Especially for Women with Ann Barczay Sloan
Maria Simone
The Passion to Prosperity Diva
Whaaaat? You may ask… But I exaggerate not! Maria and I first met back in 1999 in Del Mar, California – at my very first session of the Income Builders International (IBI) entrepreneurial seminar, more recently renamed CEO Space. I was a bit in awe at the start, as Maria was already an experienced IBI veteran – and was serving as official Mentor to the newbie entrepreneurs who tend to come to this week-long event with huge visions of dollar signs sparkling in their eyes. But it became quickly obvious that awe was unnecessary: Maria was (and still is) delightfully accessible. We were able to spend a bit of extra time together, as we shared a hotel room. She quickly tuned into some of my skills and talents ─ and has been supportive of me as writer and editor ever since.Who is Maria, and what is she all about?
First, let’s start with the official write-up on Passion to Prosperity:
Maria Simone ─ The Passion to Prosperity Diva ─ is an entrepreneur, author, business "architect", marketing expert and radio host (launching January, 2009) who has been featured on ABC News and Fox TV as well as interviewed in a number of national publications including Business Week, Southern California Magazine, and Inventors Digest. As an international speaker, she has shared the stage with celebrity trainers.
Maria has launched several companies and has raised millions of dollars in funding. Her products have been sold successfully online, on department store shelves such as Macy's and Bloomingdales, and in exclusive gift shops such as at the United Nations and Waldorf-Astoria. She has licensed her ideas for profit as well as created a multiple income lifestyle. Maria is also part of the team building a new media company, The Women’s Information Network, which will launch in the spring of 2009.
Maria has just launched her latest book, “Passion to Prosperity: Instant Ways to Profit from Your Skills and Talents”. It’s a straightforward “recipe” book for anyone who’d like to create a multiple income lifestyle leveraging who and what they already know plus it also contains over 45 ways to market your talents.
Details and a free chapter are at www.passion2prosperitybook.com. As part of her “economic stimulus package” Maria is offering 2 months of FREE business coaching in addition to $500 in bonus gifts with each book purchase.
In July of 2009, Maria will also launch her next book, “The 15 Minute Mentor” which guides people into forming their perfect power teams to help accelerate their business objectives.
Maria and her husband Michael Murdock, a 30 year technology veteran, have been married for 4 years and live in Scottsdale, AZ. They work together to mentor start-ups and existing businesses who are ready to get into serious revenue and explosive growth. Visit http://www.passion2prosperity.com
And now ─ time to move into the interview!
How would you briefly describe what you do, Maria? What’s your “elevator speech”?
“All right, here goes!” Maria laughs. “I’m the ‘Passion To Prosperity Diva’ and I help you step into doing what you love, package your talents in unique ways to create multiple revenue streams, automate your marketing to manifest customers with ease, and attract investors and team players so you have more than enough resources to succeed.
Also, I’ve been called a business architect because I seem to have a knack for monetizing anyone’s passion.”
What makes you unique? In other words, what is the so-called Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of your product or service?
“I combine spiritual principles with solid business building strategies and online marketing techniques. The journey thus becomes more joyful for you ─ and the effect is a scalable business that is in revenue sooner than later.”
What is the primary goal, the mission of what you do?
“I’m applying my business building success strategies to my own companies to create wealth ─ but my greatest joy is in helping others succeed.”
That’s a wonderful mission, Maria!“Yes! I feel very strongly about this. Creating successful new businesses will help create new jobs and ultimately stimulate the economy. I also incorporate a charitable giving model into anything I do that creates revenue.”
I’m curious to find out how you got started in all this, and how you arrived where you are currently.
“I had a successful corporate career in healthcare (started out as a Pharmacist and moved into management) but always had an entrepreneurial spirit and yearned to strike out on my own, which ultimately I did.
I started my first business in 1992 and sold it within 2 years at a profit ─ but the experience clearly made me realize that I needed to learn how to work smarter, how to raise capital and how to leverage resources better. I immersed myself in learning all that and started experiencing success with more ease. I’ve narrowed my process down to 7 steps and today I love to share ‘what works’ with others so they don’t have to make the same mistakes.”
Be sure to mention your newsletter and blog!
I want to let readers know about her excellent publications, so I remind Maria:
“In the context of your ‘sharing what works”, let’s mention your wonderful newsletter, “Fast Forward to Success”, to which I‘ve been subscribing for quite a while. Highly practical information for entrepreneurs – with an added dose of inspiration. People can subscribe at www.passion2prosperity.com .”
Your blog features some excellent pointers as well… I especially enjoyed your recent articles: ‘Be the Star in Your Local Markets’ and “’How to Manifest More Abundance in Business.’” http://mariasimone.blogspot.com/
“Well, thanks, Ann!” Maria smiles.
Which of your projects are you currently most excited and passionate about?
