When Carolyn Starks, 49, lost her reporting job at the Chicago Tribune, she wrote a new chapter in her life by launching StoryBuilders Books in Chicago, IL.

I’d spent many years paying
my dues as a newspaper
reporter when i landed a
job at the Chicago Tribune.
Finally life was good. i
was a reporter at one of the
country’s largest newspapers,
covering the suburban
market. i was even nominated
for a Pulitzer Prize.
Plus, my work life balance
was in sync. then one day
they closed my section.
i was stunned—but
thankful. writing story
after story about the city’s
water/sewage system is
about as sexy as it sounds.
And i had been toying with
the idea of leaving for two
years, but kept thinking:
you just don’t leave
the Chicago Tribune.
the other reason
i didn’t quit was that i
don’t handle change well.
now, here it was. change
stamped right on a pink
slip. So i embraced what
was happening. What now?
i thought as i was reading
books with my younger
daughter, natalie, who has
to be coaxed into a storytime
session. And that’s
where i found my answer.
to get her to like reading
and writing, i was trying
to find something she’d
connect with better, and
that’s when i came up with
the idea for StoryBuilders
Books. the books feature
writing prompts woven
into each story, giving kids
the chance to write along
in the book as they read.
i recruited journalist
friends to write the books,
and i did the editing.
natalie loved them—maybe
because as a child, writing
in a book is something
you’re never allowed to do.
two books have come
out so far—to great reviews
and response. there are
six more in the pipeline for
the Spies series. of course,
being an entrepreneur
means thinking about my
business 24/7. So i set up
rules for myself in order
to run the business and not
have it run me. Although
we’re living on one paycheck
(my husband john’s)
while i grow the business,
there’s a skill in living frugally.
there’s also a power
in listening to the inner
voice that urges you to take
that much-awaited next
step. —As told to Jennifer Parris

I’d spent many years paying my dues as a newspaper reporter when I landed a job at the Chicago Tribune. Finally life was good. I was a reporter at one of the country’s largest newspapers, covering the suburban market. I was even nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Plus, my work life balance was in sync. Then one day they closed my section.

I was stunned—but thankful. Writing story after story about the city’s water/sewage system is about as sexy as it sounds. And i had been toying with the idea of leaving for two years, but kept thinking: you just don’t leave the Chicago Tribune.

The other reason I didn’t quit was that I don’t handle change well. Now, here it was. Change stamped right on a pink slip. So I embraced what was happening. What now? I thought as I was reading books with my younger daughter, Natalie, who has to be coaxed into a storytime session. And that’s where I found my answer. To get her to like reading and writing, I was trying to find something she’d connect with better, and that’s when i came up with the idea for StoryBuilders Books. The books feature writing prompts woven into each story, giving kids the chance to write along in the book as they read. I recruited journalist friends to write the books, and I did the editing. Natalie loved them—maybe because as a child, writing in a book is something you’re never allowed to do.

Two books have come out so far—to great reviews and response. There are six more in the pipeline for the Spies series. Of course, being an entrepreneur means thinking about my business 24/7. So I set up rules for myself in order to run the business and not have it run me. Although we’re living on one paycheck (my husband John’s) while I grow the business, there’s a skill in living frugally. There’s also a power in listening to the inner voice that urges you to take that much-awaited next step. 

Top Lessons

1 Breathe.
When you’ve hit a bump in the road, just take a deep breath. I like to go for a walk or get a coffee.

2 Make lists.
Each day, write down the things you must get done, and make another list underneath it for the things you’d like to get done if there is time. Cross tasks off when they are finished. It will help organize your day—and make you feel like you’ve accomplished a lot at the end of it.

3 Live in the moment.
Let go of that negative comment somebody shot your way and genuinely connect to the people who matter the most.

4 Form strategic partnerships.
Find the people who have expertise in areas that you don’t have and ask them for help.