Friday, October 15, 2010

Road to Success with Mirna Bard...

I have been following Mirna Bard on Twitter and Facebook for a little while now. She is someone who I deeply admire for her professionalism and great knowledge. So, when she accepted to be part of the Everyday Entrepreneur Series, I was thrilled!
I had the chance to win a free consultation a few weeks ago from a contest she runs on her Facebook page (by the way, I encourage you to check it out-she has a huge contest giveaway going on right now). Not only was I happy to finally speak to her on Sype, but I also got to benefit from her expertise! Mirna is putting her mark on pretty much everything she can from being a finalist for the next social media advisory board member for SmartBrief (voting is still going on) to being a mentor for the Visa Business Network and is a great contributor to the online community.

Here`s what Mirna had to say...

Question: What are your expertise and your main area of business?

Answer: I am a business advisor, social media consultant, author, speaker and instructor of social media at University of California, Irvine.

Question: Who is your ideal client?

Answer: My ideal clients are c-level executives and successful entrepreneurs who have an open mind about the Internet, a willingness to learn, and ready to do whatever it takes to succeed on the social web.

Question: Your industry is huge, how do you manage to stand out amongst other people in your field?

Answer:  I am myself and don’t try to copy anyone else. Given my extensive business background and experience, I am able to go into a company as a business advisor, not just a social media consultant.  I have created comprehensive 12-month strategic media and advertising plans for major brands with multi-million dollar budgets.  Thus, my strength is strategy and integration.  Every single business I work with will get proven hype-free advice from me. Everything I do is based on honesty, integrity, and results.

Question: What has been your favourite and most successful marketing platform or method?

Answer: For me, it is really not a matter of having a favourite.  I understand that marketing takes experimentation and lots of dedication.  The most successful for me as been integration traditional offline strategies with social media, search engine optimization, and e-mail marketing.

Question: Technology is constantly changing and evolving at amazing speed. How do you keep on top of your game and how do you suggest that the everyday entrepreneur keep up with it?

Answer: I am a student of my work and I love to learn and share my knowledge. So, doing lots of research and reading is always a priority for me.  Entrepreneurs have a tendency to jump into things without conducting research or taking the time to learn.  I always suggest putting time aside everyday to learn to do one new thing.  In the long run, it will make a difference.

Question: What has been your biggest challenge in your business?

Answer:  The biggest challenge has been educating people to stop following all the online hype and helping them trust that the Internet can grow their business if leveraged and used properly.

Question: What has been your greatest victory so far?

Answer: In last few years, I’ve had more victories than I’ve ever dreamed of.  I would have to say overcoming many fears and getting out of my own way in order to accomplish all my goals has been the biggest victory for me.

Question: How do you define success?

Answer:  I think success comes from within.  It is not about having a specific amount of money or fame.  When you are confident that you can achieve anything you set for yourself, comfortable in your skin and feel content with whatever you have in life, then you have truly succeeded.

Question: If you could give one piece of advice to new entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Answer:  Take the time to find out what you are truly passionate about, believe you can do it, go for it with full focus and commitment, be patient, and never give up. 

Question: Fast forward five years…what do you see?

Answer: I see a greater global shift due to social media, huge improvement in this crazy economy and hopefully more entrepreneurs achieving big dreams.

You can find Mirna:

Friday, October 8, 2010

Road to Success with Maya Paveza...

How can anyone not love Maya! She’s lively, honest, and down to earth. I love to hear about her two kids and her adventures in real estate on Twitter. She has so many great ongoing projects; I really wonder how she can manage it all and keep her sense of humor! She's the kind of girl that would be the life of the party yet always there for you when in need. Her passion and love for people really shows in this interview. Keep an eye out for her; I think it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing a lot more of Maya Paveza in the future!

Here is what Maya had to say...

Question:  Could you describe your main business and what services you offer. 

Answer: My primary business is real estate sales. I “retired” from high tech in 2001 at the grand age of 31 after the dot.com downfall and went back into real estate. I have had a great deal of success and absolutely love real estate but social media has drawn me back to technology and communications.  I started using bulletin board systems in 1980 and grew with that as it evolved into new systems and platforms like most of today’s social media sites.  I also do social media consulting for the real estate industry, speaking and education, as well as for other business and government offices here in Delaware that seek my assistance. I work a lot with the Delaware Department of Economic Development; they have a great entrepreneurial program.

Question: Who’s your primary market?

