Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Strauss.
Hi Jaclyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a native of South Florida, a product of our public school system, and a Florida Gator where I earned my undergraduate and master’s degrees in accounting. I am a licensed CPA in the State of Florida and have been for nearly 19 years. I have always had the fire in my belly to get out there and make things happen from a very young age. I was hanging flyers all over my neighborhood after completing a babysitting certification course at a local hospital at 11. I was booked for months on end and could not be happier. Part of the fabric of who I am is having intellectual curiosity like no other. I always want to dig into the “why behind the what” to ensure I understand.
I am also a SURVIVOR. I survived a near-death experience with the delivery of my daughter as I suffered a post-delivery hemorrhage followed by a severe and life-threatening infection. None of the doctors thought I would make it home alive and told my family to prepare for that scenario. I believe that seconds before opening my eyes, I saw myself in the most beautiful place surrounded by my husband and three 1/2-year-old son, the next thing I knew, my eyes opened, and I was granted my second chance.
I am the type of person that tries hard to be everything to everybody. I have a voice that I am not afraid to use and the courage to step up to the plate.
I service several small businesses in our community through accounting services and have worked in the healthcare industry for 17 years, where I am a mid-level executive. I have also taught college accounting at Broward College for nearly 16 years and find it rewarding. In addition to these things, I recently launched a massive passion project of mine and am the Founder of my own company called My Macro Memoir. I created it out of a need that I had after coming home from the hospital with my eyes wide open on what I needed to do to make life more efficient and secure for the day that I don’t come home. Let’s face it; it is not a matter of if, but it is when. And I don’t want my entire ship to sink with me if I go down. I am motivated each day by my efficiency and security for the day that I don’t come home. I am inspired each day by my children and would never want to leave them in a bad situation of not knowing. As an adult child to aging parents, I hope that I am not left not knowing the things they intend for me to know. We all need to prepare, and I am determined to change the reactive approach people take into a culture of being more proactive.
I also dedicate a lot of time as a Board member for a local non-profit in the education space. I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, granddaughter (my grandmother is 101), friend, confidant, and colleague. So many people have told me to stop trying to change the world, as it is impossible, but I can’t. Even if what I contribute is part of a more significant change, my energy invested will be well worth it.
I can wear multiple hats as none of what I take on seems like work, as I have a passion for everything that I take on. When it is not enjoyable and begins to feel like work, I remove it from my plate. I am also pretty darn good at being super-efficient and organized, minimizing wasted time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are so many obstacles and challenges that I have faced and continue to meet every day. Without a challenge, I think life can get pretty dull. My biggest daily challenges are how to stay true to myself and my children and being present when they are home before and after school. I realize that the years are so limited that they will want to be with me or literally on top of me that I can’t let them pass me by because I am too occupied with my emails or phone.
I also have to work on myself daily and be mindful of how I am showing up, as I tend to overdo my passions at times where they present as weaknesses. I realize that 90% of life is perception, and perception is reality.
Being a true entrepreneur for the first time with the launch of My Macro Memoir has presented my biggest challenge yet. I am so determined and refuse to fail, so matter how hard and how many changes or different turns I have to make based on what the market is telling me, I am committed to listening and find the market fit. I know it is out there; I have to see it or find someone willing to mentor me because they have a passion for coaching people and building others up, especially lifelong learners like me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about My Macro Memoir?
Ask yourself this question, “Have I ever witnessed or personally experienced frantically searching for something or digging through papers looking for answers once someone has passed away?”
I stayed true to two pillars during the development of my technology while maintaining an overall theme.
The theme was to keep it “simple and stupid,” and the two pillars were the following:
Security is most important
Time is Money
I successfully met both pillars and my overarching theme once my platform was complete. Except there is one outcome that I did not foresee would come: a simple but NOT stupid service.
There are many digital organization tools out there that one can utilize. However, the challenge is that you have to know what you need and want to input and organize.
That is where the simplicity of My Macro Memoir® comes into play. The goal is the exact opposite: you don’t have to put thought into beginning as the system does it for you. The technology provides a guided user experience through yes or no questions ONLY, separated into seven palatable sections. These questions allow the thinking to essentially be done for the user and spark their thought process when organizing what is most important.
I believe that we very much desire options in life, and we all have different comfort levels with storing sensitive information in a cloud-based platform.
Rather than allow that to be an obstacle, I provide the user with options. Nothing is required to be complete, and nothing is needed to be uploaded. Instead, you can free text where you store the physical copies of the information if you prefer. For example, my 70-year-old mother has a physical piece of paper with all of her user names and passwords on it. She did not want to upload it to her memoir but instead typed into the yes/no question on passwords that she stores the piece of paper in her nightstand drawer. She felt better almost immediately, knowing that her memoir will serve as her memory assistant when she forgets where it is. She also felt the peace of mind knowing that I (her daughter) and the only person she designated as her confidant (the one authorized person to access her memoir in her absence) will know where I can find the paper. Bonus: I took a sigh of relief that I will never be searching for the breadcrumbs, as she is giving them to me via her memoir.
The objective is to keep the series accessible, affordable, and user-friendly for all. I wanted to make sure that we kept the cost low so that price isn’t a barrier to anyone. The cost is $75/year with a 30-day free trial. The team at My Macro Memoir appreciates that we all want to see and feel what we are subscribing to without having to fork up your credit card upfront. Not to sound like a used car salesperson, but you have to see it to believe how simple this is to get done. Suppose you want assistance in completing your memoir. In that case, the team at My Macro Memoir has a list of strategic partners that are professional organizers and efficiency experts ready to help coach you and hold you accountable for completing the process. Just reach out to us!
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My childhood memories consist of mostly the lessons taught through tough love by my parents. I was always expected to focus on my studies first and was held to a very high standard regarding what types of grades I was to deliver. I also grew up in a traditional household where both parents worked. However, my mother was still somewhat subservient to my father. It was old school now that I reflect on the dynamic in my house and the family I have created with my husband. I like to think I am a 51% partner in my household. We always sat down as a family of four to eat dinner each evening and talk or not talk about our days. We were all expected to be present, and I really miss that as it seems nearly impossible to do six days a week like I was accustomed to. My parents always took Saturday nights as date nights, and we were left with the babysitter, which was always a treat for my brother and me.
Pricing:
- $75 per year
Contact Info:
- Email: support@mymacromemoir.com
- Website: mymacromemoir.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymacromemoir/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mymacromemoir, https://www.facebook.com/groups/854227745366064
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCihTtOorn6ukKsD1EE3kjLg
- LinkedIn: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/jaclyn- strauss-mymacromemoir/
Image Credits
Christy & Co. Photography
