This is The Do It For Yourself Podcast.  Each week I sit down with someone who is doing it for themselves and chasing a dream they just couldn’t suppress.  This is often speakers, entrepreneurs, or athletes.  They all share one thing in common, they are overcoming challenges and never giving up.  Someone who is Doing It For Themselves is not selfish in their pursuit, they are simply chasing a dream or working towards a goal because it is something THEY want to do.  They are not forging down a path because society or someone is telling them it’s what they should be doing.

My guest this week is Roman Prokopchuk.  Roman is a business owner, entrepreneur, and fitness enthusiast.   I got connected with Roman through a group that we are both in thanks to the Podcast Movement.  As soon as Roman responded to my inquiry I knew that I needed to get him on the show and we did just that.  

Roman immigrated to the United States at a very young age from a communist country.  When they left, they could only take with them what they could carry.  They brought some cash and whatever clothing they could carry but that was it.  Originally Roman was scheduled to arrive on the West Coast but things changed and they ended up in New Jersey and that is where he has been ever since. 

When Roman arrived at the age of 5 there was certainly some stress stemming from the fact that he could not speak English.  The town that his family landed in though had a lot of Ukrainian immigrants that made it a little bit easier for him.  As soon as Roman went to school he began to learn English as his second language.  When Roman was moving into high school he was very athletic and he was focusing on playing sports.  Soccer was were he really excelled and he ended up getting recruited by some division 2 schools.  Roman knew he needed to go to college because he would be the first in his family to attend college and this was very important to him.  

When Roman entered college he was actually an undeclared major because he did not know what he wanted to do.  Criminal Justice was an interest to him at the time and the appeal of being able to put in 25 years and then retire with a pension sounded great.  Going through college Roman was surrounded by people who were working very hard.  His grandfather had to completely start over from retirement when he came to the United States and so hard work was something that was instilled in him at a very young age.  

When Roman was coming to the end of his college career he applied for a relationship with the Secret Service.  This entire application process was a total of 6 months and they went through EVERYTHING.  Once Roman passed everything, he went into the branch that was investigating counterfeit currency.  Roman enjoyed his time working here but he started to see the writing on the wall.  He saw that even if you went above and beyond, you were not necessarily rewarded for it.  

Once Roman graduated things took a bit of a turn because it was 2008 and EVERYONE was on a hiring freeze so he could not find a job.  Roman continued to go to the gym and keep up with his fitness and this helped him not only stay positive but stay in contact with a friend who was just starting his business.  This friend ended up needed help with his business so he gave Roman a packet to study and offered him a job.  Roman read this packet and took what he learned and ran with it.  

Roman ended up working for his friend for two months before another company ended up hiring him.  He pivoted once again and put his resume out there and he found a job.  Roman began in a role where he was focused on marketing and social media market within this company.  There were a lot of younger people working within this company who were going on to starting their own business and Roman thought to himself, they are not smarter than me, I know just as much as them, why can't I?

Roman began to branch off and start his own company from scratch.  He was using his personal days, nights and weekends to build this business.  He was really focused on networking and meeting people who were just as focused to help him grow.  Roman ended up leaving his full-time job and picked up another job just for a few months to make sure he was comfortable until he was ready to go into his business full time.  

Roman is now focused on building his social media market agency full time.  He works fully remote and is enjoying everything that he is doing. 

I really appreciate Roman taking the time to come on the show and I hope that you enjoy this interview!

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