​"As young curious-minded entrepreneurial types do, Myra tried out many different job positions. One of those early positions was working for a property owner. She helped manage rentals learning firsthand about maintenance, and how to run a maintenance crew. She was fortunate to have a boss who taught her a little bit about every aspect of the business. She was given a toolbox- a literal one, and she also began building her "business toolbox", though she didn't know that at the time. At 18, he entrusted her with a commercial acquisition project, taught her about lending, and even had her oversee an eviction. "I am ever grateful to him. Looking back I can see just how formational that experience was."

Myra's first business was an independent film production company in Los Angeles, "an invaluable, thrilling trial-by-fire" education that cemented how she has pursued business to this day. She was asked to produce a short 35mm film. Knowing nothing of the industry she asked, "What does a producer do?" The answer was simply, "They make it happen." So she figured out what she needed to often informally interviewing people and making "practice phone calls" using an alias. That first production went off without a hitch. So she put out an ad and just like that- she got work, rented an office, and was in business. She was entrusted by strangers with managing budgets where thousands of dollars were spent each day. "It was an environment of making the nearly impossible come true, day after day." 

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When Myra was 27 Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Due to the government's inaction, she was compelled to help. She didn't mean to start another company. "It just happened." She co-founded an emergency disaster relief non-profit (NFP). It required her to relocate temporarily to Louisiana. It was "all day long, every day for over a year". It was more intense than producing. "The world got smaller. I found myself in rooms with community stakeholders- business owners, judges... I realized that I can have a large impact simply by being a do-er. I needed to keep asking the right people questions and keep pushing things forward." But the non-profit grew too fast, and front-line work was too hard on her heart so she moved back to LA to continue her side endeavors of flipping homes. The non-profit went on to grow internationally. It did beautiful work including aiding thousands of refugees for over 4 years in the Oinofyta, Greece Refugee Camp. 

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With the NFP taking on a life of its own Myra took a position with a real estate development firm in Beverly Hills with projects locally and internationally where she could utilize her skillset. Her earlier education in real estate and her flippers provided her a foundation to dive into these much larger projects and find her way. Involved in a handful of multi-million dollar commercial projects she seized every opportunity to learn. "It wasn't easy. It wasn't without some serious ethical compromise (like evicting renters to build hig-end condos). So... I couldn't stay. But it was another big part of my real-world business education."

At 30, with the downturn in the economy caused by the housing crash ('07), Myra seized an opportunity to move to New Zealand where she would finally learn how to have a healthy work/life balance. She took up surfing and fell in love with the land. She wanted to stay but she needed a visa. She looked for a market void and found one. She started an unfunded niche flooring business championing sustainability and marketed to architects & interior designers. The company imported, designed and created products, and managed each installation across upmarket residential and commercial projects- restaurants & bars, flagship banks, and hotels. Myra recalls with a smile on her face how humble its beginning was- a true no-money start-up. NTF (Natural Timber Floors, Ltd) was well-known almost overnight, garnering some of the largest contracts in the country. The business grew over 300% YOY during a depressed economy. All the while she prioritized a manageable schedule. "I had learned how to do business that didn't have to take up all of me." A handful of years in, she started her family and it was time to return home to the US. 

Back stateside, when it was time to return to work, now with a daughter in tow, Myra combined her real estate and subcontracting project management experience and her unshakable entrepreneurial mindset to begin looking for that market void. This company combined construction project management with interior design. Clients loved having a woman at the helm with both trades under one roof eliminating the common problems of design fighting with function. This business allowed her the control over her schedule that she needed as a mother. She was able to run away to the park mid-day and cuddle before nap time. 

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One thing this interviewer can't skip over is that Myra didn't choose to be an entrepreneur. She didn't have a choice in this part of her life's path. Perhaps it is inborn. She loves a challenge. She loves problem-solving. She craves efficiency. She makes decisions autonomously. She trusts herself whether her opinion is formed by gut instinct or backed by the data. She doesn't mind having all the weight of a company's success or failure on her shoulders. "The market is the test. The market is my report card," she says. She seeks satisfaction in creating something from what started out as just an idea. "It's so rewarding." With her entrepreneurial spirit and can-do personality, it is not surprising that through the years many have sought her out to consult with her regarding their career and business endeavors.

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Covid threw a serious wrench in her renovation business. Though she didn't realize it at the time, covid did her a favor. She transitioned to consulting full-time and has found herself in the career where she belongs. Her business experiences allow her to connect with a wide variety of clients. "The small business formula makes sense. They have a product or service. The community needs it. It's simple. It's a good feeling. Big companies inevitably equal compromise for the employee and for the community." She loves sharing what she has learned and challenges people to think differently. And she reminds them that while starting a business is hard, small businesses are important. "They provide us with an income that we can feel proud of. They bring diversity to the products and services available in the local marketplace, unlike big online businesses. And they offer accountability- reachable customer service which keeps businesses serving the community not just the bottom line. I don't want a world without mom-and-pop companies, a world dominated by the share-holder driven corporations."

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INTJ