“I’m really excited about the success stories coming from my 16-week Passion to Prosperity Protégé Program. It’s a step-by-step mentoring program which takes people from idea into revenue. My husband and I have combined our talents and the support we’re offering is off the charts. We had people in new revenue within weeks and many made back their investment very quickly. A number of the participants were already in existing businesses but felt they were floundering.”
Sounds great! What exactly does your Program provide?
"I walk people through everything they would need to create a successful online business which spills into offline success. If people are tired of roller coaster income in their life, overwhelmed with all the technology choices and what to do next, or just want a sample of what we can do for them then they should check out www.passion2prosperity.com .”
And I hear you have a really, really new program just up and running!
"Yes! My husband Michael and I recently launched a new service to help entrepreneurs get connected to mentors who may have solutions for them. Our motto: 'It's where "Good Karma" meets up with business success!' You can sign in for free at http://the15minutementor.com ."
How much of your work is focused specifically toward women?
“I really relate to the challenges small women business owners have simply because I am a woman and have had similar experiences ─ so in my email ‘conversations’ I may have a tendency to address women. Because of that I attract mostly women to my programs and as individual clients ─ but actually my work is non-gender-specific.”
What are some of the ways and places you promote your enterprise?
“I love to create strategic alliances with people who help to promote me to their mailing lists; I speak at events, am a frequent radio talk show guest and write lots of articles. I also incorporate a number of online strategies such as search engine optimization, social media networking, cross linking on other sites and ezine marketing.”
How far does your network extend? Or: What is the size of your list, your outreach?
“I’m building my own active subscriber list which is in the many thousands currently ─ but actually my outreach is in the hundreds of thousands as I regularly promote with others, and reach out to my online social networks and discussion forums.”
What has been the best about building a network: Positive experiences? Benefits, expected and unexpected?
“Relationship building is KEY and has always been a positive and rewarding experience for me. The credibility I’ve established with my subscriber base as well as with my strategic partners has opened many doors for me from a revenue perspective, contract and promotional opportunities ─ you name it. It’s great!”
What challenges (if any) have you found in your networking experiences?
“I really enjoy offline and online networking but at this stage, it has to be very intentional. It would be very challenging personally to really keep up with all the opportunities currently available but I have my “routine” and I do my best and then let OTHERS support me with the rest.”
See any benefits emerging from challenges in the long run?
“So many opportunities these days! I focus on putting my time towards activities and events that will give me maximum exposure to many ─ OR put me directly in front of a perfect strategic partner.”
Bottom line – What do you feel is really working well for you?
“With regard to ‘networking’ I focus quite a bit on my online efforts to build my list and then develop relationship from there.”
I will also participate in offline networking activities (usually once a month) that afford me the opportunity to connect with ideal contacts for promotion, strategic alliances or a big audience.”
Besides networking, how else are you promoting your company? What do you view as your primary vehicle?
“I enjoy being a frequent guest on talk radio, public speaking, and teleseminars ─ I have the greatest impact on people when they’ve had the opportunity to listen to me. Especially since I’ve launched my Passion to Prosperity Protégé Program and book.
From there it’s affiliate marketing, JV promotions and search engine marketing activities (including video and article marketing.)”
So Maria ─ what’s the achievement you’re most proud of at this time?
“I’ve accomplished a lot over the years but I think I’m most proud of the fact that I’m always reinventing myself and open to moving in new directions. I’m not afraid to take that “first step” into something new. I see many others getting stuck here.”
Well, as we’ve kept periodically in touch over the years, I’ve certainly observed how you keep moving into new directions. It’s exciting, inspiring to observe!
“Stepping out of one’s comfort zone can be challenging, as it has been for me in the past. I recognized a long time ago that as I work on my business I must also do the internal work on myself if I really want true success. That way, I won’t subconsciously push away any wonderful opportunities that come my way. Anyone who works with me knows that we’ll also spend time on breaking through limiting beliefs in addition to business building activities. It’s so important.”
Now ─ what are your plans and goals for the future, especially regarding networking activities?
“My plan for 2009 is to launch a call-in radio program, help launch an online media company for women and host a 2-day seminar event for entrepreneurs… all great opportunities for networking!”
In conclusion, anything else you’d like to add for our readers? Some words of encouragement, inspiration?
“Some of the greatest encounters I’ve had in my life have been when I’ve simply ‘shown up’─ and I still believe in doing that. I also encourage everyone to not only network with their peers and prospective customers but to step out of their comfort zone once in awhile and seek out new opportunities to meet potential mentors and strategic partners.
Thanks so much, Maria!
What amazing turns life can take… Who would ever have dreamed ─ years ago when we first met at that entrepreneurs’ event in California ─ that one day I’d be interviewing you on your transformation into the Passion to Prosperity Diva?
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Maria Simone ─ Contact information:
simone@passion2prosperity.com
or
888-693-6769
Pick up your free business building tools at
http://www.passion2prosperity.com
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