feels great to be free of depending on anyone but yourself.

It’s funny because I was unsure about the name at first!  I have never had such doubt over choosing a domain name!  I thought it might come off as too cocky or as if I was some sort of feminazi.  The day that I was going to buy it, I was buying a few other domains as well and I didn’t buy it… then I went to buy it again… and hesitated… then after about a week I just decided to go for it and I’m glad I did.

5.  Why did you start Self Made Chick?

I started Self Made Chick because I wanted to meet other like-minded people.  I believe that with the right group of exceptional people, that ANYTHING is possible.  Blogging is a great way to connect with the right people.

Plus, I’m fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes and inside the minds of other people who are making things happen… and I felt like many blogs just were glossing over a lot of the nitty gritty that goes on behind the scenes of a business.  For every success, there are often 10 failures and a lot of crazy things that you have to try to make something work.  Every person has amazing stories to tell… but we normally never hear them - I think because people are afraid of seeming weak or less than confident.  I KNOW that other people are going through the same things that I’m going through behind the scenes, so I wanted to make the move and put it out there.  

6.  You write with such style and wit.  Every time I read one of your articles, you manage to inspire me and tug at my heartstrings.  How did you learn how to write so well?

Wow - Thank you!  I have a degree in Writing from Cal State University San Marcos.  In those classes, we had to read a LOT.  My professors all said that the best way to develop your writing skills is to read a lot.  That is something that anyone can do.

One of the best classes I ever took was a memoir writing class.  How do you write something about yourself that is interesting to other people?  No one wants to hear someone ramble on about themselves.  Every week, we would sit in a circle and share our stories so I got to see which things drew a reaction.  I noticed that when I could tie the story in to universal human emotions, it would draw people in, even if they had never experienced what I was writing about.

7.  One of my favorite stories that I’ve read about you is how you once hitchhiked across America.  Tell us more about that experience and what it was like.  Why did you do it?

That was one of my favorite life experiences!  This was one of those times when I left it all behind because I felt my life had become a void.  At the time, I was living in a beautiful place in LA, just outside of Beverly Hills with my fiance.  We met when we were broke  college students and it was quite an achievement to be living the life we were living.   However, the relationship faded, and I decided that I’d rather face the unknown, even if it meant leaving behind the comforts of all of that ’stuff.’

It was wonderful.  I met the most amazing people - people I NEVER would have met otherwise.  We don’t realize it, but everyone we meet in our daily lives is pretty much just like us.  They shop at the same stores, live in the same neighborhoods, etc.  When you get picked up in the middle of nowhere by a totally random person - it’s awesome!  Everyone has such amazing stories to tell.

8.  What is the best advice you’ve ever received?  Given?

While  I was answering this, I got into an IM discussion about business and philosophy with Shane from Shane and Peter (http://blog.shaneandpeter.com/ ) and he threw out a great piece of advice that is worth remembering and worth reminding of yourself often:  “Your income is in direct proportion to the problems you  solve - the bigger the problem, the [more] money you make.” 

Another great piece of advice that I was given by someone I met on my hitchhiking adventures and have given as well is “closed mouth doesn’t get fed.”  You’ve got to ask for what you want.  It works.

9.  What do you consider your proudest achievement in life?

I am very proud that I chose to figure out a way to work from home so that I can walk my kids to school and be there when they get home.  If it wasn’t for the extreme drive NOT to miss out on their life, I may not have had the drive to do all of this on my own.  It certainly would have been easier to continue working for someone else and never making that difficult leap.  But I couldn’t stand the thought of dropping them off in the dark and picking them up at dark from some babysitter while I worked and sat in traffic for 10-12 hours a day.  I am proud that they are in a great school and are involved in lots of enriching after school activities that I can take them to.

Well, there we go!  Part I of II with Christine O’Kelly!  Here’s Part II, with 9 more questions. 

Meanwhile, I certainly hope you enjoyed getting to know her!  Do yourself a favor and check out her blog at Self Made Chick.

If you liked this post and you want to be notified of the next one, subscribe via Email or Full Text RSS Feed. I would love to have you as part of the community!

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite