Jeanne-ology: Renaissance Woman

Hi There! It’s Thursday and you know what that means - Jeanne is here to share some thoughts with you. I had an idea of what she was going to write about and I thought “welp, that will be an interesting read…”. As usual, she doesn’t disappoint. Enjoy! Rebecca

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Hello Thursday Readers! Another week has passed and the pie shop has been busy. Thanks goodness, no complaints from me! One of the newer staff members asked me a lot of questions today. She is interested in opening up her own food business some day. She and her husband have been saving their money and doing a lot of research. She wanted to know how much money we needed to open us a pie shop. Did we get a bank loan, how long was we in business before we could afford hiring staff, and the questions continued. The last question she asked me was what kind of jobs I have had in the past to help me start a business. I couldn't really answer her - none of my previous jobs prepared me for entrepreneurship! She then asked me to list what jobs I have held before starting the pie shop. (Rebecca editing to add: Being a lawyer also doesn’t prepare you for entrepreneurship, but here we are.)

Oh, my goodness! There was a myriad of different jobs! My first job was with Wal-Mart. Working in the toy department during the Christmas season was an eye opener. I was a student at a community college at the time. By the time Christmas was over, I vowed to never have children! Mothers and the children would wreck havoc in the toy department! That experienced soured me and I left the job soon after. (Rebecca editing to add: This is ironic because spent a fortune on my kids in the Wal-Mart toy department.)

I then started working at a wig shop. That was fun and interesting. Helping women try on different styles of wigs and learning how to style wigs was an enjoyable challenge. I have a fascination with hair pieces. I guess I do because my hair is very fine and not very thick. Thank goodness, Rebecca and my granddaughter have thick hair that I am always jealous of. I worked at the wig shop about four years and was the manager the last two years. Moving to Columbia for my husband's job ended that profession. (Rebecca editing to add: This is precisely how I like to picture her when I think of her before me. I would bet you a million dollars that she SLAYED at the wig game because she is creative and patient. I promise you her favorite clients were the ones that wanted to style 18 wigs before deciding on any.)

In Columbia, I became a professional wallpaper person for Sherwin Williams. I had taught myself the art of paper hanging when I lived in Southeast Missouri. I did a lot paper hanging from Sherwin Williams referrals. Work would either be very busy and maybe a couple of weeks being idle. (Rebecca editing to add: This seems like a 1980s dream job. And spicy take - I super like wallpaper in the right pattern.)

Needing a regular paycheck, I started working with Division of Family Services and helped people not being able to meet their heating bills. When that program/grant ended, I started work at Columbia Joint Communications. I worked for the Director, a glorified secretary position. The job was okay, but boring. (Rebecca editing to add: I can make a list a mile long of things Jeanne is good at. And a short list of things she isn’t - being a secretary, being patient when she’s bored, and oh, balancing on one foot. Oh, and foreign language.)

I then started a job at a local bank learning how to make loans. That taught me a lot of valuable information. I became a licensed real estate salesperson. That did not last very long, interest rates were 18% and sales were slow. In that two years I never sold or listed any real estate! However, I did show a lot of property. I love real estate, and joined a local bank that provided mortgage lending. I was very successful at this profession and became the first HUD/VA underwriter in Columbia. (Rebecca editing to add: This is mystifying to me because in one aspect, she loves houses and would be such a good realtor. But on the other, neither of us are known for our math skills.)

I am a creative person and wanted my own business. My favorite books to read are how-to books. I learned to sew and make clothing for other people, I taught myself woodworking and plumbing and remolded my bathroom. I learned how to cut and style hair and have worked on my mother, Peggy and other people at the funeral homes.. I have a strong desire to fix my own repairs and work at my own pace. I don't know where this comes from, my dad was inept at home repairs or fixing anything! (Rebecca editing to add: Um, FUNERAL HOMES?)

In the spring of 1994, I opened a pie shop because I knew how to bake. My research showed that any pie purchased in Columbia was from the grocery store. Maybe Columbia would like a real pie bakery. With Peg and I starting a pie shop with $800.00 and a lot of gumption, we opened in March of 1994. The rest is history, still in the pie business and going strong. Maybe all those jobs helped me be an entrepreneur. My biggest advice to do something you love and are good at doing. (Rebecca editing to add: I don’t doubt that it helped. She never hesitates when any challenge comes her way and now she’s convinced me that we can always work together to figure anything out. It’s a nice quality.)

As a last note, Rebecca did not inherit a desire to do any repairs, that is something that does not interest her. Maybe my grandchildren will have a desire to do so! (Rebecca editing to add: I hope so too because I can’t find it in my soul to read a how-to book. Or style a wig.)