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Shared Vision
An Interview with Jeff & Blythe Veltman:
Web & CD Rom Producers
(August 25, 1998)



Meet Jeff & Blythe Veltman

Blythe (30) was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago, and received a degree in Telecommunications (emphasis in video/audio production) from Indiana University. After graduation Blythe's path led her to freelance production work in Chicago and San Francisco, and a period as general manager for an architecture firm in the Windy City where she learned the "business side" of business. It was during this period she met Jeff....

Jeff (30) was born in Wilmette and received as degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. After graduating, he stayed in the area for 2 years and worked for a lobby group for national health care before moving to Chicago. In Chicago, Jeff explored all sides of the music industry from working at WXRT Radio, Tower Records, interning at recording studio,and working on live music promotions. He eventually ended up working for a market research firm and was there when he met Blythe...

Jeff and Blythe were engaged when Blythe was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. During treatment (she is now in full remission and doing great) they took the opportunity for introspection, finding inner peace, and balancing life's mysteries. They also used the time to learn more about the internet and the software involved and found a shared passion for all thing multi-media. They then jumped into the industry with both feet and sat up their own multimedia production company in Chicago, Jevou's B'shert, Inc. (or JBInteraction) where they have found their path to success and happiness.

Check out their corporate web site at jbinteraction.com for more details on their current activities.


Interview Excerpts

Levels Of Success
B'shert
Priorities In Perspective
Shared Vision
Mutual Support


quoteFor so long I had this feeling, as a lot of my friends have, of what the hell are we doing here. Bouncing around from different jobs and trying to find what you're able to do well. I think I feel like I've succeeded in that sense.

Levels Of Success

JEFF:
I guess there's many different levels to success.

BLYTHE
The first level is just being happy with what we do and just enjoying it.

JEFF
I think we have definitely obtained that to some degree. For so long I had this feeling, as a lot of my friends have, of what the hell are we doing here. Bouncing around from different jobs and trying to find what you're able to do well. I think I feel like I've succeeded in that sense, just using the tools we have upstairs, the computers, we have succeeded. At least with that. But then there is obviously financial success which I don't know if we'll ever really understand what that's all about. (Laughs)

BLYTHE
As long as we just have enough to make ends meet, go camping, travel around, that's all that really counts.

JEFF
To make ends meet is success for me.

BLYTHE
Yeah, if you can do that now a days you're golden! (Laughs)

JEFF
I guess the problem with money is you get a little bit and you want a little more. Trying to find your balance with that is the real trick.

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quoteYou think about it all your life "what the hell am I going to do," and we still have a lot of friends that are still saying that. But it kinda hit us like a tons of bricks. You can search forever but you know what, it finds you. You can't find it.

B'shert

BLYTHE
"B'shert" means soul mate destined to be. And we actually feel we have found this, that this [multi-media production] is what we really want to do. It's funny, you think about it all your life "what the hell am I going to do," and we still have a lot of friends that are still saying that. But it kinda hit us like a tons of bricks. You can search forever but you know what, it finds you. You can't find it. When I was sick I had nothing to do, I couldn't concentrate on reading a book. So we decided to find something that would use my brain a little bit so it wouldn't turn to mush. So I decided to learn some computer software. That led to our interest in multimedia and the birth of our business.

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quote You're only here for so long, if you want to do something then go do it.

Priorities In Perspective

BLYTHE
Being ill puts your priorities into perspective. As horrible as it is, going through chemotherapy and all that in a sense is also the best thing that could happen. You realize that life is not just work, not "I gotta be the top, gotta make my $100,000 every 6 months," whatever. It's family and friends. It's "lets go traveling and check out this country, explore the world." Business is not number one on the list. You're only here for so long, if you want to do something then go do it.

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quoteIt's like having the power of the world at your fingertips and at times you feel invincible - no one can talk you out of your positive mode.

Shared Vision

JEFF
Having a shared vision is quite eye opening and inspiring. We all know what it feels like to discover something your are talented at and really find rewarding, but to have both of you feel the same way is awesome. It's like having the power of the world at your fingertips and at times you feel invincible - no one can talk you out of your positive mode. Granted finding that path was not "easy", it never is, but it all falls in place.

Many people ask us how we are able to spend 24 hours with each other (work and play) and we always smile and shrug our shoulders. It's the love we have for each other and the same passion for mutual interests that keep snowballing into something bigger. Of course you have a bit of compromise on both sides for different issues - you discuss all points of view and agree on the best solution. One other thing: you also learn from each others' mistakes. Mistakes always have a good outcome - never view them as negative - even if you don't realize it until 6 months later.

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quoteAs much as we have common interests and act as one, we still have independence from each other.

Mutual Support

BLYTHE
Of course we have individual passions/paths - as much as we have common interests and act as one, we still have independence from each other. It's quite Taoistic - each of us is an independent person with our own dreams but together we are complete and whole and will achieve those individual dreams (and combined dreams) together. All these individual paths will be discovered in time with the help of the other - we support each other in all aspects of life.

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© Copyright Chris Moeller & Brian Ardinger, 1998


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