Coaching You to Star Performance
in Your Event or Wedding Business

Client Results

Coaching is action-based and results-oriented. When you start thinking strategically, you'll stop being driven by crises, competitors or price. SEBA clients have learned how to focus and are realizing desirable bottom lines. They've stopped working seven days a week, started taking scheduled days off, and are working fewer hours. Read what they have to say!

Believing

" Without Sharon, we wouldn't be. She gave us focus, knowledge and the belief in ourselves."

— Libby Donalson & Cheryl Lebsock
Inviting by Design www.invitingbydesign.com

Staying on target

“Sharon helped us outline our professional goals, and urged us to take a look at our personal goals at the same time. She kept us focused and on target. She is always there to offer assistance and guidance when we need her. Two years later, our lives have changed completely. We have accomplished more than we thought possible and our business is continuing to grow. We might have done some of it without her, but we would never have gotten this far without her leadership.”

— Tiffany Brown & Yvette Lorito, WOW! Special Events
www.WowSpecialEvents.com

Instilling faith and courage

"Sharon gave me faith in myself and the courage to continue, when I might otherwise have quit. She really knows how to ask the right questions, and how to guide you to find your own answers inside yourself."

She supported me, when I had huge business challenges and always helped me see the silver lining in a dark business cloud...guiding me to learn, and grow from my mistakes and showing me how to overcome any obstacle in my path. After all, life is a journey and Sharon has made my 'business journey' both enjoyable and achievable."

— Anseth Richards, Creative Occasions
www.acreativeoccasion.com

Successfully launching new company

"Sharon and SEBA were with me every step of the way when I launched my company in January, 2001. She was a calm in the storm and brought focus when I couldn't — she is a terrific coach who has been on our side of the fence — I would recommend her to anyone in the events industry"

— Katie Shultz, Cobalt Communications
    www.theborderagency.com

Identifying strengths and specialties

"I learned to stop trying to be everything to everyone and began to specialize in the areas that are my strongest, where I have the best client base."

— Carol Rosen, CSEP, Party Designs
    www.PartyDesignsbyCarol.com

Implementing goals and visionary planning

"Sharon helped me re-think my business plan, re-organize my sales approach, and re-construct my long range goals. My thinking had become too routine, and I was not challenging myself enough. I wanted a change and knew it would not happen with just my own motivation, nor would it occur over night…

"The outcome of my coaching cannot be described in one or two words. However, I can report that my work, both as Director of Special Events at Michael's Restaurant and as an independent Wedding Consultant, is now goal-specific, to the point, and solution-oriented. I NOW HAVE A PLAN TO LIVE BY … I have a vision, and when I go off track I get up, brush myself off, and get going again.

"My ability to do sales and marketing has become easier because I no longer target 3 or 4 markets. I identified a niche and I concentrate there. With everything I do at work I ask myself "Will this generate sales; does this support my business plan?" If my immediate reaction is "No," I stop. I let it go and reorganize. I stay more on track then ever before, and this is why I feel I needed to work with Sharon and will continue to work with her. She challenged my way of thinking and my approach to business. I do not look at coaching as a one-time venture; I am in it for the long haul."

— Mary Fitzgerald, Mary Fitzgerald Events
    www.maryfitzgeraldevents.com

Putting mission statements to work

"Working with Sharon really put both my strengths and weaknesses into focus. After nine months of coaching I was able to see the truly important elements of running a good business, and could create the systems needed to handle the incredible amount of day-to-day workflow. We created target goals for increased business, and not only met them, we exceeded them two years in a row. The amount of energy Sharon and I put into my business mission statement was incredible. I couldn't see the point of all the effort, but now that I have it I use it every day to keep us on track. Sharon brought a different perspective that manifested itself in real profit. Her understanding of the event industry is one of the things that sets SEBA apart from other business coaches.

"After I stopped sweating the small stuff and saw what was important I made more per client and my client feedback improved (Sharon set up our system for client feedback). Having consistently happy clients wanting to spend more at our studio is a direct result of Sharon's coaching."

