Jessica Silverstein of Attorney’s Counsel knows where to find cupcakes on a moment’s notice.
Business Name: Attorney’s Counsel
Business Description: A career counseling service that focuses on resume and cover letter review, interview skills and social media consulting.
Start Date: Spring 2009
Best thing about working for yourself?
The freedom to work where and when I want.
Worst thing about working for yourself?
I’m the boss of me. I am only accountable to myself, and my clients of course, but at the end of the day while my time is my own, I can end up working too much or not enough to be productive in a positive way.
Why did you start your business?
I went on maternity leave the week before Lehman collapsed. I was working in a job I loved doing legal temp and temp-to-perm placements but when it was time to go back to work there was nothing to go back to. I speak regularly at the NYCBar Association and I continued to do that while on leave and after my job ended. People always wanted a recruiter to look at their resume but instead of bringing them back to my office, where I had a salary, and reviewing them, I was now bringing them home and doing it for free. Having a new baby and skills I enjoyed and continued to use led me to create an opportunity that has allowed me to have everything at once.
When did you start to think of yourself as an entrepreneur?
My first 1-to-1 Affinity Group meeting at IGC. Having to describe my business to other, more experienced, entrepreneurs and thinking about my new company as a real thing, not something I just talked about, changed the entire exercise for me.
How do you relax?
Play with my daughter and read historical fiction. Not at the same time!
What is something that you are known for?
Knowing where to find cupcakes a moment’s notice.
What 5 things would you never like to be without?
Coffee, my daughter, my husband, my parents and my brother.
Who is a person that inspires you?
My husband. I know, he won’t believe it either! He comes from a blue collar background, he is the first in his family to get a college degree and he went on to get his MBA. He told me what he wanted to be the first week we met and after achieving his goal he set new ones. He is living the American Dream, although I’m not sure he realizes that when he needs to take out the garbage.
Galia Gichon