PR maven Nancy S. Juetten says, “My husband Steve and I both run our businesses from a home office. We are able to flex our schedules around the needs of our 10-year-old son Kyle and what our clients require. When asked what he wants to do for a living when he grows up, Kyle says that he’d like to go to work in one of the family businesses. We are showing him through our example that you can do work you love for great clients, earn a good living, and live a great life. That’s powerful.
Nancy enjoys the convenience of her ten-foot commute to her office. However, she adds, “Maintaining boundaries between home and work can be challenging.�
If you are trying to make a name for yourself read on because Nancy shares her insider marketing tips that you can start using today.
What kind of business do you have?
NANCY: Nancy S. Juetten Marketing, Inc. is a boutique public relations agency based in Bellevue, Washington.
February of 2001 marked the launch of my PR business. July 2006 Media-Savvy-to-Go information products division was born.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
NANCY: I was inspired to become an entrepreneur in February of 2001 out of a desire to earn money to buy better groceries. I had grown tired of buying two boxes of generic brand wheat crackers for $.99 when I really wanted to buy one box of Nabisco Brand Wheat Thins for $2.99 a box. When my son Kyle was born in 1997, I left a lucrative marketing position to take on chief domestic officer duties at home and buy everything we needed on half the income. Now, business is booming, and I am too busy to cook.
Today, the quest for better crackers is just where my business got its start. I’ve redefined my success by the impact my guidance has on supporting the business success of others. That’s what gets me out of bed every day – to make a contribution that will be felt in a very personal way by business owners who are working very hard to earn the media attention that can catapult their businesses from obscurity to the media spotlight. They make many personal sacrifices to create, grow, and sustain winning businesses over time, and the media recognition they earn for their winning ways is highly meaningful and personal for them. I understand because I’ve traveled a similar road myself. I appreciate what it is to be seen, heard, and celebrated in my own backyard and beyond.
What is unique or special about your business that gives it an edge over your competitors?
NANCY: I am a work-in-the-trenches publicist who works with the media every day to bring great stories from obscurity into the spotlight.
How did you decide what kind of business to start and what if any personal challenges inspired you to earn extra income in your spare time?
NANCY: I’ve been fascinated by good storytelling and passionate about writing for results for as long as I can remember. At the editor for my high school’s weekly newspaper, I had a nose for news and a good gut instinct about what students wanted to read about. As I rose up the corporate ladder in a variety of marketing positions for some of the nation’s leading fast food restaurants and a leading broadcast company in Seattle, I learned a thing or two about helping customers get what they wanted quickly and affordably.
When my son Kyle was born in 1997, he gave me a good reason to reinvent my career (and with credit to Pam Slim, escape from cubicle nation). My intention was to influence others and their success through the power of words, while working from a home office. Six and a half years later – mission accomplished!
The Media-Savvy-to-Go Publicity Toolkit speaks to my very practical nature and to the results orientation of business owners everywhere. With this information people can quickly learn and apply what they need to know to earn “ink and air.�
How long did it take before your business became profitable?
NANCY: My business was profitable from the start. I did some pro bono work for a business event that was debuting in Seattle. By the end of that pro bono assignment, I had earned two new clients – including Fran Bigelow of Fran’s Chocolates Ltd. and the Seattle Office of the Tom Peters Company.
Have you noticed certain advantages to being an entrepreneur because you are a woman?
NANCY: Connecting with others is a strength that woman share. Having come to entrepreneurship at 39 years of age, I have never been afraid to admit what I don’t know. And, I never shy away from asking the stupid questions.
Has the media picked up on your story? If so what have you done to attract the media?
NANCY: Absolutely, and it is a beautiful thing!
I landed a monthly newspaper column in the Snohomish County Business Journal that debuted in September of 2006.
The column has been well received, so much so that it has been picked up by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The column debuts, September of 2007 to 60,000 decision makers every month. And there is the potential that other business journals within the American City Business Journal family will elect to run the columns, too, bringing the information to many other markets and business owners well beyond my own Puget Sound backyard.
What resources were most helpful to you when you were starting your business?
NANCY: “The Success Principles� written by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer is a particular favorite of mine. They say to practice the rule of five. That means that every day, do five specific things that will move your goal toward completion. And that even the biggest tree in the forest will come down at some point if you just swing an axe at it five times each day. That plain speaking, powerful wisdom speaks to me. Tenacity and consistency count for a lot in the work I do.
What ways have you found to be most effective in marketing your product or service to get sales?
NANCY: The five most powerful lead generation methods for my business are as follows:
1) Do exceptional work for clients
2) Participate in local networking groups such as the Women Business Owners, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, the eWomenNetwork, and the Womens Business Exchange. That means listening carefully for the needs others share and being of service to help them ease their pain, whether or not the solution involves PR services.
