In 1996, while a HS freshman, I started my first (very) small business when I realized I could cash in on the hemp jewelry craze. I taught myself macrame, perfected my art on my own pieces and a few for close friends, then used those as collateral when cold-calling schoolmates. To close every sale, I quizzed each prospect about what they liked most and least about other similar pieces, then offered a custom piece made just for them. They saw my notes, including many orders next to the names of their peers, and chose to buy. Little did I know, I was practicing sales techniques that I wouldn't learn about until years later.When that fad died down, I decided to mow neighbors' lawns and became a hit with the local stay-at-home moms, who must have valued how quickly I got the job done even without a shirt on! This niche market provided steady income until I was able to get hired on at Pizza Hut, where I learned that I value earning tips over mopping floors. In 2002, at the age of 20, I started my first grown-up small business, Tibbs Photography. Partnered with my former wife, and while also working full-time factory/warehouse jobs, she and I spent the next 12 years generating enough photography business to learn a great deal about entrepreneurship, sales, customer service, and advertising (or the lack thereof).Then, in 2014, with 2 young sons about to go into grade school and a 2nd shift job that would've kept me from them, I put it all on the line and founded image squared marketing, a marketing agency that leveraged professional photography/videography content to improve clients' image online and in their market, thereby driving business. Above all other professional experiences, this one has informed me the most. What's the best way to develop and promote a brand? How can we keep our sales pipeline full enough to combat churn? How can we do the same for our clients, who have different audiences with unique needs? What does success look like for us? For our clients? These questions and more were asked and answered repeatedly throughout the life of the business. As a sales leader, I prospected and closed hundreds of thousands of dollars in new business or upsales to existing clients. Today, I work for others, leveraging my unique experiences, knowledge gained, and personal abilities to positively influence results for the entire organization. A "dynamo," according to the DISC assessment, I am particularly adept at thinking quickly on my feet, providing new and unique solutions to problems, and influencing others in order to make a difference.