"Align your head, heart and soul and just dive in! It's all good!"
Jennifer MacMillen is a rare find these days. For 30 years, she’s published “good news only” papers– stories that celebrate communities and the things happening within them. That focus has made her deeply connected to the people and places she writes about.
Since storytelling is at the heart of what we do at Hula, we asked Jen how she uncovers so many of these uplifting stories. Her answer? The most Vermont thing possible: word of mouth.
As a storyteller through and through, Jen’s responses felt like catching up with an old friend. She’s a perfect example of a remote worker who brings a little magic into Hula every day, while spreading good news far beyond our walls. Read more about how entrepreneurship and necessity came to a curious intersection for Jen, and how she’s handled her journey since on our blog.
Q: Do you own your own business? If so, what is it?
A: Greater Good Media, Inc.
Q: What do you do?
A: I publish good-news-only, hyper-local, print publications.
Q: What’s a piece of advice you give to other people?
A: Just dive in! Once you commit to your idea/project with your whole being, the pieces start falling into place, and the right people begin to show up at just the right time.
Q: What’s something a mentor or important person has shared that made an impact on your business or career?
A: I've been in business for 30 years so I have received many tips and tricks!
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It will never be perfect.
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Ask for help.
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Lead with your heart.
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Let your audience/ideal client provide the clues.
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Stick to what you do/your business does best.
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Hold your vision and just keep showing up.
Q: What role does community play in your career or business?
A: Community is everything in my business! My focus is to help uplift a community by bringing people together through inspiring and positive stories about the 'good people, good places and good things happening' there. While most of my business life has been spent essentially working on my own, I am fortunate to be a part of the five communities where I have launched publications.
Additionally, almost three years ago, I found Hula and the community therein, and it has taken me and my business to a new level of excitement and motivation! While I am an introvert by nature, I really do need community to keep me engaged and stepping outside my comfort zone. Hula has more than fit the bill!
Q: What was a pivotal moment while you were building your business or during your career that made you realize you were on the right track? Are there signs people should look out for?
A: I started my business after my first child was born 30 years ago. I had always wanted to own my own business, but had no idea how that would ever happen for me (this was before the internet and the whole 'entrepreneurship movement'). At that time, I was working a 9-5 at a software company in the marketing department. I had the standard 6-week maternity leave and was fully prepared to go back to work. I had a friend lined up to be my child care provider. All was set. Until it wasn't! After I had my daughter, I realized that there was no way I could spend my days being apart from her. This was my pivotal moment.
While her dad and I could not afford for me to not work, I knew I had to do something different which would allow me to work and have my daughter with me. Miraculously, my mother heard through the grapevine that my hometown community paper was for sale. This was it! This was my opportunity! I didn't have the money, but the 83-year-old woman who had been the publisher for the past 15 years financed it for me... and the rest is history.
I now have five publications which I launched over the years as I had time to do so while raising my two daughters. Each time I jumped into the abyss, scared as hell, but completely sure that all would work out, it did! Doors opened. People showed up. New advertisers called me. I just knew that my top priority was to have the flexibility to be a mom and be there for my daughters and attend their hockey games and crew races, etc.
The vision and purpose for my business to publish good-news-only publications evolved as the negative and sensationalist news in mainstream media became unbearable for me (as early as 1999). By staying committed to my vision to uplift communities by focusing on and publishing stories about the good that happens in each, I was able to persevere and overcome the many obstacles and set-backs along the way.
The signs that people should look for that indicate one is on the right track are: Does this feel deeply 'right' for you in your mind, body and spirit? Are things happening with relative ease? Are solutions/people showing up just when you need them? If yes, you are on the right track. Listen to your gut first and then use your mind to help make informed decisions. It's all so worth it!
Q: How do you handle setbacks or failures without losing motivation?
A: I have faced many over the past 30 years! I have had to learn to give myself slack and not worry if sales are not great for a particular issue or if I had to publish a less-than-perfectly edited article. I had to learn that showing up and doing my best (even if that 'best' was not great) was most important. That lesson saved me a ton of self-induced stress and allowed me to regroup and keep going. I have also made it a top priority to hire mentors and coaches along the way (even if that money "should" be used for something else). I used to be of the mindset that I could "do it all." Wrong! I needed and still need help. Finding Hula has been perfect for me at this point in my business and personal development. Just by being in the presence of so many people working on so many great ventures has made a huge difference in my overall excitement and motivation for work and life! And, I have met formal and informal mentors and coaches and truly wonderful people along the way. As Mr. Rogers' mom apparently said... "Just look for the helpers."
Q: What’s a personal habit or mindset shift that significantly improved your business or work life?
A: Really embodying the belief that there is always time. When I look back and see all of the tasks I did not do which I thought were absolutely crucial to my business and life "success," and I see that my business is still standing and I am still living a good life and that my grown daughters still love spending time with me (we go to Dead and Co shows together whenever we can!), I take comfort in knowing that there is always time for what's important and to truly not sweat the small stuff.
Q: Is there a transformative book, speech, or presentation that you’d recommend to other aspiring business professionals?
A: The Soul of Money, by Lynne Twist. It's not a business book, but a life-altering, perspective-shifting way to live one's life. How you then run your business or develop your career will naturally fall into its proper place (IMHO).
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: Align your head, heart and soul and just dive in! It's all good!
