As seen in 850 magazine July 10, 2009…
One part courage and one part economic downturn, area entrepreneurs have found the recipe for turning the tables on market nay-sayers
By Tabitha Yang
With the national unemployment rate the highest it’s been in decades, erratic stock market behavior and general economic malaise, the market isn’t exactly in top shape. Most people are scaling their businesses down and tightening their belts.
…Tallahassee business owner Deanna Mims is one of this brave new wave of entrepreneurs. A 30-year veteran of the nonprofit sector, Mims took things into her own hands last June and started her own marketing and PR firm. Knowing that a lot of companies would be scaling down during the recession and laying off their full-time PR staff, she decided to step into the void and take on individual clients on a freelance basis.
“It’s been the most incredible time of my life,” she said. “After about seven months, my business is now self-sustaining.”
Being self-employed, Mims said she’s working harder than ever, but she enjoys getting to exercise her creativity while helping businesses present a professional, polished face to the public.
“I’m able to earn their trust because it’s just me,” she said. “I’m pretty responsive and nimble.”
