Today kicks off  the 12 Days of Christmas – The Great Holiday Networking Extravaganza!

The Extravaganza, hosted by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen, is an unprecedented opportunity to learn from some of the best entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, and small businesses who share tips for success and secrets to how to have a profitable business. Daily interviews go behind the scenes to share not only success tips but also how these entrepreneurs are reaching goal after goal. Let’s get started with today’s interviews!

INTERVIEW #1

First up is an audio interview with Diana Ennen.  Author and President of Virtual Word Publishing since 1985, Diana has been actively involved in the virtual assisting industry. One of her main passions is helping others start their own business. She offers online consulting and mentoring, and is extremely active on Twitter and Facebook groups. She also is able to help others with their start-up questions by responding via e-mail and sending out a free booklet that she has written, and sample letters, etc. that she has found useful in her own business.     

For Diana’s interview, please click this link.  Diana Ennen Interview.

INTERVIEW #2

Linda M. Lopeke teaches creative entrepreneurs how to take decisive action so they can get their greatest work out into the world. An internationally recognized management consultant, author, business mentor and philanthropist, Linda has helped over 4,100 businesses in 83 countries and donated more than $9M in professional services and support to entrepreneurs through her innovative SMARTSTART programs. 

Contacting Linda: 

www.smartstartcoach.com
www.twitter.com/smartstartcoach
www.linkedin.com/in/smartstartcoach
www.facebook.com/lindalopeke

Tell us a little about your business?

SMARTSTART puts world-class business advice at your fingertips and eliminates guesswork when you are creating new opportunities in business for yourself.

When you use our products, programs and services and work with Smartstartcoach Linda Lopeke to help you solve problems and blaze new trails, you receive business support and create ideas for success faster than you would come up with on your own. We share perspectives you cannot see, and help you create opportunities to produce results you otherwise would not produce.

We are committed to telling the truth about what you need to do to succeed in business, even if — no, especially if — you are building yours online and share straight talk, simple strategies, and stellar results.

What are some of your top tips for success?

• Perfection is not the goal. Excellence will be tolerated.
• Happiness is not the result of success. Success is the result of happiness.
• Work to your strengths and be honest in all your dealings. Honesty starts with self.

Can you share with us two of top ways you market?

• Satisfied clients, customers, students and industry partners are our best advertising.
• We have a licensing program through which our industry partners spread awareness of SMARTSTART programs and offerings.
• We use social media to promote the great work of others, including our competitors, and also to build strategic professional and community relationships.

Are you planning any special holiday promotions

• For 2013, other than participating in your 12 Days of Christmas event no holiday promotions are planned.
• For 2014, we have special promotions planned but none of these are holiday based.

What goals do you have for the new year?

• In 2014 we’ll test a new market each fiscal quarter.
• Two new products are scheduled for release.
• A new philanthropy project is planned for October.

How do you normally obtain those goals?

Strategic planning is done at least a year in advance. We let our current customers have a say in upcoming projects.

Due diligence in our research and building the platform well ahead of a launch makes it easier for our supporters to benefit professionally and financially from our work.

How do you make your business unique & profitable

My commitment to honesty, professional excellence and ongoing education seems to be what makes SMARTSTART the most unique among similar programs.

Any additional tips…come on give us a few secrets to your success!

• Be your best you to create your best work.
• Three keys to all success are: integrity, persistence and resilience.
• Run your own race. Comparison is the root of all unhappiness.

Have any comical stories you’d like to share about your time in business?

I’ve been doing this since 1983 so you’d think I could come up with an example or two but, truthfully, nothing is coming to mind.

Tell us a little about your holidays and how you spend them.  We love to get to know the people behind the business, so please do share.

I’ve been alone for the holidays for many years now but do have three traditions I maintain:

I put together Christmas gift and food hampers and distribute them anonymously to people I’ve heard about along the way during the year who otherwise would be having a bleak and lonely holiday. My hope is they will be surprised and experience some unexpected joy from an unknown Santa.

I attend the annual Kris Kringle party and dinner organized by several employees of a former client with whom I maintain an ongoing friendship. This is the 15th year for that event. The gift limit is $15; the creativity is mind-blowing! It’s a fun time for all.

I do a pre-holiday review of all my belongings and eliminate everything I don’t need or want. Then I box up the very best of the items and clothing, especially anything new, unused and unopened and donate them to The Christmas Store held at a friend’s church each year. The store is set up just like a retail boutique for two weeks so the families who cannot afford a Christmas can “shop” for gifts for their loved ones. I’ve even been known to buy things specifically for this store; I like the concept so much!

TODAY’S FREE DOWNLOAD:

2014 Social Media Marketing Planning Calendar by SMARTSTART

This “must have” planning tool helps you organize social media activities for the entire year to better communicate your marketing message. When completed, you’ll know exactly what topics and themes you’ll cover, which social media channels you’ll post content to and when, and how your social media efforts fit in with and support all the other marketing and promotional activities you’ll undertake to build your business. Don’t forget to use the coupon code, 3T, to automatically set the price to $0.00 for you.