How did you hear about Juanell? How did you make the decision to work with her as opposed to working with someone else?

I actually originally heard about Juanell through a direct mail piece that she mailed out. I paid no attention to the direct mail piece, to be perfectly honest with you. It was after I got into my NSA local chapter, and really started talking to different people, that I took a closer look at what might be some options. A good friend of mine, Susan Fletcher, had made the decision that she was going go and spend time with Juanell and I was still a little bit leery because it is a very high financial investment. Then Juanell spoke at the NSA Dallas Chapter and just listening to her I knew that she was credible and that it wasn't going to be some type of hot smoke kind of exercises. I knew that I would walk away with tangible practical action steps I could put into work, in order to advance my cause.

What kind of credibility do you think Juanell has in the speaking industry that gives her the right to do what she does?

I think the fact that she is a Trail Blazer is what gives her the credibility. I mean she has sat in the seat. Even though Juanell will say I am not a speaker, she has operated the business and knows how to go about setting things up, so that you can run your business smoothly, and be efficient and effective. I think the thing that Juanell has, that came out in conversation enables her to have credibility, at least how it relates to me as a Christian, is she has the gift of discernment. She says that quietly, but for me, that was really important.

When you started with Specialize or Die, at what point do you feel you were at in your career?

As it relates, my business model is multi thronged. In other words, I have speaking business coaching, and workshops. From a standpoint of business coaching and workshop, I am advanced. As it relates to the actual work on keynote speeches, I still think I am in fermenting stages.

Did the Specialize or Die program meet your expectations?

More – it exceeded them.

What was the best feature of the program?

[The best feature was] that she could demonstrate to me how my thought process resulted in programs that were developed. She didn't place it into my spirit or my intellectual processing. What she did, [was] she brought it out of me. So I have an extreme amount of ownership. It is mine.

What are three major obstacles or concerns you had with your career before you worked with Juanell?

Establishing a point of difference, building credibility in the industry, and formulating valuable relationships that are not financially driven. The speaking industry talks about how everyone helps each other out; it is total boloney. Biggest crock, if you know what I [mean]. People will say, “I will talk to you, yes pay me $600,” or “I will evaluate this, but pay me $500.” I am not trying to suggest that they do not deserve what ever it is that they want, but by the end of the day they sort of hide behind this "well I am going to give you freely and etc." Don't get me wrong; there are some people who [help each other out] but the vast majority of them do not exist.

Was that one of the biggest things for you to overcome when you started getting into it?

No, the biggest thing to overcome was the cliquishness of the organization. It is very clique-y. If you have known people for twenty years, then those are the ones who get the information for free. But there are an extremely limited amount of minorities in the program, and the organization does absolutely nothing to create an inclusive environment.

Explain what you walked away with, that you would not have had, if you had not worked with Juanell.

[I walked away with] a unique value proposition that links and weaves together, a core element that provides a foundation for my entire business model. It was a powerful experience. So much that when it started to come together during the second day, when we started to pull it, it was like a spiritual release moment. [It was] extremely emotional.

Did you eventually develop a branding that was uniquely yours?

Yes.

How much unique branding happened during your session with Juanell?

It happened during the session as to the positioning [of] what I can bring to the table. We ended up with this Transformation Breed Series. Then we were able to really come up with really powerful offerings that I thought were worthy of my target audience paying for. It dealt with real business issues, I don’t focus a lot on personal [things]. My background is business so that is were I go and what I know. I started doing a bunch of research before I went to Juanell. In our exploratory conversation she planted some seeds in my heart and I started to run with it and by time I got to her I had binders full of research, which we were able to use in the session. That to me added a greater richness to the actual content. I don't [know] that a lot of people [add richness to the content], or to what degree they do or they don't. That would be something that I would say for people coming in. As a part of the program Juanell says, "Look I think that you should begin to do some preliminary research." Afterwards [was] when I really started to take on the deep dive [into] the research. For me, the real assets that had been in that day session came to solution.

Did working with Juanell shorten your learning curve?

Oh, tremendously.

Is it possible to do this work by yourself?

No. I couldn't have.

What would you change in the Specialize or Die program, if you could do it over again? What would make it better?

I would say that when you walk out of the session you have a wealth of information, a huge amount. The thing that has been a challenge for me is to keep the business going, while addressing all of the opportunities that were identified. So I guess [I would emphasize] the timing, Juanell says look at it for a year. And I think most people that are in the business are triple A personality like me, you want to do it yesterday. If she could help to enable us to recognize that it is a long process. She said this, but for me, it [means], ‘yeah right it is a long process for some people but I don't want it to be a long process for me because I want everything done by yesterday.’ That is what a lot of the people in the business will want. [I think] she could package the initial program, plus quarterly updates as a part of what the payment is. Then [she could] help keep people on track, but give them time to start working it.

What would you say the bottom-line benefit is of Juanell's program?

I think that I would say it is the creation of a vision, the development of a roadmap that ensures success for anyone who is interested in speaking or teaching in a capacity, whether it is business coaching or workshops. I think she goes beyond [just] speaking.

Do you believe 100% that your message has been defined and is uniquely yours and that it will make a major difference in those lives that you touch?

Based on all of the feedback, and all of the work that I have done so far. The answer to that question would be yes, yes, yes.

What have you done since you have participated in the program?

I was in during the month of January [2003]. Since, I have been working like a Hebrew slave. This is what I absolutely love about her is that she says, “This is hard work and not child's play, so if you are not serious don't waste my time.” I absolutely love that about her. I am extremely serious and respect the fact that she is giving of herself. I think that her very spiritual nature is to be a giving person. That comes through, the value that you get from participation in her program, I think that they go beyond that initial contact. Like today if I needed something [or] I needed to ask something, I feel I could pick up the phone. I could call her and she wouldn't say "Ok, that is another $500". She would say, "Ok, we have a relationship and I as a part of your support team, am willing to help you and be a part of your success".

Does her program give you the confidence that you're on the right career path?

Yes, I knew I was on the right career path, I wanted the road map to get there.

Well, what long- range returns do you think you'll receive, not necessarily just financially, but overall from having participated in this program?

Totally. I am five years down from where I would have been if I had not gone to her program.

When Juanell is speaking about her program, what part of her program would you recommend that she concentrate on?

On the uniqueness of helping people to get a very unique value proposition. In this business world we refer to it as personal branding. I think that personal branding is critical in no matter what business that you are in. I didn't hear Juanell say personal branding , but what she was saying I [translated] into personal branding. If [there is] anything that she could focus on more would be that this is about personal branding and a value proposition.

Is there anything else that you would like to add ?

I would just say, I think Juanell is one of the most organized people that I have ever been around. She has a system that I would love to replicate. I think that it is that system that allows her to let her clients get the most of the time that they have [with her]. We don't waste time looking for anything. When you get there, Juanell has everything planned out.