Answer: Primarily the real estate as it combines my two passions. I also will help anyone who asks if I have time. I do love general social media and totally get it, but there are far too many people running around claiming to be “the authority”. I am happy with my niche but step out when asked.

Question: The median age for Real Estate Agents is approximately 52 years old. Would you say that they’re pretty "set" in their way of marketing their business or they accept and use social media has part of their marketing plan?

Answer: I think age has little to do with whether they are set and complacent in their ways. I find that some of the most successful agents are complacent and don’t see the need to grow. But they all laughed at cell phones once too! The reality is that social media is WHERE the consumers are and how they’re searching for homes. If they don’t realize this, they will be the next dinosaurs in the industry! I think the agents who are passionate about the industry and personal growth are open to the new frontier and are ready to step forward. The problem I think is, as it is in general social media, anyone who has vague understanding of social media believe that they have experience and is out there trying to teach it and preach it.  I think very few really are well qualified, and everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. This is one of the reasons why I’m working with Chris Brogan and Human Business Works on a real estate community site.

Question:  Do you use any other marketing strategies other than social media?

Answer: I used to do mailers, but not anymore. I do call my sphere, I do open houses, but primarily I am doing all my marketing online and via social media. Very little is classic media anymore for me. I get great results from being online, but always have – I came from technology so it has been second nature for me.

Question: How much time do you spend on social media sites and what’s the most important aspect you have used to be so successful?

Answer: I spent a lot more time on them than I would ever recommend to a client. I have gone beyond what I tell agents to do, I transcended into a “persona” as some people tell me.  I dip in and out of twitter all day and pop on Facebook. I try to blog at least three times a week. In reality, I am always doing something else at the same time. I don’t have as much time as I would like to explore other sites to see what great stuff other real estate agents are doing and to help promote them. That is one of my goals.  Truthfully I think if I actually added up the hours, it would be less than 1.5-2 hours a day. For me the most important aspect of my success has just been to be me, be genuine. I meet people for who they are and like that, I don’t try to have any pre-conceived notions or information, I just love people.

Question: What has been your biggest challenge in managing your family, your many projects and business?

Answer: I have been traveling a lot this year and my girls (Katarina 7, Lindsay 4) get upset sometimes.  I just try to explain to them that Mommy loves them and I am always here for them. Keeping them strong and confident is my first priority; they always must know they are number one in my book at all times. Prioritizing them, making sure they know I love them even when I am busy and I am doing this all for them.  They are great kids and make it all worth it.

Question: What has been your greatest victory so far?

Answer: Oh, the chances to do things for charities or to help people in need. I did something for “Mothers Fighting For Others” in April. Lots of great people helped and pitched in and as a team we raised $20,000 of a $50,000 goal. Pretty darn good in just about 2 weeks! Then whenever I can, I try to help people out no matter what. I got some people together to try to get a stroller wheelchair for a friend’s daughter. It was amazing what everyone did!  Being able to have a network and friends who are so thoughtful and considerate, all who I know through social media. That is the best victory! Giving and helping!

Question: How do you define success?

Answer: Success is when you are confident in yourself and your abilities. Comfortable with whom you are and able to help others to become what or who they want to be. Giving back, helping others, being able to do something to make the world a better place – no matter how small, to me that is success. And watching my girls grow up. 

Question: If you could give one piece of advice to new entrepreneurs, what would it be? 

Answer:  Read, plan, seek advice and find programs in your area that might help entrepreneurs (like the State of Delaware does). Don’t be afraid to do it! The biggest problem is American colleges and universities don’t teach people how to think like business people – especially the liberal arts schools. So, you turn out Fine Art graduates with no sense of how to turn that into a business. Find the resources and take business courses. Surrounding yourself with smart people can’t hurt either. Don’t just stick to one thing. Trying many things at once so you don’t miss the boat and if more than one hits, that’s great! That’s more than one piece. So one piece…read a lot!

Question: Fast forward five years…what do you see?

Answer:  Five years from now, I am sure I will still be active selling real estate. I just love the industry and working with my clients. There’s nothing as rewarding as helping people in the largest financial transaction of their life and making sure they get the respect, attention and support they deserve. I also hope that the upcoming real estate education site will still be running strong and growing as the technologies change, educating lots of agents and providing a community for them to grow and share their experiences. I also hope I will have had lots of opportunities to speak and present in a variety of places, to talk about new media/technology and real estate. I hope to be a published author at least twice by then. I have two projects in the works one is completely unrelated to real estate and I would love that to do well and allow me to help a lot of people who have self-esteem and perception issues. I also hope I will be in a position to do a lot to help others realize their dreams and attain their goals. Success isn’t worth much if you can’t help others to find the same in their own life. I really can’t wait to see who my girls have grown into in five years!

