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Denise Hahne, Freelance Writer
Two Businesses, One Defining Moment
By: Denise M. Hahne, freelance writer,
Losing my steady job of almost eight years was an unexpected blow. Initially I shed a few tears, ranted and raved, berated myself, and stared blankly at the walls for a day - or two. It took only that long for a close friend's words to sink in. "Denise," she had said. "When this is all said and done, you will one day look back on today as being a defining moment in your life."
"Was she insane?" I had wondered. Defining moment - defining what? Loss of a steady paycheck? Step one on the path to bankruptcy?
But she was right, and sitting home, eating chocolate and sulking, were not options. Instead, I decided to follow my dreams of establishing myself as a writer and starting a freelance paralegal business.
Though already a newly published author, I had no clue how to start a business and likely would have been lost in confusion except for a referral to the Small Business Development Center. Walking into Bismarck's SBDC office my luck again changed when Nancy Krogen-Abel met me at the door. She offered the SBDC's library for my use, taught me about business plans, and provided invaluable support, encouragement, contacts, and tools for starting my businesses.
With Nancy's guidance, my paralegal business was born and my freelance writing services expanded. Dakota Paralegal Services (www.dakotaparalegalservices.com) provides freelance paralegal expertise to attorneys on a contracted basis, while Dakota Freelance (www.dakotafreelance.com) hosts my "write" side, a resource for individuals, business-owners, and editors seeking an experienced writer, as well as a portfolio for my published and unpublished works.
Thanks to Nancy's encouragement and support I am reaching my first year goals, supporting myself doing work I love, and dreaming about what may happen tomorrow.
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