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American Morning
Dream Jobs
Aired December 18, 2003 - 07:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: They both had high-paying jobs in the business world, but for two Chicago women, success was only cosmetic. So, together they launched their own makeup line.
As part of our week-long series, "Dream Jobs," we meet two women (AUDIO GAP).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: (voice-over): When Sandy Wang Adam (ph) and Noreena Bosse (ph) met several years ago in Chicago, they realized they had plenty in common. Both had MBAs, both had high-paying consulting jobs, and both were unhappy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had some big issues with lifestyle. Ultimately, I wanted to be able to see my spouse and to have a little bit more control over my time.
O'BRIEN: As they got to know each other, they were surprised to discover they shared a guilty secret.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are almost embarrassed to say what we really loved in life was makeup.
O'BRIEN: They quickly turned their mutual passion for cosmetics into a business plan. What they needed next was hands-on experience.
We quit our jobs, worked as makeup artists on the sales floor, because ultimately you have to know what's going on where the action is. And that's been one of the most valuable things that we've done.
O'BRIEN: For six months, Sandy worked at Seffora (ph) and Noreen took a job at Nordstroms, both earning about a quarter of what they were making before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I tell people that it was the best job I ever had. It was just so much fun, because of the characters that were involved, and that's also where we identified some of the big gaps in the marketplace, which allowed us to move in.
O'BRIEN: So, they created a line that caters to women who have a hard time finding colors that match their skin tones.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should probably giveaway some kind of sample.
O'BRIEN: It took $300,000, raised from their families, friends and their own bank accounts to launch Maven Cosmetics.
It is overwhelming sometimes to have your own business. You feel very responsible for other people's money. You know it's their -- you know, their savings. So, I think that makes us particularly vigilant about watching every penny that we spend and making sure that we're spending wisely.
O'BRIEN: For the first two years that meant giving up their salaries.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And in terms of our personal finances, it's been difficult, because naturally we have student loans that we have to pay back. You know, we have mortgages, car payments just like everybody else.
O'BRIEN: But today, Maven Cosmetics is sold in salons and boutiques across the country and will soon be available in Marshall Fields department store.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I really love about my job is the job satisfaction of making women happy. It's amazing how the power of a lipstick can change a woman's whole entire outlook on her day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The power of lipstick.
Stephen Viscusi is back. He's an author and host of the nationally-syndicated radio show called "On the Job."
And you've been joining us all week to talk about sort of what has made people successful who wanted to shift gears and take on something else. Let's talk about these two women. Interesting, they are talking about financing. We haven't had a lot of discussions about that over the last couple of days. They borrowed a lot of money. A lot of money -- $300,000 to get going.
STEPHEN VISCUSI, HOST OF "ON THE JOB" RADIO SHOW: Yes. Well, they borrowed it personally, and I think that's sort of interesting and there is nothing wrong with that. And more people should try to do it. It's almost like having your own board of directors.
O'BRIEN: Depending on your family and friends.
VISCUSI: Exactly, because people, even in your family, don't give away money that easily. It sort of validates your idea, and that's where you should really ask first.
O'BRIEN: Interesting to hear how they went behind the counter.
VISCUSI: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Which I've had friends who have worked behind the counter at some of these makeup, you know, floors in the various department stores, and they say it is a nightmare job. And they described it as one of the best jobs they ever had. VISCUSI: This is one of my favorite stories of the week, I think because, (a), the girls are very honest about what they like. They like makeup, and they're not afraid to say it and talk about it. Secondly, they really did their own MBA course right there by going into the retail stores, chatting with the people, understanding what the needs were, and really developing a product based on what the customers told them. You can't do better than that.
O'BRIEN: At the same time, you hear Sandy (ph) talking about her frustrations with her consulting job, which paid her $150,000 a year. She didn't get to spend time with her husband. She wanted to have a little more flexibility in her schedule. When you're your own boss, it seems like easily your work could quadruple.
VISCUSI: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I mean, she's probably busier now than she was when she was overworked at her old job.
VISCUSI: I think the ladies are in for sort of a rude awakening when it comes to time management and the time itself in terms of spending on the job and freedom. But what they aren't -- there is no one watching their back or watching them, so they can make their own schedules. I think that freedom will pay off long term for them.
O'BRIEN: I loved their story.
VISCUSI: Yes, it was a great story.
O'BRIEN: I thought it was a really great story, and they're still doing OK. They're not zillionaires, but hopefully their cosmetic company...
VISCUSI: How does your lipstick make you feel today?
O'BRIEN: Every day, more and more powerful. Steve, thanks. We'll check in with you tomorrow.