You can find Maya here:



Friday, October 1, 2010

Road to Success with Leah Coss...

As some of my clients are in the real estate industry, I first stumbled on Leah Coss’s website one day looking for interesting articles about Real Estate. What I found was her really entertaining blog about (sorry Leah...) a usually pretty boring subject (however, really important to anyone who owns a home), mortgages. I was amazed how she had managed to use video blogging (vlogging) to talk about her business as a mortgage broker in a way that totally connected with me and made it really interesting. She’s natural, energetic and provides valuable information. She’s definitely knowledgeable about her trade and she knows how to use her personality and skills in her videos to connect with her audience. I encourage you to check out her website to see what I'm talking about. 

Here's what Leah had to say... 

Question: What is a Mortgage Planner and what is the difference between doing business with you versus a local bank?

Answer: A Mortgage Planner (or Mortgage Broker) is someone who specializes in strictly obtaining mortgage products for consumers. It is just like going to the bank for a mortgage, except when you go to a Mortgage Broker you are going to 40+ banks.

Why is this a good thing? As a Mortgage Broker, I like to think that we keep banks honest. Mortgage Brokers create competition between not just chartered banks and credit unions, but also specific mortgage lenders (many owned by banks). With competition comes better products and better rates.

It’s important to remember that a bank is a “for profit” business. Their objective is to make money.
Often times if you get a rate from a specific bank, I can go to that same bank and get a better rate. The reason is that the bank knows that I have 40 other lenders all competing for your mortgage and therefore they have to give me their best rate or they won’t get the deal. When you walk into the bank, chances are you will only go to 1-3 banks so they know that competition is slim and they can offer high rates or less appealing products.

The other nice side of using a Mortgage Broker is that, at least with me, I work when you’re available. I am mobile and am available from 9am to 9pm by phone, email and text message. So when you’re making an offer on a home at 8pm when the banks are closed, you can always get a hold of me to get you answers. Convenience is a huge selling point.

Question: Is your market local or can you service clients outside your community?

Answer: I am very fortunate being in BC. Our regulations and ethical committees are very strict out here and therefore I can service those in other communities and even other provinces. My website, allows me to offer 24hour in-depth and current mortgage information to those anywhere in Canada.

Question: Most people would say that in order to be a successful entrepreneur, you need passion for what you do. Where do you find your inspiration to stay passionate about your business especially during the tough economic times?

Answer: I am very fortunate in my profession in that no matter what the economic state, people will always be buying homes and renewing their mortgages. Therefore, no matter what the media says, a Mortgage Broker can always stay busy. I keep focused quite easily as my job requires me to hold other peoples livelihoods in my hands. If I don’t come through, my clients will feel it. Pressure like that keeps me on my toes.
I also have a special place in my heart for helping families who have hit hard times or just haven’t been told how to save up money or manage credit in a way that will allow them to own a home of their own. By setting time aside to really help these people it makes me want to get up in the morning and keeps me passionate about what I do.

Question: How do you use the internet and technology to market your business and can you say that it has helped you increase your business?

Answer: I love technology, and for many of my clients, they appreciate the convenience that I offer by utilizing technology through my website, e-fax, text message and email. My website is especially the key which separates me from other Brokers. I always encourage Realtors to refer their clients to my website first so they can see me, hear me, and judge me.
If they like me they call. If they think I know what I’m talking about, they call. If I rub them the wrong way they still might call simply because they know what to expect from me as opposed to another broker who has no web presence with which to judge them by.

Question: What is the most important element in your opinion about doing video blogs?

Answer: Content! Short, sweet, specific, and relevant content. If you are looking to have raving fans, create credibility for yourself and establish long time readers then you can’t waste their time with a lot of filler or useless content. Don’t show boat or be fake. Just offer answers and be yourself.

Question: What has been your biggest challenge in your business to date?

Answer: Competing with Big Bank advertising budgets and consumer loyalty. When you have been banking with the same bank for years and years, it’s hard to believe that they would do you wrong. A bank is a For Profit Business and no matter what the commercials say, they are in it to make money from their consumers. It takes a lot of time to inform consumers that they can save a lot of money by using a broker. And if the broker is like me, it will also save them a lot of time and potential heart ache.

Question: What has been your greatest victory so far?

