Be yourself. You’ll waste a lot of time and energy trying to fit into someone else’s expectation of who you should be.
Debbie Page is an internationally recognized entrepreneur, business coach and advocate for women’s economic independence and is recognized as the leading authority on cash flow for women in business.
She is the founder of Femmenation™ a boutique coaching and consultancy exclusively for women business owners and entrepreneurs.
From 2011-2015 she was the Executive Managing Director of an international women’s networking organization and has been recognized as an International FemtorⓇ for her work with women owned business, and her commitment to showing others how to build community to grow their business through effective networking. She is the only woman to receive back to back recognition.
For over two decades Debbie has worked with women and money and has acquired, scaled and sold two businesses of her own. It is safe to say, that whatever high or low you are experiencing in your business, she’s been there and knows the way through.
When not coaching her clients from Sweden to Singapore and across North America, Debbie is a philanthropist, a feminist and a decent Cribbage player. She loves a good glass of wine, great conversation and studying the latest findings and applications in the fields of cognitive psychology, business strategy and marketing.
Debbie is the proud pet parent to Mr. Harley Hounderton, her 10 year old Labrador Retriever and doggy love of her life.
Where did the idea for your company come from?
Femmenation(™) was born out of my experience with women in business and their lack of support around the systems and processes it takes to run successful, scalable, and sustainable businesses. I wanted to create a system that wouldn’t simply tell women what business owners what they needed to do, but how to do those things successfully.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I am the ultimate early bird! Once the dog has been fed (he always makes sure my priorities are correct) I grab my favorite journal/day planner, a current thoughtful book I am reading, a cup of tea and hustle to my chair. Once I navigate my morning practice, then it’s to review overnight emails and craft replies, check in on social channels and usually enjoy some creative endeavors for my own business and then it’s into intense client sessions with women around the world. Mid-day I have a standing break with the pup for a stroll and then day wraps up with follow up, clean up and any deliverables. I love automation, so anything I can do to automate or schedule recurring tasks I will!
How do you bring ideas to life?
My best ideas come early in the morning like little whispers nudging me awake. I keep a notebook next to my bed to capture these baby ideas and then spend time letting them roll around for awhile. When it feels like they are really about to be “born” I block time on the calendar and let the creativity flow.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I love seeing more women start business that fill a need in the world. With women starting businesses at twice the rate of me, it is only a matter of time before the number of women who crash the million dollar mark grows!
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I am VERY structured with my calendar. Everything is blocked and scheduled. It makes it nice as I don’t have to think, “What’s next?” I just let my calendar boss me and tell me what to do next; this intense structure allows me to get a LOT done in a day and stay in a place of highly serving my clients.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be yourself. You’ll waste a lot of time and energy trying to fit into someone else’s expectation of who you should be. Listen to your gut. It is ALWAYS correct and will never steer you wrong. Build a network when you don’t “need” it. Give to others without an agenda and more greatness will come to you than you can ever anticipate.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
The Matrix is the best movie ever made.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Follow up. We’ve all heard, “the fortune is in the follow up” and yet very few people seem willing to find their fortune. A good friend of mine and I talk about all the money we NEVER spend each year because people don’t follow up with us after we have expressed an interest of SOME kind. Running your business is hard enough – don’t leave money on the table. And when you are following up you’ve got to come up with a follow up strategy that isn’t you just saying each time, “Are you ready to buy? Are you ready to buy? Are you ready to buy.” Have a documented process and find ways to add value and keep yourself top of mind to those who have expressed interest in your work.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your bsuiness?
Strategic Networking. I was crystal clear on my ideal client: Women in business 2 years or more who are looking to leverage, scale and possibly sell their business who needed support in crystallizing their systems and be taught how to do what was the next logical step in their business. I wanted to network where they were and where the people who influenced them were. I consistently showed up. Followed the Law of Contribution that says, “The level of your happiness and success is directly proportionate to the number of people you serve selflessly.” I always set the intention to connect with 2 new people at each event I’d attend and it allowed me to have great conversation and really come to understand them and their business. Over the course of the year I intentionally connect with 40 new people and develop beautiful business relationships that result in revenue for all.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Closing my 2000 square foot loft office in downtown Seattle in May, 2008. It was a GIANT hit to my ego and I felt like a failure. Fortunately because I had carefully developed a strong supportive network, I didn’t stay in the “shameful failure” phase for long. It was their support and continual connection that helped reframe what I initially saw as a failure as a wise business decision and by the time the economy fell apart in the fall of ‘08 I was feeling relieved and quite pleased that I had not hung on any longer and had released myself from a big overhead expense that would have ruined my had I not made the hard decisions earlier in the year.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away?
I love service based business models because the overhead tends to be low and if run correctly the margins are amazing. So I would say to find the thing that other people HATE or don’t have time to do and are willing to pay someone to do so they don’t have to. The more full people’s lives get the more they want other people to do things for them.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I made an additional $100 contribution on top of what I had allocated to share at a recent charity event. It made me feel good to know that by adding that additional $100 my contribution was now being fully matched. Talk about growing money!
What is one piece of software or web service that helps you be productive?
I love Gmail and all the ways it integrates my primary email and the scheduling and reminder tools I can use. Plus it integrates with every device and has a great UI across many apps.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I read a book a week so this is hard! One of the books I read each year is Jack Canfield’s Success Principles. It’s something I read at the end of each year and check in on myself and how I am doing overall in my business. It creates a format for you to check in and see how you are progressing in your personal and professional goals.
What is your favorite quote?
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Key Learnings:
- Schedules and the structure of systems support high achievement and productivity.
Follow up, follow up, follow up.
Networking in the correct places and being a person of contribution will grow your business.
Build your network when you don’t need it.
Be a good person and people will be good to you.
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Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.