VISCUSI: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired December 18, 2003 - 07:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: They both had high-paying jobs in the business world, but for two Chicago women, success was only cosmetic. So, together they launched their own makeup line.
As part of our week-long series, "Dream Jobs," we meet two women (AUDIO GAP).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: (voice-over): When Sandy Wang Adam (ph) and Noreena Bosse (ph) met several years ago in Chicago, they realized they had plenty in common. Both had MBAs, both had high-paying consulting jobs, and both were unhappy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had some big issues with lifestyle. Ultimately, I wanted to be able to see my spouse and to have a little bit more control over my time.
O'BRIEN: As they got to know each other, they were surprised to discover they shared a guilty secret.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are almost embarrassed to say what we really loved in life was makeup.
O'BRIEN: They quickly turned their mutual passion for cosmetics into a business plan. What they needed next was hands-on experience.
We quit our jobs, worked as makeup artists on the sales floor, because ultimately you have to know what's going on where the action is. And that's been one of the most valuable things that we've done.
O'BRIEN: For six months, Sandy worked at Seffora (ph) and Noreen took a job at Nordstroms, both earning about a quarter of what they were making before.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I tell people that it was the best job I ever had. It was just so much fun, because of the characters that were involved, and that's also where we identified some of the big gaps in the marketplace, which allowed us to move in.
O'BRIEN: So, they created a line that caters to women who have a hard time finding colors that match their skin tones.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should probably giveaway some kind of sample.
O'BRIEN: It took $300,000, raised from their families, friends and their own bank accounts to launch Maven Cosmetics.
It is overwhelming sometimes to have your own business. You feel very responsible for other people's money. You know it's their -- you know, their savings. So, I think that makes us particularly vigilant about watching every penny that we spend and making sure that we're spending wisely.
O'BRIEN: For the first two years that meant giving up their salaries.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And in terms of our personal finances, it's been difficult, because naturally we have student loans that we have to pay back. You know, we have mortgages, car payments just like everybody else.
O'BRIEN: But today, Maven Cosmetics is sold in salons and boutiques across the country and will soon be available in Marshall Fields department store.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What I really love about my job is the job satisfaction of making women happy. It's amazing how the power of a lipstick can change a woman's whole entire outlook on her day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The power of lipstick.
Stephen Viscusi is back. He's an author and host of the nationally-syndicated radio show called "On the Job."
And you've been joining us all week to talk about sort of what has made people successful who wanted to shift gears and take on something else. Let's talk about these two women. Interesting, they are talking about financing. We haven't had a lot of discussions about that over the last couple of days. They borrowed a lot of money. A lot of money -- $300,000 to get going.
STEPHEN VISCUSI, HOST OF "ON THE JOB" RADIO SHOW: Yes. Well, they borrowed it personally, and I think that's sort of interesting and there is nothing wrong with that. And more people should try to do it. It's almost like having your own board of directors.
O'BRIEN: Depending on your family and friends.
VISCUSI: Exactly, because people, even in your family, don't give away money that easily. It sort of validates your idea, and that's where you should really ask first.
O'BRIEN: Interesting to hear how they went behind the counter.
VISCUSI: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Which I've had friends who have worked behind the counter at some of these makeup, you know, floors in the various department stores, and they say it is a nightmare job. And they described it as one of the best jobs they ever had. VISCUSI: This is one of my favorite stories of the week, I think because, (a), the girls are very honest about what they like. They like makeup, and they're not afraid to say it and talk about it. Secondly, they really did their own MBA course right there by going into the retail stores, chatting with the people, understanding what the needs were, and really developing a product based on what the customers told them. You can't do better than that.
O'BRIEN: At the same time, you hear Sandy (ph) talking about her frustrations with her consulting job, which paid her $150,000 a year. She didn't get to spend time with her husband. She wanted to have a little more flexibility in her schedule. When you're your own boss, it seems like easily your work could quadruple.
VISCUSI: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I mean, she's probably busier now than she was when she was overworked at her old job.
VISCUSI: I think the ladies are in for sort of a rude awakening when it comes to time management and the time itself in terms of spending on the job and freedom. But what they aren't -- there is no one watching their back or watching them, so they can make their own schedules. I think that freedom will pay off long term for them.
O'BRIEN: I loved their story.
VISCUSI: Yes, it was a great story.
O'BRIEN: I thought it was a really great story, and they're still doing OK. They're not zillionaires, but hopefully their cosmetic company...
VISCUSI: How does your lipstick make you feel today?
O'BRIEN: Every day, more and more powerful. Steve, thanks. We'll check in with you tomorrow.
VISCUSI: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
