In response to The Gleaner's request for self-employed individuals to tell us how they are surviving during the recession, Sydoney Brackett, founder/coordinator of Classique Virtual Business Services, shares her story of success. Brackett, the current public relations officer for the Jaycee Chapter in Hopewell, Hanover, was recently selected Business Personality of the Week by The Gleaner's Western Focus magazine.

She notes: It all started approximately five years ago in Lucea, Hanover, on a Saturday afternoon when I decided to ask small-business persons if they wanted me to make business cards for them as I was totally frustrated with my financial situation, as I was attending college part-time, working a full-time job and caring for my daughter.

Business card venture

I got 10 clients that very day and was able to make $7,000 in profit the following Saturday, after delivering the cards. My business card venture, under then name Classique, continued to grow and so too did my clientele. I also started doing other jobs in the area of interior decorating and administrative work for friends and referred clients.

My last permanent place of employment was at Sunset Beach Resort and Spa where I served in the capacity of administrative assistant. It was after facing challenges on the job last October that I decided to venture out full time on my own. I knew it was my responsibility to provide for myself and my daughter and so I revamped my ideas and created a new business project, Classique Virtual Business Services, majoring in outsourcing services.

One main advantage of our business is that we are not confined to one area as we commute to any location that requires our services.

Our menu of services including personal administration, communication, appointments and meetings, travel, organising functions, office designs and interior decorating, training, marketing and accounting

Changing world

The opinion is held by some that no one individual is able to do more than one job at a time but I beg to differ. This is a changing world and in order for us to stay ahead of the game we must always seek to improve existing skills and acquire new ones. The world is a global classroom and so we must always seek ways of educating ourselves.

The business landscape has changed significantly over the years and our use of state-of-the-art technology ensures that our service delivery is on par with global trends.

My daughter, who is an angel sent from God, propels me to be the best at everything I do and strong black women in our society are trying to make a way out of no way.

My key to entrepreneurial success is my passion for the services that I offer and a strong belief in self, ensuring that whenever I am given an assignment, I live up to clients' expectations and even go beyond their expectations, multitasking, and knowing that I will be successful.

It is indeed challenging times but one will overcome with an in-depth desire to succeed, belief in a dream, and faith that all will work out for good.

Recession survivors

Who says you need to depend on someone for a job? Some self-employed persons are facing down the current recession and thriving. If you're self-employed, share your story of determination and success with us. Email editor@gleanerjm.com. We'd love to hear from you!