Answer: Every day has its little victories but the ones that stand out the most for me are those people who find me online and contact me just to say thanks. I have never met them before, but they feel like they know me because of my videos. By offering so much information about mortgages online, in some way, I have either saved them time, money, or in some cases, saved them from losing their family’s home.

Question: How do you define success?

Answer: Just this year I was invited to one of my clients’ wedding. That is success. I have impacted their lives and they are so happy with my services that they want me to share in one of the most important days in their life.
Not to say that if I don’t get invited to a clients wedding that I am not successful, but really, if you float day to day and never impact another person’s life in a positive manner then you are missing out on a large part of what makes life worth living.

Question: If you could give one piece of advice to new entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Answer: The true test of an Entrepreneur compared to someone who works for themselves, in my opinion, is their vision for the future of their business. Not just a year from now, but their ability to see the big picture of where they want their business to go and the unwavering faith in themselves that it will get there. It is that faith and vision that will help you through any tough spot that is inevitably going to hit you and your business at some point.

Question: Fast forward five years…what do you see?

Answer: Hopefully more happy clients, another dog, and completed renos on my home!


You can find Leah Coss:

Friday, September 24, 2010

Road to Success with Shannon Skinner...

After listening to “Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner”, I realized how much we both have in common by trying to inspire people with other people’s success stories. Her new web TV Talk show brings some amazing and inspiring women together to share their message and motivate people to reach their own dreams. Shannon has an impressive background and has accomplished many great projects in her nineteen years of public relations consulting. She’s not only intelligent but also very creative in all her work. She wrote a book  “The Whispering Heart: Your Inner Guide to Creativity” which gives advice and wisdom on how best to unlock one’s creative power. Also, in 2007 Shannon was invited to attend the prestigious University of Oxford's Creative Writing Summer Programme – one of only a few select writers chosen from around the world.

Here is what Shannon had to say…

Question: Could you explain what kind of services you offer?

Answer:  I am the owner of a Toronto-based public relations company, Skinner Publicity – PR for Experts, which provides media relations/publicity services for experts, speakers, authors, consultants, coaches and entrepreneurs who have an inspiring or crucial message.  
Experts, executives and thought leaders need to have a reputable public profile to be successful. They also need a way to get their messages out and build relationships with their audiences. One of the most cost-effective and quickest ways is to harness the power of the media. And that is what we do: we help experts harness the power of the media and get recognized.

I am also a writer/producer. The first book I authored is "The Whispering Heart: Your Inner Guide to Creativity", followed by the upcoming book "Success On Their Own Terms: Extraordinary Women Who Dared". My newest creation is a one-hour, weekly, 'live,” web TV talk show entitled “Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner,” which I host and produce.

Question: Who would be your perfect client?

Answer: My perfect client is an inspiring, professional speaker/author/entrepreneur who is dedicated to personal/professional transformation, and making a difference in the lives of millions of people around the world.

Question: What inspires you?

Answer: I get inspired by witnessing people opening their hearts and then acting on their heart's desires. I also get inspired by learning from people who I admire, either from reading their biographies or articles about them, or watching documentaries about their lives. Travel really inspires me creatively. I do my best writing while on my world travels; and I do my best strategic thinking on an airplane.

Question: How do you define Success?

Answer: To me, success is having the ability to open my heart, listen to its whispers and then acting on its desires.

Question: What has been your biggest challenge as an entrepreneur?

Answer: My biggest challenge as an entrepreneur has been “focus.” In a way, focus is a dirty word in my world, given that I have a range of creative skills and talents. But I have managed to create a business model that not only allows me to harness my skills and talents in a way that is of a valuable service to others, it is aligned with who I am personally and my top values as a human being.

Question: What has been your proudest moment in your business?

Answer: I have had many proud moments for a variety of reasons; therefore it is difficult to nail down just one. But, I would say my most recent proud moment was on September 7, 2010 at 10AM when I launched my inaugural “live” web TV talk show, “Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner.” I grew up in a family of broadcasters, so it is in my blood. My new role seems to be a natural extension of my media expertise and PR background, blended with my coaching ability.

Question: How do you use the internet /technology to promote yourself and your business?

Answer:  I am embracing social media more and more. Facebook has been a fantastic tool for me to connect with inspiring people from around the world. I am now embracing Twitter and other social media networking sites including MySpace.com, YouTube, blogging, and so forth. While social networking helps to promote my public relations services and build relationships, my web TV talk show “Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner” relies on it.

Question: What is your new project “Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner” web TV show?

