SHAWN WILSIE

In 1992, I left my job in radio to join a small group of hosts at a new shopping network called ValueVision. There, I primarily sold jewelry, with the occasional wristwatch or home product in the mix. We were a small company but after NBC came in and rebranded us as ShopNBC, it really took off. It was back then I became the number one seller of watches on TV.

By the early 2000s, despite enjoying both my work and my colleagues, I realized that my aversion to Minnesota winters had reached its limit. At the same time, the industry was evolving in a way that didn’t align with my personality and I needed a change. That change came thanks to Dan Dennis, a longtime friend since the early '90s, who was working at a new shopping network based in Austin. After my shifts, I’d tune in and think, “They’re having fun. That’s where I want to be.” It took some time to make the move, but I eventually did—and I’ve never been happier in my career.