Start-up: 8 State Kate Press, LLC
Founded: 2010
Location: Afton
Key players: Jenny Pavlovic, PhD, founder
Funding: Self-funded
Web site: 8statekate.net
I’d like to ask you a serious question. Are you passionate about what you do for a living? Assuming that finances were not a concern, would you still do the same thing you’re doing now?
There is no right or wrong answer here, it’s just something to think about.
Consider the fact that the average person spends nearly 25 percent of any given year working. An additional 33 percent of the year is spent sleeping, and even more time is spent commuting to and from work, checking e-mails in the evening, thinking about work on the weekends, etc. That doesn’t leave much time for you to enjoy the things you love, does it?
So, considering that we spend so much time working, why shouldn’t we be doing something that we’re passionate about? Something that makes the hour-long commute worthwhile. Something that makes you look forward to Monday morning.
Some of you may be thinking that passion doesn’t pay the bills. This is true. But, passion does drive innovation, and innovation drives success. Bottom line: If you’re passionate enough about something, you can figure out a way to make a living doing it.
Jenny Pavlovic, founder of 8 State Kate Press, knows a thing or two about turning a passion into a business. Pavlovic took her passion for animals, combined with a life-changing animal rescue trip to Louisiana (following Hurricane Katrina), and turned it into a business that creates educational products that help cultivate animal well-being and positive human-animal bonds.
I had the chance to ask Pavlovic a few questions about her business and how she got started on the road to finding her passion.
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I wanted to create educational products fulfilling the mission, “Cultivating animal well-being and positive human-animal bonds.” This started with writing my first book, 8 State Hurricane Kate: The Journey and Legacy of a Katrina Cattle Dog. It’s about my trip to Louisiana to help rescued animals after Hurricane Katrina, the old cattle dog that I brought home to foster, and our journey together as she healed from the trauma and I tried to find out where she came from. With all that I learned after Katrina about how to keep your dog safe and understand your dog better, I decided to write the Not Without My Dog Resource & Record Book. I envisioned this second book in a journal-type format with special features. Creating it meant going out on a limb more and formalizing my own business to produce the books.
How would you describe 8 State Kate Press and your latest book?
The 8 State Kate Press currently has two products, the two books that I mentioned above. I guess you could also say that I’m a product, as a speaker and educator.
The latest book is the Not Without My Dog Resource & Record Book, for daily use, travel, and emergencies. I wrote this book because I couldn’t find the book that I wanted for my own dogs. It’s compact with a hard cover, records pages for all of your dog’s important information, pages to insert photos of you and your dog, a sealed pocket for important records, and tips for living positively with your dog. It has a resources section with information on how to prevent your dog from getting lost, what to do if your dog gets lost, how to use a microchip effectively, how to make a disaster plan for your family and your pets, basic dog first aid, traveling with your dog, and more. I’ve learned a lot since Hurricane Katrina. I wanted to put all this information in one place to take along when I travel with my dogs or leave with the dog sitter when I have to travel without them. I’m happy to share all that I’ve learned and hope this book will help keep dogs safe everywhere. The book also includes important information from Noah’s Wish, a group dedicated to taking care of animals in disasters.
How did you turn your passion into the business it is today?
My journey with rescued Katrina dog Kate changed just about everything in my life. I went down to Louisiana for a week to help care for rescued animals after Hurricane Katrina. I didn’t go down there to get a dog, but I ended up evacuating ahead of Hurricane Rita with an old cattle dog who was running out of options. Kate inspired me to write my first book, 8 State Hurricane Kate: The Journey and Legacy of a Katrina Cattle Dog, because I didn’t want her to be forgotten. Her story of being lost after Katrina with no identification represented so many lost animals. I hoped that writing her story would raise awareness about what happened down there and help me find out where she came from. To learn more about Kate’s story, watch the “Do You Know This Dog?” video. Fifty percent of book profits from Kate’s book are donated to the 8 State Kate Fund, providing financial relief for animals in desperate situations. I didn’t really set out to start a company; I set out to share a story.
When I envisioned the second book, I was told that I would have to go to China to make such a journal-like book with a hard cover and special features. With so many people out of work here, I didn’t want to do that. I’m happy to say that I found a way to make it in the United States—in fact it’s made right here in Minnesota! I founded the 8 State Kate Press when I self-published 8 State Hurricane Kate, and I made it a more formal business to publish the Not Without My Dog book. This second book is much more complex, with many special features, and cannot be made print-on-demand like my first book. I’m very grateful for the people who stuck with me to help make this book a reality. I depend on wonderful editors, knowledgeable and supportive friends, award-winning book designer Gregory Rohm of Woodbury, a very patient Web master, business consultants, and more. WomenVenture and Score have both helped me along the way.
How is business going for you? Do you have any projections for 2010 and beyond?
The new Not Without My Dog Resource & Record Book was just released on June 28th. It’s marketed mainly as a pet product and a gift. The business model is somewhat unique because it’s distributed in the Twin Cities area by Fetch Delivers, a company that delivers pet food.
Christmas sales are projected to be big this year, with the new book expected to make a profit by the end of 2010. This book would make a great gift for all dog lovers and from veterinarians, realtors, insurance agents, and others to their dog-loving clients.
Future business plans include new formats like audio products and eBooks. I teach a community education class called, “How to Find Your True Passions in Life: What I Learned from My Journey with 8 State Hurricane Kate.” People from other parts of the country have asked me to make the content available in an audio or video format. Other ideas include writing a children’s book about 8 State Kate and how she overcame adversity, creating a Not Without My Cat Resource & Record Book, and making eBooks from the content of the Not Without My Dog book.
Are there any big events for 8 State Kate Press on the horizon?
Look for the Not Without My Dog Resource & Record Book in the pet building at the Minnesota State Fair this year. Stay tuned regarding possible corporate alliances.
I’ve been asked to donate copies of both books to each attendee at the K5 Katrina Animal Rescuers reunion in New Orleans in August (the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina). I’m beginning to seek individual or corporate sponsors for the books and to thank the volunteers from all over the country who rescued and cared for lost animals after Hurricane Katrina.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Nothing silences doubt like putting one foot in front of the other and moving in the direction of your dreams. Keep taking that next step.
For more information on 8 State Kate Press, visit 8StateKate.net
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