— Jon Nickson, Jon Nickson Photography
    www.nicksonphoto.com

Reducing wasted time

"After working with SEBA, I became more aware of where I was spending my time and where I was wasting it. I was extremely overwhelmed with the filing, bookkeeping, and researching of information. For example, bookkeeping… Now there's a job I don't enjoy, and I put it off for 'later.' Because of this procrastination, I wasn't fully aware of what I had coming in or going out.

"What I did, at Sharon's recommendation, was to bring bookkeeping back in-house, and gave the job to my part-time Office Manager. With this decision in place, I was able to have Quickbooks reports at the touch of a finger, and got valuable information that helped me understand where my money is and was going.

"In addition, the financial system we now have allows me to project my income and sales in a much more efficient way. My motto was always 'Do what you do best, and sub out the rest,' but in this case, Sharon was right — I needed to be hands-on with my finances, instead of waiting until the reports came back the middle of the next month."

— Geneene Thornton, Celebrations Event Planning,     Graduate USD Event Management Certificate Program
    www.waterfrontweddings.com

Improving customer service

"In my former career as a designer and manufacturer of women's apparel, my mindset always was that of a wholesaler and my No. 1 goal always was to expand my market share and sell to stores and boutiques nationwide. But now, as I serve a regional clientele of event planners, banquet venues and wedding organizers, I needed to focus more on customer service. Sharon Jansen coached me to get to know my customers on a more personal level and to put their needs first. She advised me to think like a service business, and to put my core clientele in Southern California ahead of my plans for wider regional and national expansion."

— Youngsong Martin, Wildflower Linen
    www.wildflowerlinens.com

Getting things done

"Coaching helps get things done. Things just move faster when you're held accountable, and Sharon's style keeps it enjoyable at the same time."

— Howie Knodt, Special Event Marketing
    www.specialeventcruises.com

Achieving goals

"SEBA taught me to take simple notions and put them together in the right time and place. I increased my leadership skills, learned how to call the game, establish goals, and implement actions to achieve those goals."

— Debbie Thomas, CSEP, Metallic Design Studios
    www.metallicdesignstudio.com

Focusing and prioritizing

"Regular meetings with my coach gave me the focus to get things done instead of putting them off because 'I was too busy.' I became accountable, prioritized and moved my business to the next level."

— Barbara Wallace, CSEP, Barbara Wallace Weddings, 2002 Gala Award Winner and ABC Accredited Bridal Consultant
www.bwallaceweddings.com

Partners in business

"SEBA put us on track to achieve the goals we set out for in 1998 for our new start up independent planning company. Sharon has helped guide us throughout the years and has been a great part of our success. We have become friends and partners in business! Thank you SEBA!

— Claudia Jennings
Corporate Diversions LLC and Coast Challenge
www.corporatediversions.com and www.coastchallenge.com

For many clients, SEBA coaching helps them replace unproductive actions and attitudes with successful results...

• Stopped making excuses about not having time to network.
  • Started regularly attending organization meetings and is now part of the leadership team.
  • RESULT: Referrals have increased and the company's image has been enhanced.
• Stopped thinking that by specializing one would lose sales.
  • Created a niche market that allows higher fees.
  • RESULT: dramatically increased profit.
• Stopped wasting time.
  • Started analyzing current and ideal work lives.
  • RESULT: higher income from fewer events.
• Stopped ignoring financial statements.
  • Started learning how to interpret them.
  • RESULT: profit doubled two years in a row.
• Stopped "shooting from the hip" marketing strategies.
  • Started planning them on an annual basis.
  • RESULT: increased sales 125% in one year.
• Stopped being scattered, going from one thing to another.
  • Started establishing goals.
  • RESULT: had to hire support staff to handle extra business.
• Stopped wondering if he could handle expanding.
  • Started putting plans in motion.
  • RESULT: launched a new division and hired a marketing manager.

How can we help you?