3) Write for the media and the Internet article directories to support the success of others with proven, useful, and time-tested guidance and advice that reinforces my expertise and demonstrates my commitment to be of service. This drives traffic and qualified leads to my Website and fuels winning new business conversations and transactions.
4) Write and issue a high value and FREE ezine that engages customers and prospects in my expertise and generously offers news and resources to support their success. This also drives traffic to the Website and invites new opportunities to offer products and services to people who need them.
5) Speak to professional groups regularly to offer tips, resources, information, and ideas to support their success.
What would you tell someone who wants to be an entrepreneur but doesn’t know what they want to do, or where to begin to get their idea up and making money?
NANCY: Get clear about your passion to be of contribution, how you can serve, and why the marketplace will be better off with you bringing your goods or services to the table. You had better love what you are doing because you’ll be spending far more time doing this than any job you’ve ever had.
QUOTE:
“Use the talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except the best.�
~Henry Van Dyke
WHAT I’M READING: “Playing the Quantum Field - How Changing Your Choices Can Change Your Life” by Brenda Anderson (New World Library)
This book is a cool companion for overcoming those annoying trials and tribulations. Jam packed with great coping skills for the dreaded, “My internet is down, past-due bills or a ticket for an expired parking meter.”
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 2nd, 2007 at 5:25 am and is filed under Online Business, Work, Starting a Business, Inventor. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.13 Responses to “10 Year-Old Has His Eye On the Family Business”
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August 2nd, 2007 at 5:44 am
Let the boy be a child for God’s sake.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:59 am
Hi Shawn,
You make an excellent point. Actually I hadn’t looked at it from your perspective.
In a world where so many kids look up to football and basketball players as role models I thought it was refreshing that Kyle was interested in what his parents are up to.
On the other hand– yes, many of today’s kids are growing up so fast that they hardly get a chance to enjoy being a kid.
Thank you and I hope you will continue to check back and share your thoughts.
All the best,
Michelle
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:55 am
[…] 10 Year-Old Has His Eye On the <b>Family</b> Business […]
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:04 am
[…] 10 Year-Old Has His Eye On the Family BusinessJutten says, “My husband Steve and I both run our businesses from a home office. We are able to flex our schedules around the needs of our 10-year-old son Kyle and what our clients require. When asked what he wants to do for a living … […]
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:23 pm
This is a reply to Shawn’s comment about letting a kid be a kid. My husband Steve and I couldn’t agree more.
Kyle loves to play soccer, swims for the neighborhood swim team, practices Tae Kwon Do, enjoys playing piano, and is reading the latest Harry Potter book. And, he also plays computer games, watches his share of TV, and just hangs out with his friends, especially since school is out. He’s a great kid with plenty of interests who also has a sense for what his parents do to provide his quality of life. That we like what we do and he sees that is all good.
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
I grew up in a family business. I was labeled an SOB “Son Of Boss”… the first time I heard that I was little up set however people that work with you will either like you or not. If not they will leave. Overtime I had get away from the family business and start my own home based business This has provided me more quality time with my family!
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:19 pm
As an adult and entrepreneur I would love to say congratulations to Nancy and the Husband for caring so much for the world we live in!!
Educating your son and using that as an example for other families encouraging humans to become auto sufficient and pass that to upcoming communities!!
Who ever thinks that is wrong for a child than look at your own child and see what is wrong, try to correct it and if it doesn’t work become yourself an example by being a leader!!!
Followers are everywhere, leaders are rare!!
August 3rd, 2007 at 6:05 pm
You have given me great motivation to follow my dreams on being a studly entrepreneur. I am currently attending college and have a couple of ideas. Your tips will come in handy as I try and create my own business. Do you know any more books I can read to pursue my dreams and make it a success?
August 3rd, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Hi Arthur,
My book Weekend Entrepreneur 101 Ways to Earn Extra Cash includes not only ways to make money but marketing and PR tips.
Michelle
August 4th, 2007 at 1:03 am
DEER MADAM THANKS FOR INFORMATION PLAESE SEND US INFORMITION REGADING BUSINESS PLAN HARDWERE (SAMPLE)
August 4th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Dear Mohammad,
The Small Business Administration has some great free info:
http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/plan/writeabusinessplan/index.html
Good luck,
Michelle
August 5th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I think that it is wonderful that you and your husband can come together to show that powerful move to your son. It is even more wonderful what the two of you have taught him….it is a gift from God for a child’s hero to be his parents…encourage him….some of the most successful people have got there dreams as a child…..they know when they are ready…embrace it……
August 5th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
This is in reply to Shawn’s comment.
I didn’t see any evidence in the article indicating that the parents were not letting Kyle have his childhood. This is very important as you mention.
However, kudos to this family for setting the example to follow their bliss, do work they have a passion for and to let their son be a part of it as appropriate.
Special thanks to Michelle for this wonderful piece.
regard,
Nita M