This is a story about…
Female Entrepreneur: Stephanie Hetu
Location: Canada
Company: Succes Internet inc.
Industry: Marketing, Publishing, Social Media
She started her business because: she discovered the internet in 1999 and got completely hooked to it.
Age range: 30s
Tell us about your business…
My business is multifaceted:
I have a marketing lab of about 200 websites of our own, which we use to test marketing techniques.
Then we have a service part where we offer a complete range of web marketing services to french-speaking entrepreneurs from all over the world.
We also have a training part where I teach entrepreneurs how to use the web to grow their business.
And finally, we have a publishing part of our business. We publish a magazine for women entrepreneurs, to help them grow their business in a positive way.
I love to teach, and I think it is very important for entrepreneurs to learn how to use the web properly. Even if they don’t en up doing the work themselves afterward, at least they know how to make the best decisions for their own business based on what I have taught them.
What motivated you to start your business?
I discovered the internet in 1999 and got completely hooked to it. I had just finished my university degree in Tourism Marketing and I had a job at the government, which I did not really enjoy. The pay was okay, but there was no place for creativity and I needed more from my working life.
I started to learn everything I could about marketing on the web. It was a bit complicated at the time because there was very little training available on the subject in French (my native language).
It took me about 3 years, studying and testing things online, to grow my business from a part-time operation to the day I could finally say « bye-bye boss! ».
What is a day in the life of you like?
Since my company started I have worked from home, then went to work for a while in an office, and now I am back home where it is much more fun to work! I get up without an alarm clock, take a coffee, and get to work pretty quickly because my most productive hours are in the morning.
Each day is different; sometimes I do work for a client, sometimes I do a coaching call with an entrepreneur, another days I’ll be creating a new online training course.
I also spend a lot of time training myself to stay up to date. I love to read and exchange with my peers.
What have been your biggest challenges so far with running your business?
I am very creative and I get new ideas for projects all the time. In fact, I have more ideas then I can create so I had to learn to prioritize and make choices. If you start too many projects at the same time you just end up never finishing any, so I have learned to slow down and say no sometimes to some projects because it was not in the best interest of our company in the long run.
How did you overcome these challenges?
At some point I had to learn to take some time off. I am very passionate about my work, and for me it is more like « play » then actual « work » so it is important to set some boundaries when you work from home or you just end up working all the time.
I created a somewhat strict schedule with working hours in my office, and off time with family. This way I am not constantly on my laptop working!
What have you found to be the most effective way to get new clients?
I use the web only to find new customers, and I use a mailing list to create a solid relation with potential customers to get them to know me before they buy. This way I don’t have to chase new clients all the time. I am proud to say my system works because we now have clients from 37 countries around the world!
What advice would you give to other business owners?
Action will take you somewhere. I see many entrepreneurs waiting and waiting and waiting to start their next business or next project, because they want everything to be perfect. It is much better to start something and make it better along the way!
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I fix clear objectives for myself and my business and I reflect on the quality of lifestyle I have built for myself.
Who inspires you?
Many great entrepreneurs inspires me, just like some friends also inspire me a lot. It is important to surround yourself with people who have a positive impact on you, whether in real life or by reading books or getting coached.
Do you have a business philosophy?
I thrive to be transparent and honest all the time, and teach the entrepreneurs to do the same in their own business because I believe that it is the way to go if you want to succeed in the long run.
Get in touch…Website: www.cestmoilaboss.com
Twitter Name: stephaniehetu
Facebook Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/cestmoilaboss
