From Sales Star to Solopreneur
Whitney McMillen always knew she wanted more. Her journey to becoming a flourishing branding solopreneur was less about following a clear-cut path and more about responding to the ebb and flow of life's opportunities. As she navigates this vibrant chapter of her life, Whitney reflects on how her early obsession with making money morphed into a fulfilling career she couldn't have anticipated.
Growing up, Whitney was surrounded by the tangible rewards of hard work. She would meticulously rake leaves, clean grout, and even run a lemonade stand for a mere five cents a cup. For her, each crisp $20 bill was a token of achievement and independence. While entrepreneurship wasn't something her family directly showed her, her ambition to earn and her resourcefulness were innate.
Whitney's career kicked off with a commission-based sales job at Nordstrom. It was here she learned the art of relationship building and customer loyalty. "Nordstrom just gets people," she says, describing an environment that prioritized relationships over transactions. This mindset steered her through various roles, each step strengthening her conviction to someday run her own business.
After building sales acumen at Nordstrom, Whitney transitioned to selling fine art in a gallery. By then, her entrepreneurial itch was impossible to ignore. "I just knew something wasn't right," she recalls, a feeling that stemmed from the predictability of working for others. Yet, she was plagued by the uncertainty of starting her own venture.
An unexpected opportunity to manage someone else's custom merch business during the pandemic turned out to be a pivotal moment. The experience was a whirlwind of challenges and revelations. Taking charge of operations exposed her to the nitty-gritty of running a company, albeit a chaotic one. It was a learning ground she didn’t expect but one she embraced fully. When an offer to buy the business wasn't welcomed, Whitney decided to step out on her own path, launching her branding venture—a harmonious blend of creativity and commerce, named Custom Concepts.
Today, Whitney thrives by designing logos, consulting on e-commerce, and creating custom merchandise that resonates deeply with clients. Her approach is both simple and profound: identify a problem, offer a solution, and earn from it. “It’s kind of scrappy, but that’s what it takes,” she laughs, emphasizing the need for a gritty mindset. This philosophy is a nod to her childhood days of earning any way she could, a reminder that the most complex challenges can often have simple solutions.
Whitney now enjoys the freedom she once only dreamt of. She works within her own terms, choosing projects that fuel her creativity while ensuring financial stability. Her vision is not about unprecedented growth but about balance—maintaining a handful of significant clients while enjoying a creative sideline tinkering with a playful clothing line.
Whitney’s journey is a testament to finding peace in simplicity, an attribute that resonates with many budding entrepreneurs. “I love this lack of stress. It’s great,” she reflects with satisfaction. Beyond financial achievements or business accolades, Whitney cherishes building a life that aligns with her values where work feels less like “work” and more like living.
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