Guidance Counselor to Growth Engine
For 13 years, Tiffany Slowinski worked as a high school guidance counselor. Great benefits. Predictable hours. Union job.
“It was mom-friendly,” she says. “But I knew I was done.”
On maternity leave with her youngest, she saw a Facebook ad for a local editorial role and thought, That job is literally written for me.
She applied. Got it. And accidentally discovered a new gear.
“It was supposed to be content only—but I realized I could make more if I sold ads too. So I asked to see the media kit and just started selling.”
No sales training. No playbook. Just instincts.
Within a year, Tiffany was running the #1 Hulafrog site in the country—and replaced her full-time income.
That was supposed to be the big leap.
Then her husband brought her a new business idea: a City Lifestyle magazine franchise.
“I told him, ‘That’s great—but I already have a job. You go find something to run.’”
An hour later, she was reading the deck. A week later, they signed the deal.
That was six years ago.
Today, they own seven City Lifestyle publications across New Jersey, with plans to hit 20 by 2026. Together, they’ve built a media and local advertising engine that connects business owners, celebrates communities, and creates opportunity.
But it hasn’t been a straight line.
They were Rookie Franchise of the Year in 2019—then COVID hit in 2020.
They slowed. Regrouped. Stabilized.
And now?
“We’re back in growth mode—and we’re throwing gas on the fire.”
What changed?
They figured out the people piece.
Tiffany discovered Culture Index while hiring for her first team—and it was such a game changer, she licensed it herself and started a second company: Team Spark Advisors.
Now she helps other founders get the hiring part right too.
Not just recruiting—but retention, motivation, communication.
Because the wrong hire slows everything down—and the right one multiplies growth.
“It’s not just about getting someone in the door. It’s about keeping them—and knowing how to get the best from them.”
She’s also one of the rare founders building in partnership with her spouse—and she’s honest about what that takes.
They’ve had fights. They’ve learned how to work with (and around) each other’s wiring.
But they’re going the same direction now. And that’s everything.
“What one of us earns, we both earn. There’s no conflict of interest—just shared ownership.”
Tiffany’s also got daughters watching her do it—and they’re already picking it up.
From dog walking and babysitting to modeling in local campaigns, the entrepreneurial gene has clearly passed down.
The Slowinski fam is not just building brands- they’re building systems that multiply.
This is what underestimated looks like.
Let’s Thrive,
—Eric
Want to chat and see if we're a fit? https://www.thrivers.co/check-the-vibe
