Wendy McClelland is 50 plus and owns Simply Organic Marketing.
She has been specializing in Internet communications for nearly 20 years and been watching the internet grow from just 200,000 pages to a Daily Life Tool. She focuses on helping companies that produce natural, organic and health products, as well as products and services that enhance and improve people’s lives.
What did you do for work in your last full time/part time job?
I was Marketing Manager for an organic food producer that sold product throughout North America.
Why did you leave your last full time/part time job?
I was laid off the week before Christmas 2010. The business owners decided to change the way they handled marketing and the entire sales/marketing team was laid off. An outside agency was hired to replace us.
What are you passionate about?
My passions are my family. I have three grown children, a fantastic son-in-law and daughter-in-law, three adorable grandsons and my parents who I spend a lot of time with. I have lots of siblings and friends who enrich my life too.
I am passionate about my work, I love working with the wide range of businesses I get to – everything from a master chocolate maker (‼!) to a woman who takes people on cooking tours to Italy.
Can you elaborate more about the Master Chocolate Maker?
The master chocolate maker and his wife/partner are originally from Belgium and have built a very successful business here in Canada. They wanted to take the business to the next level and hired me to help build their corporate client base and manage their social media campaigns.
How much time do you spend in your dream life?
I spend about 15% of my time in my dream life now (being with my family/friends/community interests), 10% planning my ideal life -I have some big goals for the next few years! The balance is spent on my work. I must add though that my work really is part of my dream life. I truly enjoy what I do so it’s not “work” it’s more a “creative outlet” for me.
I am a solo entrepreneur so don’t get annoyed by anyone else “at the office”. I am starting to sub out some of the work in research and social media to others so I can focus on more of the work that I enjoy – which is the planning, innovation and development of marketing strategies.
I only work with clients I like and who offer products/services that benefit people’s lives. I have turned down clients which I felt I wouldn’t feel comfortable with (e.g. chemical manufacturer).
Do you have a financial trust fund that supports you?
Ha ha ha!!! Eighteen years ago I went through a divorce and was left with three small kids. I built a business while they were small and was able to buy my own home. Ten years ago I became ill with a near fatal illness and spent over two months in hospital. I then had a two year recovery that meant NO income, so I lived off the equity in my home.
After it was over and I was able to go back to work, I had lost my home and started over again. Since then it has been two steps forward and one step back. When I lost my job in 2010 I had some savings, but went through those during 2011 while I was looking for another job. When I realized I should go back to work for myself I had $200 in the bank. I luckily got a decent first contract that got me started and from there I’ve just added more clients every month.
I have no savings at this time, but have a strong plan in mind to rebuild my financial stability. I have a strong faith and that sustains me, so I don’t lose sleep over lack of money. I know God will always provide what I need.
How did you get started in your own business?
I’ve always been entrepreneurial at heart. I incorporated my first business when I was 19, and throughout the years have had numerous small businesses that I could do from home while I had small children.
What pushed you to stop working for other people?
When I got divorced I had been pretty much a stay at home mom, and didn’t want to leave my kids for long hours each day. So I created a business that allowed me to work from home in my own hours. I started with a typing business which grew into a consulting business. That grew into having my own radio program and travelling throughout North America talking to people about doing business online.
I created my first website in 1996 and the New York Times chose it as “one of the best biz sites on the ‘net”. That recognition gave me the ability to become an expert in the “new” business called “the internet” and I created a successful business around that.
Radio show! Awesome! Tell us about that.
As my business grew from typing to consulting I was approached by my local Chamber of Commerce to provide some assistance to clients. That went really well and the Chamber referred me to my local university-college who was looking for a fill in teacher in their business department for a day. I developed a course for the day and they loved it, so I was asked to develop a whole series of entrepreneurship courses.
I realized that I could build on that so I thought “how can I make this bigger?” and for some reason “radio show” came into my head. I drove to the local radio station and asked to meet with the marketing manager (I didn’t even know his name!) with no appointment. He very kindly met with me and I told him my idea to have a show that helped small biz owners. He told me he’d talk to his team and get back to me. Before I got home my cell phone rang and he said “it’s a go!”.
I was thrilled. So I wrote and produced my own daily “spot” (5 minutes) every weekday morning for 18 months. It was a great experience and I used the scripts to build articles for my website.
Do others support you emotionally or are they always asking you to get a “real” job?
I have a really supportive family and friends. A number of my friends are entrepreneurs so they “get it”.
How do you support yourself financially?
Just from my self-employment income.
Do you have health insurance and if so, who pays for it?
Luckily in Canada where I live we have health coverage. We pay about $50 a month to our provincial government and that covers all basic healthcare including hospitalization if necessary. Since my income was low last year that premium is only $30 a month. I can see my doctor, get tests, x-rays, etc as needed without worrying about costs.
Sometimes the wait to see a specialist is longer than if I were paying for it myself in the US. For other expenses like prescriptions and chiropractor care, etc. we do have to pay, unless we have an extended health plan through an employer. However, I will be joining my local Chamber of Commerce soon and they have a group plan which will cover these expenses for me.
How much time do you spend looking for business?
I don’t actually track it but consider many of the things I do “looking for business”. This includes writing on my blog, sending out tweets, networking at events, etc. I have found most of my current clients via referrals from people who already know me. I’ve recognized the value of referrals and am now starting to pay for them. (I give people 10% of the first month’s invoice for each referral).
Are you happy you chose this path or do you wish you could go back in time?
Yes I am happy I am self employed again – very happy.
My daughter had a second baby two weeks ago and I was there when my grandson was born. I have been able to help her and also babysit my 3 ½ yr old grandson without worrying about going to a job. The flexibility is the greatest gift in my mind. I’m looking forward to building my business again and having a successful future with it.
You can find more out about Wendy McClelland at:
www.simplyorganicmarketing.com
www.facebook.com/simplyorganicmarketing.com
Corbett Barr is a very interesting online personality. I’ve been reading his blog posts for a few years, finding him to be both honest and inspiring. I find his writing to have no BS and complete transparency. He also writes about a Universally Favorite Subject, which is Financial Independence.