Answer: “Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner” is a one-hour “live” weekly web TV show that features dynamic conversation with women who have the courage to listen to their hearts and make a difference – on their own terms. Guests are successful women from all walks of life who share their dramatic insights on how to get to exactly where you want to be. So, I invite everyone to tune in to hear their secrets of success and achievements - and stories of adventure – for women everywhere! It is broadcast "live" on Tuesdays at 10AM EST on Thatchannel.com and also archived for those who wish to view the episodes at a later time).

Question: If you could share one piece of advice with aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?

Answer: Listen to the whispers of your heart and then find the courage to act on your heart's desires.

Question: Fast forward Five years, what do you see?

Answer:  My vision is to inspire millions of people to open their hearts and follow their bliss -- through books, media and film. I have more books in me to write and more productions to create. I intend on creating a foundation that helps young disadvantaged girls develop mentorships/friendships with successful business women. I see more world travel, as well as more wealth, wisdom, and of course, spending more quality time with my loved ones.


You can find Shannon Skinner on:

Website Skinner Publicity – PR for Experts
Facebook
Facebook Page
Twitter
Extraordinary Women TV
LinkedIn
MySpace

Friday, September 17, 2010

Road to Success with Mom Biz Coach Lara Galloway...

This week on Everyday Entrepreneur Series, I had the great delight of interviewing one of my Twitter friend Mom Biz Coach Lara Galloway. Named Forbes Top 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and Top 100 Most Powerful Women on Twitter by Twitter Grader. There are many good reasons why more than 14,400 people and counting want to follow and engage with Lara! She connects and shares her own experiences as a mom and entrepreneur in a very relevant way for many of us. Not afraid to admit that her family comes first in her priority list, Lara wants to help other women with the same principles to create their own successful businesses without giving up their family life and values. Lara believes in setting strict work/family boundaries and teaches women how to use the law of attraction and marketing strategies to attract the right clients and the right business.   

Given that Lara’s schedule is so hectic, I'm doing things a little differently this week. We decided to have her interview recorded. Usually, I would then transcribe it and edit it for length purpose but since I found Lara’s story and message to be so captivating, I decided to leave it in full for you to listen. I hope that you will be as inspired as I was after listening to Lara’s own road to success story.

Road to Success with MomBiz Coach Lara Galloway from Genevieve Lachance on Vimeo.

For more on Mom Biz Coach Lara Galloway:


MomBizCoach.com
Twitter
Facebook Profile
Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Youtube

Friday, September 10, 2010

Road to Success with Sylvia Perreault Speaker, Author and Coach in Sales Success...

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with the amazing Sylvia Perreault Speaker, Author and Coach in Sales Success. Sylvia has written books and developed a sales method called “The Realty Success Method" (Immo-Succès) designed to encourage success and promote pride in being a Real Estate Agent. Her background is in Real Estate but she is quickly spreading her expertise to other industries all over the world as a renowned speaker and coach on how to succeed in sales. Her love and passion for her work really shows in her positive attitude and outlook for life.

This year, Sylvia was invited to Iran for of her expertise in real estate training and as a motivational sales speaker. She was the first Western professional woman speaker to set foot there. She is now looking to go visit other countries to spread her word and teach people about the art of selling. Her distinctive presentations and personal approach are not only fun, touching and compelling but most significantly, useful. 

Here is what Sylvia had to say…

Question: When did you start your business?

Answer: It seems like I’ve been in business all my life. Years ago, I was a Real Estate broker and after doing a lot of volunteer work, I noticed that agents didn’t have enough access to information, books and courses about sales especially in French. I had dreamt for many years of becoming a speaker but I wasn’t sure about the subject in order to be a successful speaker. After attending many speaker seminars and wondering what to speak about, someone told me you should speak about what you know best! It struck me that I should speak about what I like to do, how I succeeded in my business, the tricks of the trade and try to teach others. I wrote my first book to gain credibility. I had so much to say that it became three books. I did a lot of research and know my stuff inside-out…I could speak about it for years! So that’s how I became a speaker in the real estate business and now teach how to become successful in sales.

Question: What motivated you to start your business?

Answer: My own dreams! For over 26 years I had been very successful in the real estate business and loved it. But I was still missing something in my life. Going to sales seminars, I felt envious of the people with the microphone on stage and every chance I had I would take over the microphone and simply loved it. This is what made me realise that it was my dream. So I took some courses and enrolled in different associations which made it obvious and confirmed that it was my purpose in life.

Question: What is your main service/product or expertise?

