“Women at Work” | @IamBAK | Britnie Kaplan

I’ve been waiting to post this “Women at Work” feature for awhile!  Why you ask?!

Well for one … because IamBAK owner, Britnie Kaplan, knows my love for all things fall and winter sports, and is sponsoring the “Game On” giveaway on KholiOli.Com!

HOW TO ENTER

Follow @IamBAK  & @khoLi on Twitter

AND

Like IamBAK and KholiOli.Com on FB

AND

TWEET “I’m entering @IamBAK and @kholi’s ‘Game On’ Giveaway!”

OR

Comment below: “I’m entering @IamBAK and @kholi’s ‘Game On’ Giveaway!”

WIN ONE OF THESE!

Length of Contest: December 11, 2011 - January 30, 2012 

Can you figure out why we haven’t really announced this giveaway that was supposed to start on November 1, 2011  … with the opening of the NBA season?!  Oh, yes, you’re right.  Because there was no opening.  Now that the lockout is “over,” I can get back to wearing my “Shhhh, honey the game is on” shirt from IamBAK.com and celebrating all parts of former athlete/cheerleader/band dancing girl in me (because it’s always about me) folks seem to be getting their lives back together.  And I like that.  So does Britnie.

So … this week, we’ll talk “Women at Work” and contests … next week … we’ll talk inside lockout “scoop.”  You ready?!  Of course you are!

1. What is your dream job?

A:  As cliche as it sounds, I have my dream job. Not saying that I’m content with just this, because I have other goals and ambitions outside of IamBAK. But as long as I’m my own boss and able to express my creative outlook, then I can say that I am living my dream job the way I want to.

 

2. What industry is most of your work concentrated in? 

A: Fashion & Sports would be the primary focus as of now. I decided to focus on combining two things I love and bring a unique quality to my work that I truly
care about and hope others will care about as well.

 

3. Got a side hustle?  How does it affect your daily schedule?

A: A side hustle? Jay-Z’s “You Don’t Know” is pretty much my anthem when it comes to the hustle game lol. I’m always working on something or finding ways to just
express my imagination. I design and create handmade tutu’s, invitations, and I’ve invested in 2 family businesses which deal with jewelry and a cell phone company. Right now, I have Project Blessed, which is my non-profit charity that is dedicated to giving toys for under privileged children around the holidays. I’m excited to say that it’s in it’s second year and I can’t wait to get back started with that again.

I don’t really consider me having a schedule since there’s so much going on. Most of my days last 13-14 hours. At times, I’ve found myself having to be told to eat
something because I’ll be working so much, I simply forget.

 

4. Discuss your path to where you are now in your career?  Has it been planned?  Were there unexpected turns?

A: The path I took was very unconventional and random in a sense. I was just feeling very down and out about life in general. More specifically my health. Not to
get too much into it, but I’ve been in and out of the hospital due to a liver condition that effects my auto immune system called primary sclerosing cholangitis and it was keeping my spirits down a bit. Plus with school, the jewelry shop, and cell phone business I was out of sorts.

I had a conversation about my feelings with one of my best friends Chauncey and I started expressing how I just felt as if I wasn’t feeling accomplished in life. We went back and forth about it and I just decided that I needed to go ahead and start my own business and get into my passion which is fashion. Oh that rhymed, thank goodness I wasn’t trying to be a rapper lol.  Anywho, once I make that decision all I can say is that I’m blessed and thankful with all that God has brought me and I’ve been feeling better than I have ever in my life. Outside of the constant stress this job brings lol but accomplished and satisfied, for now at least.

 

5. What have you discovered about yourself along the journey?

A: Oh wow.  I can say that I’ve discovered parts of me that I didn’t even knew existed. The mental strength, patience and ambition it takes to run your own business is
unparalleled to a lot of things and those traits are something that I used to sorely lack. I always was a big dreamer, but I just lacked the understanding for what it took in order to do this. Now that I’m getting into it, I have a pretty good grasp on those things and I’ll continue to build upon that to better myself.

6. If you knew in the beginning what you know now, would you have done anything differently?

A: Well, outside of playing the stock market and Mega Million winning numbers, not so much lol. Although, I would like to say yes, but at the same time I wouldn’t have learned as much as I have and met the people that I have along this journey of mine. I’m truly grateful for each and every person I’ve met and I know without them I wouldn’t be where I am today and posed to reach my future goals. Those things are what have made me, me and appreciate what I’ve learned
along the way and still learning!

7. Describe a day in your life.

A: I’m in such a routine, but at the same time I’m not because I’m always bouncing all over the place. My friends now call me “Carmen Sandiego.” I don’t know if it’s
a compliment or not, but it is what it is lol. No matter where I am, the first and last thing I do is pray and give thanks for everything I’ve received by the grace of God. I’m back and forth biweekly from Orange City & Miami. In between these visits I’m answering e-mails, phone calls, doing promotions, networking, packing and shipping out shirts from IamBAK, figuring out new ways DAILY to appeal to customers I haven’t reached yet and building my audience. Since I’m just starting out, I’m a one woman working power house right now. I would LOVE to be able to have 5 or 6 other Britnies helping me or at least a few cute little Britnie’s helper elves. But at the same time, it’s non-stop, exhausting, rewarding and tons of fun. And in the midst of all this I always set time aside for my little sisters, daily, no matter what city I am in.  They are what keep me sane through all of this madness.

 

8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? 10 years?

A: This question was so hard to answer growing up. I’m glad I can say this with more confidence and maturity outside of “marrying my celebrity crush who was Charles
Barkley and we live happily ever after.” Please don’t ask why, but I just loved him for some reason. In 5 years, I hope to own an intermix of a small shoe & clothing boutique in Miami. I’d love Project Blessed being state wide instead of just Central Florida based.

In ten years, expanding on the same boutique in Miami, NY, LA where I can share my love for fashion & sports with people. And I’d love to have Project Blessed
be world wide instead of state wide. 

Can’t get enough of Britnie?!  No worries!  She’ll be back next week!

Share

Tags: britnie kaplan, business, iambak, nba lockout, project blessed, shh honey the game is on, sports, women at work