He has a good point.

Everyone has a story about how they are the way they are, how they started their business and even how they met their friends or spouse. Some people share that information on their blogs, and some don’t.

I guess I fall into the don’t category. Instead, I share articles to help you improve the way you work from home.

So today, rather than share how-to tips about home office life, I’m starting a new feature called “The Naked Truth.”

While today’s feature is all about me — I can’t ask you to do something I’m not willing to do — in the next Naked Truth post I’ll share other readers’ stories.

Past jobs and what I learned:
Radio salesperson: After I graduated from college with a Journalism degree, I sold radio time for a news/talk radio station. I learned sales skills by having to turn the worst client list into a profitable one.

Special events coordinator for Macy’s Midwest: I met some cool designers including Betsey Johnson, knew every juggler and clown in town, and I had to fire a Santa because he fell asleep while kids were on his lap. Through this job, I sharpened my organizing and public relations skills.

Licensing director for Universal Licensing (a division of what is now called Andrews McMeel Universal): This was my last job before I realized I was unemployable. Our division represented Gary Larson (The Far Side), Cathy Guisewite (Cathy) and other cartoonists who were willing to let our company put their comics on products. This job taught me how to negotiate with clients.

What motivated me to go out on my own
I was bored doing the same thing every day and no longer using the skills I’d learned in other jobs. After I read about a professional organizer who was paid to do something I was already doing for friends and family, for free, I quit my job and started Everything’s Organized. For several years I organized any and all rooms in homes and businesses in the Kansas City area. After I moved to Dallas, I focused solely on the home office market and changed my company name to Home Office Life.

Now it’s your turn. What’s your back-story? Fill out the form below and you and your business may be featured on Working Naked.

Business: The Swim Squad, founded by Aquatics Director Jordan Meher, provides-certified swimming instructors to drive to parents’ homes or community pools to teach swimming lessons.

Motivation: Consumer demand. “While in college, I used to drive around town and teach swimming lessons and was so busy I had to turn potential clients down.  After graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering, my phone continued to ring although I was trying to get a “real” job as an engineer.  After doing some research, I realized there was no program that would send instructors to a parents home pool!”

Outcome: “After 3 successful summers of running The Swim Squad, I have over 25 employees and just recently completed our Franchise Disclosure Documents to become a franchise and spread swimming safety across the country!”

Business:

Motivation: Layoff. “One Thursday I decided I might try my hand at launching a much-needed site in this region (Bucks County, PA). By Monday I had an abbreviated business plan and five pages worth of ideas. Bucks and Montgomery Counties, the suburbs of Philadelphia, are commonly known as BucksMont so the site is appropriately named bucksmontmom.com.”

Outcome: “bucksmontmom.com is receiving a great response and a strong following. I am currently planning two exciting events for the Spring. The advertisers are starting to contact me and the site continues to gain popularity.”