the story behind the creator

HI, I'M
OLENA.

Self-taught creator, dog mom, part-time gardener, and someone who has been figuring things out in public since the beginning. Here's the real story.

Olena at her creator desk
where I'm from

FIGURING IT OUT
FROM SCRATCH.

I grew up in Eastern Europe, speaking three languages before I ever touched a camera or thought about building something online. Moving countries, navigating new cultures, learning how things work in a completely different context — that's been a constant part of my life.

It taught me something, though. When you don't have a roadmap, you pay attention differently. You ask more questions. You take notes. You stay organized, because you have to. And somewhere along the way, that learning curve stopped feeling like a burden and started feeling like a skill.

I'm not someone who waits until everything is perfect to start. I'm the person who starts and figures the rest out as I go — with a sense of humor about all of it.

Olena with her husband and Gunny in the mountains
how this all started

AMAZON, AFFILIATE,
AND A LOT OF
LEARNING.

I started with Amazon Influencer almost by accident — curious about whether it was actually possible, and stubborn enough to find out. Then affiliate marketing. Then YouTube. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, building something real started to feel possible.

My husband has been my biggest support system and cheerleader through all of it — through every learning curve, every late night of editing, and every "I think I finally figured this out" moment that led to another thing I had to figure out. That kind of support changes how you approach everything.

I'm still very much in the middle of building. That's the point. I'm not teaching from the end of the road — I'm sharing from the process.

clicks that create smiles

THE CHANNEL
THAT STARTED
WITH A SMILE.

The name says exactly what it does. You click play. A dog does something funny and completely wonderful. You smile. That's the whole formula, and it has never once failed me.

CTCS started because I genuinely believe the world needs more of that — small, simple moments that feel good. I had an incredible Doberman who started this whole journey with me, and who I still think about. He was the kind of dog who made people stop and stare in the best way.

Now Gunny, my Miniature Schnauzer all the way from Texas, is the one running the show. He showed up like he owned the place, and honestly, he kind of does.

Olena and Gunny — he's giving her a kiss
Olena and Gunny
the creator diary

OLENAOJC IS
THE REAL
PROCESS.

OlenaOJC is where I document what's actually happening — not the highlight reel, but the behind the scenes. How I built two YouTube channels from nothing. What's working in Amazon Influencer and affiliate marketing. Where I'm still learning and what I'm trying next.

I share what I know, what I'm testing, and what didn't work the way I thought it would. There's no pretending here. If I figured something out, I'll tell you. If I got something wrong, I'll tell you that too.

This is my creator diary. You're welcome to follow along for as much or as little as fits your life right now.

Outside of the camera, you'll usually find me in the garden — growing tomatoes, tending my houseplants, or just being close to nature. There's something very grounding about putting your hands in the soil and watching something grow at its own pace. It keeps me sane, and honestly it's not that different from everything else I do here.

two channels, one story

COME WATCH
WHAT WE'RE BUILDING.

Whether you're here for the creator process, the affiliate marketing journey, or a Miniature Schnauzer who takes himself very seriously — there's a place for you.

Watch OlenaOJC → Watch Clicks That Create Smiles →

Self-taught creator.
Still learning.
Enjoying time with her family.

If something I share helped you, a coffee ☕ or a smile 😊 is always appreciated and never expected. Thank you for your support.

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