Featured Business
Business: Prime Choice Media
Website: www.primechoicemedia.com
Owner: Mike Whytsell

Family: Married to my wife of 5 years but been together for 15. Have two kids one 15 and one 6 years of age. Have two cats one is Crystal and the other is Cuddles.

First Job: My first job was a telemarketer collecting donations for fire departments and veterans association for 2 years. This job gave me a lot of sales experience but was shortly lived after 2 years.

Worst Job: I would have to agree with Patrick Palmer on the blog that being a dishwasher at Shoney’s restaurant while I was in high school was also my worse job that I have ever done.

Where did you grow up: I was born in Germany but became a US citizen at age 6. We then moved to WV in USA tell I was 23 then I relocated to WA State and have been here since.

What did you want to be when you grow up: I always liked to fix things and take things apart to see how things worked. I love the accomplishment of fixing something it’s a great feeling! I have always been around computers and tinkered with them and must say got shocked a few times and blew some processors but that was before I knew what I was doing lol. I have self taught myself almost everything I know by reading and trial and error. I have always known I would eventually have my own business in computers fixing or building them. Without computers I would be a sad sad man!

How did you end up owning your own business: Well I would have to say the current economy pushed me into starting my own business. I have been fixing friends and family computers along time and they told me I need to open a store because I am awesome at what I do. I did just that and I am now the proud owner of Prime Choice Media and loving every min of it! I never knew how getting paid for what I’ve been doing for free for years felt like. I also have to give a shout out to Enterprise for Equity.
http://www.enterpriseforequity.org. They are a local company who help small low-income businesses to start a business. They have taught me so much and helped my business prosper to what it is today. Two thumbs up!!!

What is the biggest decision you are wrestling with now: I would have to say I having difficult time if I should hire someone now or wait. I am a one man show now with my wife as the secretary and I know that I can’t do it all. I am building my Image and a wrong employee could destroy my image since my business is based on 110% customer support. I’ll leave it in Gods hand for now.

What is one thing you would change about your job: The only thing I would change is our Office space its small and we share with another business. Once business picks up I will relocate to my own building and continue to plant my seeds and wait for the fruit to come!

What do you like most about your job now: Oh well let’s see. NO BOSS breathing down my neck. Take vacations when I want to. Able to spend time with my kids when I want to but most importantly is helping people solve their computer issues and seeing their smiling faces when I tell them problem solved.

What motivates you: My motivation comes from my family. To be able to provide for them and buy them anything they want. I also look at my business as I have to repair it because it isn’t fixed tell I am helping at least 100 people or more a month. When you first start a business its broke and you have to apply yourself and get it up and running like a well oiled machine.

What do you do for fun: I like going paintballing with family and jet ski-ing. I love to just take the weekend and go camping and BBQ-ing and just be silly with family.

What do you consider your greatest achievement so far: I would have to say that would be starting my own business Prime Choice Media and building my business plan. It’s not been easy but it has had its rewards!

What the best career advice anyone has given you: That would be to under promise your clients and then over deliver to them. Been using that tactic and it works well I must say!

Mike Whytsell
Owner
Prime Choice Media PC Repair
1804 Olympic Hwy N.
Shelton WA 98584
360-426-6741
www.primechoicemedia.com