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OINT OF VIEW
I AM AUSTIN WOMAN
THE COST OF CAREER FREEDOM Rock Candy Media Founder and CEO Annie Liao Jones found her calling through trial, error and overcoming terror.
When I anxiously quit the sales job and started my marketingI think all of it may be due to birth order. As the oldest of and-advertising company, Rock Candy Media, from my home in three, I was definitely not a good teenager, in any sense of 2009, I truly had no plan B. I’m not sure how to explain what it feels the phrase. But I knew I would turn out OK. There wasn’t a like to start your own business other than this: It’s like becoming a way to convey that to my parents, and I understand that, parent. Do you know if you have what it takes? How do you know especially now that I’m a mom to an 8-year-old. you’ll be a good one? It’s the fear of It wasn’t supposed to turn the unknown. You just know you need out this way. I went to the to do it, so you jump off that cliff with University of Texas and my enough certainty you’ll turn out fine. degree was in magazine jourStarting a business may have solved nalism. All my dreams were of my quarter-life crisis, but it came with working in publishing. Those its own set of challenges and stresses. dreams were dashed when I When I worked as a salesperson for moved to New York, saw how another company, I was hustling for much (or, for that matter, how a commission. Now I sell as hard as I little) journalists make, especan to make sure my employees can cially starting out, and cerpay rent and feed their families. New tainly when everything there freedom came with greater responsiis out-of-control expensive. bility. I have to ensure the livelihood of So, I did the typical Amerimy clients and my employees. I have can what-am-I-supposed-toto grow the company aggressively do kind of thing. I got a job in to make sure we’re secure under an sales, with no prior experience. unexpected downturn. I knew I had a knack for it, but It can get rocky—sometimes, I had to prove it to myself. My downright chaotic—but it’s so much boss definitely took a risk on more rewarding. I’ve been treated me, and for that, I will be loyal as a fascination for being a female to his company for life. entrepreneur. A prospect once told Somewhere along the way, me I reminded him of his wife, and things went haywire. I was I’ve been called pushy and bossy in making more money than scenarios in which a man would be I’d ever thought I’d have, but considered assertive or commandafter seven years, I looked ing. It was never my intention to be a around and thought, “I’m way great female entrepreneur. I wanted too young to just have my life to be a great business owner—period. be like this.” I used to think Now Rock Candy Media is more money would buy me freethan fine. We have a real office, great dom. So, I went for the money. clients and an unrestrained attitude. When I had it, I had to learn It’s not what I thought I’d be doing two things: Money can’t buy I’ve been called pushy and bossy in when I was 22 years old, but it’s an happiness and, in fact, money scenarios in which a man would be almost perfect reflection of who I’ve can be a prison. It was an become through it all. internal debate of sorts, one considered assertive or commanding. I didn’t do it myself. Achieving in which my heart wanted to your own ambitions is almost never a go one way and my head kept solo pursuit, and a good team is always stronger than the sum of its saying, “Who in their right mind would leave a 7-year-old job that parts. I try to hire people smarter than me and people who do what brought in over six figures a year?” I cannot. I think that has been the secret to our success. I worked hard, so hard, to prove to myself that sales was my My journey is hardly over. My challenges are not overcome. I thing. It was something I naturally excelled in, but I was at the certainly don’t have things figured out. And if that day ever comes, point in life where deep down inside, I knew I had to move on. I that’s when I’ll know it’s time for another change. couldn’t—and still can’t—live with a what if? Austin Woman features a reader-submitted essay every month in the I Am Austin Woman column. To be considered for December’s I Am Austin Woman, email a 500-word submission on a topic of your choice by Nov. 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com with the subject line “I Am Austin Woman.”
88 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2017