There’s a new CEO on the block – the Modern CEO – who is changing THE WAY BUSINESSES ARE RUN. Have you met her? I’d love to introduce you! In the Modern CEO Spotlight, we will feature Modern CEOs who are setting their own hours. And their own salary. The Modern CEO is creating a business AROUND WHAT MATTERS MOST TO HER. FREEDOM, FAMILY, AND IMPACT. This Modern CEO is here to stay. Are you next?

In this edition of the Modern CEO Spotlight, we are featuring one of our very own Accelerate members, Janelle Holden.

Janelle has been in business for years and has created amazing freedom within her business by focusing on what is most important, the money-generating tasks  – the $100 bills we always talk about!

She was born on a cattle ranch in northern Montana and was homeschooled until the age of 10 when she officially skipped a fifth grade and entered public school. Her mother is a private voice and piano teacher, and she went to college on a music scholarship. She can still sing classical arias, and she love loves, love Broadway musicals. She helped found Certified Wildlife Friendly, a global non-profit organization that provides economic incentives for the protection of biodiversity around the world, and offers economic opportunities to people whose basic needs have put them in conflict with wildlife. When she not working on her biz, you can find her hiking Glacier National Park, cross-country skiing, kayaking, playing badminton, gardening, writing, or watching a good BBC murder mystery. She married a former ski patrolman/river rafting guide/science teacher who cooks, gardens, and plays the guitar.  Her office companion is Loki, her 11-year old black lab/border collie cross, who keeps her sane and laughing.

Tell us about yourself and your business!

I’m a saleswoman extraordinaire and co-owner of DeFY Sales LLC, an agency that creates 7-figure sales teams for women in the coaching industry, and training for sales reps who want to make 6-figures or more in commissions per year. I live in Montana, near Glacier National Park, and I love to write (creatively), hike, play badminton, and take my time to savor each bite at meals. I’m also itching to travel again (my other main passion).

How did you get started running your business?

I got started running my own business in 2011 after seeing a gap in the marketplace and deciding to fill it, and same with my current business. There was pent-up demand in the market for my talents and services so I wanted to offer something that would meet that demand.

In one word, when you started your business what was the driving force behind your desire to start?

Freedom

In more words, when you started your business what was the driving force behind your desire to start?

Location Freedom – the ability to work anywhere I wanted to in the world, to give myself raises when I wanted to, to be rewarded for my own work, and to never, ever ask anyone whether I could go on a holiday again.

Leadership is one of the greatest traits of the Modern CEO. Let’s chat about leadership for a second. What leadership traits do you find are most important in your role as Modern CEO?

Honest, Confident, Reliable, Sense of humor, Able to Delegate, Listening, Decisive, Fairness

When is a time that you’ve had to put your leadership skills to the test? How did it turn out?

I’ve put my leadership skills to the test by hiring and creating a team. When I first started out I was doing everything by myself. I like to collaborate. So I found a business partner first, then we hired sales reps, then we hired virtual assistants, and now we have a solid team of 8 people who work part-time to full-time in our business.

Is there a leadership mantra you live by or quote you want to share?

“Every 5 years I look back on my life and I have a good laugh.” – Indigo Girls. In the end, nothing stays the same, and everything (when you look at it later) can make you laugh. So don’t take yourself too seriously, and remember to laugh at the drama and the craziness because your sense of humor will keep you sane.

Now let’s share a bit about what your day as a Modern CEO looks like. What does your “typical” day look like?

When we’re not deep in client launches, I get up early and spend an hour “learning” from someone I respect. I usually am working through a course or a book that is teaching what I want to know about marketing, sales, leadership, or other areas of business. Then I spend the next hour sharing and delegating what I’ve learned to my team, and doing any of the most important marketing tasks. I spend an hour on money and business systems, and then check in with my team. If you add in a sales call or a meeting my typical day is 5-7 hours of solid work. Then I go play.

How many days a week do you typically work & how many hours a day do you typically work?

I usually work 5 days a week, about 30-40 hours a week.

On average, how many hours a day do you spend on sales and marketing activities?

2

On average, how many hours a day do you spend with clients?

2

On average, how many hours a day do you spend with your team?

1

On average, how many hours a day do you spend creating content?

1

On average, how many hours a day do you spend learning?

1

 

 

Tell us about your business model & the core services/products you offer.

 

Tell us more about the heart and soul of your business. What makes your business unique?

We are a women-owned business that serves other women in business and does it with style and integrity. Our motto is if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing, and we make sales fun for our clients. There is no one doing what we’re doing in quite the same way, and it’s challenging to find people who train sales team representatives in the coaching space. We are the best-kept secret in the industry.

What was something no one ever told you about running a business that you wish they would have?

Don’t focus on making 6-figure in gross revenue. Focus on making 6-figures or more in profits.

What’s your favorite part about running a business?

The freedom and flexibility it gives me.

Why is now the best time to grow a business?

With change comes opportunity, and there are so many new opportunities happening right now that people can capitalize on if they look for what people are really wanting and no one is giving to them.

What secret confession are you willing to make to us about your business or you running a business? (Feel free to have fun with this!)

It took me a while to build up the self-discipline that running a business requires. When I first got started and left my “corporate” work I watched all of Sex and the City and procrastinated a lot. But I needed to go through that period to understand how to work with myself now and get the best out of me and others.

 

 

Go from lack of clarity and focused on #allthethings to focused on the RIGHT things.
Make money in your business consistently every year with the digital Fresh Start Workbook and Planning Guide.