We were lucky to catch up with Ann Clarke recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ann, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I was brought up in an entrepreneurial family in a college town in Northern Colorado. We had two movie theaters at a time when movies were the preferred entertainment. My first job at age 4 was opening the bottles of pop at the concession stand. Throughout my young life, marketing and customer service really were dinner table conversations! But so was community involvement. My dad was on the City Council so I learned early on that “politics” can effect our personal & professional lives. But Dad also observed that “when women are financially successful, they have better choices.” That dovetailed in with with the advice coming from my grandfather: “You don’t need someone else to take care of you or make you happy. You have that within yourself.” My family truly believed that “there is nothing you cannot do,” words setting me on a lifetime path of entrepreneurism.
Ann, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
After I graduated from Colorado State University, I ended up working in a ski area – Breckenridge – where I married a handsome Sheriff’s Deputy, skied my brains out and became a sports photographer. That career continued when my husband & I moved to the foothills along the Colorado Front Range, but I switched to equine photography when our son went horse-crazy. I happened to photograph a rooky Realtor with her horse, and encouraged her to use that photo in her marking. After all, she specialized in horse properties. Soon I was sharing ideas about how to use photos in Realtors’ marketing programs, which led to a whole other career as a “Person Promotion Marketing Specialist” in the real estate industry. That, in turn, evolved into my becoming a professional speaker and writer, specializing in helping women become successful in business.
I shared my expertise and knowledge for 15 years until my husband retired from Loveland Police Dept. in 2008. He was ready to retire; I was not. I still wanted to put women in the spotlight so I did some focus groups, looked at business organizations out there, and asked, “what can I do that’s different/better/needed? The result was a new master-mind organization for women at a high level in their careers: Colorado Women of Influence (COWOI). So much of what I do today with COWOI pertains to helping members share their experiences & expertise to benefit others. My husband passed away in 2019, and I quickly realized I still burned with the fires to help women find the resources to create a great life. I do just that through COWOI but how cool that we also become “girlfriends at a whole higher level” and I really love that! These days, in addition to monthly Circles of Influence master-mind luncheons and Lunch with a Leader Forums, my Members ask me to create a lot of social events, like Girlfriend Getaways, Girlfriends at the Theater/Movies/Rodeo, Lights & Limos Holiday Tours, and a monthly Girlfriends & Wine casual get-together. Glad to!
I am flattered and frankly astounded that I am still asked to speak, to facilitate panels, and to share my wisdom. After all, there are a lot of candles on my birthday cake and my hair is “arctic blond!” I’d rather avoid the glare of the spotlight and shine it on others!
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
When I was growing up, my dad had a framed saying above the desk in his office: “I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you stand for. I don’t know what service you offer. I don’t know your reputation. I don’t know if I can trust you. I don’t even know your name. Now…what was it you wanted to sell me?” That saying held true throughout my professional life and is even more relevant today when we are quick to assume that we only need social media to get the sale!
You have to remember that I started my photography and Personal Promotion Marketing businesses at a time when it was challenging for women to make a lot of money. We were pegged into certain professions, like admin, nursing or teaching. In fact, when I was working as an administrative temp at a large national computer company, I actually had a manager tell me that I was “such a good secretary – why would you want to get into marketing?” Wow, he had no idea how demeaning his comment was. But he wasn’t surprised when I was offered a permanent position and I turned the job offer down to start my first company, GR8 Ideas At Work.
Of course I had no doubt my decision was correct: I had just read Debra Benton’s book, Lions Don’t Need To Roar: Using the Leadership Power of Personal Presence to Stand Out, Fit in and Move Ahead. I quickly admit that it changed my life. In the years following that 1992 book, I devoured Benton’s writings and added How to Think Like A CEO, Executive Presence, Executive Charisma, and The CEO Difference to my library, as well as hearing her speak dozens of times. Her advice dovetailed in with my father’s example growing up and my growing experience. Another influential author was LeAnn Thieman whose book, This Must Be My Brother, showed how a quiet woman can become a hero when thrust into a battle zone. Benton’s and Thieman’s books inspired me to think bigger and take on more!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I always knew that my life-long vision would be to help women become successful in business: I also knew I’d always be an entrepreneur because I wanted to do things that women traditionally did not do. That led me to find ways to help other women create wonderful personal & professional lives. As an event planner by nature, I had great joy in facilitating a dozen women’s networking groups and setting up conferences, workshops and retreats. I loved putting women into the spotlight! I also wrote articles (local & national), spoke at every club luncheon in my area, put in to be key note or breakout speaker at business conferences, and find every opportunity to share advice, tips and tricks helping the audience work smarter. It didn’t take long to establish a reputation as an expert in the business community and a especially an advocate for women. As I become widely known in my community., awards & honors followed, and so did lots of Press Releases. I practiced what I preached. But my driving motivation was always to put others in the spotlight and be their cheerleader.
As my career wound down and I created Colorado Women of Influence in 2008, I realized that so many contributions by women were overlooked and undervalued. It seemed natural to organize a big party (not a fund-raiser) to honor these women, so the Women of Vision Gala was born. To publicize the Gala and encourage nominations for female visionaries & leaders, I attended clubs & events not usually on my calendar. Name recognition went to a whole higher level, as did endorsements and PR. A Gala is a huge project, so a wonderful team helped bring it about, and of course they got maximum recognition & thanks – and time in the spotlight!
Granted, writing articles and speaking might not be as popular now, but blogging certainly is! So is creating a social media persona which is consistent with the professional image you want to project. I want people who have never met me in person feel as if they know me. That involves posting not only business activities but peeks into my personal life. I’ve always said that my personal theme is “Life is a dashing and bold adventure” and my red Harley Trike helps me live it. I am a Colorado gal, lifelong athlete, and an unapologetic Patriot. And I love being labeled as “Annoyingly happy!” My social media reflects all this but steers clear of politics. Of course my husband the cop would have a long list of “Social Media Don’ts” which, sadly, we must all follow.
The most important tip is this: Don’t just talk the talk – walk the walk. Personal integrity, supporting others in their goals, giving others maximum PR and thanks, being other-oriented, mastering the art of networking & conversations – it’s all part of WHO YOU ARE. My goal is to live my life with NO REGRETS.
Finally, as Mindy McCloughan (President and CEO of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce) said recently, “Do something today that your future self will thank you for!”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cowoi.com