Answer: My main product is me! I’m selling myself, my expertise, my knowledge and my talents. I teach people how to sell themselves first before selling any product or service. I also offer books, CD, coaching, seminars and conferences all about my thoughts, my values and my experience in sales.

Question: Who is your target market?

Answer: My main target is really everybody! We always need to sell ourselves to people. I speak about sales and give people tools to gain confidence and self-belief so that they become successful at selling themselves. I started with the real estate market but after a while people from other industries came up to me because they liked what I did. So whenever people have something to sell in any industry I can teach them techniques and basics on how to feel good about selling themselves.

Question: What is the one thing you wish you would have known when you first started out?

Answer: So many things! Wow, to be honest…it probably would be how to surround myself with the right people and how to delegate. Most people starting in business try to do everything themselves and have to cut corners because they can’t handle everything. That will catch up to them eventually. I still struggle with that and I have to learn to delegate better to the right person and focus on what I do best. Sometimes people worry about the expense of outsourcing to get help and wonder if it’s worth it. If you want to grow, it’s normal to delegate and you mustn't be afraid. I now know that it is the right thing to do!

Question: How do you define success?

Answer: I think success is something very personal and we all have different definitions of success. For me, success is working for your purpose, delivering my message and helping people grow. Being on stage in front of 400 people to help them find their own success. If I can accomplish that, I’ll be very proud of what I do as that is my calling!

Question: How do you use technology and the internet for your business?

Answer: I use the internet and technology all the time for my business. I realise that if you want to compete you have to be part of the new technology coming out. You have to embark fast or else you’ll miss the boat and it will be difficult to catch up. I’m everywhere, Facebook,Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a big part of my success and it allows people to get to know me and what I do. At first, people were judging me because they didn’t understand what I was doing. When they saw pictures of what I was doing on those social sites, they started to ask me to go to their own business because they saw how wonderful it was. For me it’s a huge market and I need and want to be part of it. By surrounding myself with the right people it will allow me to take advantage of all the new technology around.

Question: What has been your biggest hurdle?

Answer: The biggest hurdle for me was to become more fluent in English to open up my market to the world. I love French, the vocabulary, the culture but I realised that to offer my services on a global level and open all the possibilities, I had to be fluent in English. I practiced speaking English any chance I had for a few years and totally immersed myself into the language. The payoff was so great! I knew that I had made it when I received a standing ovation at my first English speaking engagement.

Question: What has been your greatest triumph so far?

Answer: Winning over my terror of speaking English in front of people. But if I go further, staying in business for so long. A lot of people would say behind my back “she won’t succeed”, “she won’t make it”, “people don’t need what she is offering”! People were projecting their own fears but I kept going. Also, something that makes me very proud is the name of my company which I came up with at the spa with a friend called “Immo-Succès”. I would hear agents and brokers talk to each other and say “have an Immo-Success”! They were using the name of my company to wish each other an “Immo-Succès”! I thought, wow…I invented that word and they’re using it! That was a pretty amazing feeling!

Question: What is your main source for new clients and how do you market yourself?

Answer: This is what I teach so I walk the talk! Social media is a big part of my marketing strategy. Also, I use my website and I send out newsletters every month. I really follow up with each prospect with phone calls every morning and make a routine out of it. As well, free offers so that people get a taste of me so that they want to do business with me. I do what I teach others, I sell myself!

Question: What would your best piece of advice be for new entrepreneurs?

Answer: Do it! If it’s really in you and you’re meant to do it…do it! Make sure that it’s what you should be doing. Make a business plan and follow it. Don’t listen to negative people. Work hard and keep going. Get a coach and surround yourself with people who will be able to help you. Don’t be afraid to get help and you will grow faster and become better at what you do. Grow, learn, read and you’ll succeed!

Question: Fast forward five years…what do you see?

Answer: The last time I did this it was years ago. I told people that I would write a book about real estate and the tricks of the trade. People were rolling their eyes in disbelief! Sharing my goals with them was a way to have accountability partners without them knowing. So if I share my goals now, then everyone will also be accountability partners for my next success. I can see being on a huge stage and speaking and sharing my knowledge all around the world. Making a difference in someone’s life! Now you’re all my accountability partners and you’ll be helping me getting there! I still have a lot of work to do but I’m getting there, I know I’ll do it!

In Conclusion, I tried to share, be honest and open about who I am. I’m not perfect and I am still learning as well as getting a lot of help and support. I really appreciate the chance to share my message with everybody and hopefully this interview will help someone to become confident and proud of themselves!

You can learn more about Sylvia Perreault here: