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

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

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:

Website www.sylviaperreault.com

Facebook Page

LinkedIn

Twitter

Plaxo

myspace

Youtube

Road to Success with Author Trisha Smith...

Typically most entrepreneurs focus on making a profit but there are other kinds of entrepreneurs that concentrate on creating social capital, they’re called social entrepreneurs. Trisha Smith is one of them. After a life changing experience, she became the author of a book called Holiday in Hell written about her tragic story which was created in the hopes of bringing justice and awareness to amend the Canadian Criminal Code 6(2). Passionate and determined to see justice, here is what she had to say…

Question: What is your book about?

Answer: In a nut-sell the story chronicles about three years of my life. The book begins with a scene on an airplane, I’m returning back home to Canada from a week vacation in Cuba. Most of the passengers are those with whom I have made some acquaintance with at the resort over the week. Among them, the Canadian perpetrator who had just brutally assaulted me almost to death while I was asleep that same day on the last night of the holiday. I’m traumatized and anxious to charge the assault committed against me by the Canadian in Cuba, just as I was promised by the Cuban authorities while they were taking a declaration of the crime. However, to my surprise an additional trauma occurs…an ensuring legal clash when I can’t charge the Canadian perpetrator here in Canada! The Cuban authorities are reluctant to charge the assailant in Cuba as he is not Cuban. At the Pearson Airport, the Canadian police also refuse to arrest him! But why?

So, to whom does a Canadian run to for protection if a crime is committed against them by another Canadian outside the borders of Canada? In my book Holiday in Hell , you will find out that no one and no law could grant me justice to charge this criminal, even though the perpetrator had already previously committed the same crime in Canada!

When there’s no judge in Canada or the Human Rights or a place one can submit such a crime to be examined and charged by the law, there’s no one and no law that will protect you! My story describes how I experienced the victimization of the Canadian justice system in Canada. In a true sense the hard-hitting legal aftermath in my story becomes the real crime!

Question: Can you describe who will/should read your book?

Answer: With my book Holiday in Hell , I intend to reach every Canadian citizen, the young student of the law and the old, the poor and the rich, the religious and non-religious, as Holiday in Hell serves a wake-up call to all Canadians!

Question: What was your main motivation to write your book and what are you hoping to accomplish.

Answer: After I returned from the holiday, one of the injuries I had was internal bleeding from the assault which caused me to write dates and what was occurring. Thinking that if I would die there would be a document and perhaps the perpetrator would be charged. After a few years, my students and friends - writers - artists - those in the public would nudge me, “look Trisha another complicated case” as mine was branded by CITY-TV on 6pm news, “you must write a book”. My life was not getting any better as I had lost much in the way of finances, creative force that I previously had and my family was suffering. One day, while away on an artist journey at the Kawarthas Century Arts, a screen writer encouraged me to write instead of oil paint, for which I had booked myself for to do in that week. At that time I went through a major healing, as only an artist knows that when they are not free within their soul their creative is limited. And limited I was! So I prayed and saw that even though my face has naturally come back to be as before but my inner being could not be free unless…I cry my story. Few years went by and in my associations, editing for publishers and the like, I was asked to have my story printed. I agreed, knowing that it was just the beginning; however God has promised that He’ll make it into completion - whatever that means I still don’t know, except I walk on a path determined.

Question: What is the most important thing you have learnt and what has been your biggest challenge as an author?

Answer: Promoting and networking takes time and is an ongoing process! I am linked on every possible social network such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Digital Journal, Twitter, etc. In time, I won’t be able to continue such a promotion as it is too time consuming! I am a human being with a family, an aging mother, and two great grandsons, whom I wish in the last month to have spent more time with.

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

Answer: First of all, on the onset of having the book published, I set up a website. Then, I continued to market the book by publishing it on to as many websites as possible and made sure to optimize it for search engines. Since in many instances it is mostly up to the author’s responsibility to publicize their books, I will embrace every possibility of the Internet to expose my book to as many Canadians, American, and the world as possible. Also, because of Facebook, I have been able to listen to the views of many about law issues in Canada, and talked to people who have been unjustly treated and hopefully I have supported people around the world to heal and to be strong. I also created aFacebook Cause to bring greater awareness to this very important issue.

Question: Do you have any advice to give to someone who is looking to become an author?

Answer: Yes, the writing process is wonderful when one is passionately telling or creating their stories. It is a worthy business as writers explain the world around them, stories make history! The discipline is the hardest, as I like to be on the run, but once I sit down and write, I feel I am in my home. So write, write, and write, then ask friends to read your prose. As you hear someone else read your words, you’ll know. I continue to write, writing is one of my expressions - vocal - and this time not visual - as an artist, with the hope that in the future I will have printed words, embraced by my art.

Question: How do you define Success?

Answer: Of whom I am and whose life I touch, in a positive way. ‘To be or not to be’ true to myself! As an artist, I cannot be otherwise but true to myself! For truth sets me free to live a life full of passion, and dignity for humanity!

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

Answer: I see myself busy in the artistic world - painting oils..., teaching, spending wonderful time with my family, having a life in the arts, fundraising, equipping young ones for a life ahead. And at the end of the day, no more work toward amending the Canadian Criminal Code 6(2). I see myself watching my story on the large screen and raise my hand to God and say, ‘Thank you God for giving me your power to do that which you commanded me to do - to write the truth about the need to amend the law and to say, ‘A Canadian can charge another Canadian of a crime committed against them, abroad! In my private life, I desire to have peace, to walk hand in hand with my sweetheart and keep on loving!

Whatever action by the Minister of Canada, The Minister of Justice, and the Canadian Justice System will take place in regards to the amending The Canadian Criminal Code 6(2), I am already freed of that - why the assault occurred that night in 1999, and why I had to be the one to cry out so loudly for justice! I do pray now that other Canadians can have a law protecting them while they travel, set up global businesses, and live for seasons, abroad!

My book, Holiday in Hell , is a continuation of my legacy for Canada as I began working for the United Nations in Ottawa for the Conference on Habitat in my early twenties. At that time, I was responsible for the EXHIBITION of our Canadian Youth’s voice through the Arts, ‘HOW DO YOU SEE CANADA IN THE FUTURE.’ Since then, my life has made a full circle, and I am back at the door of Mackenzie Street in Ottawa, but this time pleading with the Canadian government to make this world a better place for their citizens now and generations to come!

Note: Please encourage Trisha and show your support by joining her Facebook Cause Amend the Canadian Criminal Code 6(2)

Canadian Criminal Code 6(2) Reference Department of Justice Canada:

Offences outside Canada

(2) Subject to this Act or any other Act of Parliament, no person shall be convicted or discharged under section 730 of an offence committed outside Canada.

Website Holiday in Hell

Trisha Smith on Facebook

Trisha Smith Facebook Page

Trisha Smith on Twitter

Holiday in Hell is available at Amazon and Chapters

Photograph taken by Keyhan