Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/67815
SUZANNE PRENTICE good stead in an industry known to be tough, political and at times frustrating to say the least. It's all character building stuff and you either get on with it or you don't survive. WW: What activities or thinking disciplines keep you motivated, fresh, focused and on track? & Now Then WW: What is the general acceptable 'return on investment' figure for your industry? With the entertainment industry there is no easy 'gauge'. Each entertainer knows what their own financial value is and where they sit in the market. I guess what you feel you want as a return on your own investment, or what figure you want to earn is a very personal thing and comes down to how much work you want to do in any given year. WW: How is this tracking implemented? The number of engagements in the diary, the number of works in progress, and continually looking for opportunities and offering something 'different'. I feel you must keep yourself engaged with key people in the industry too. WW: What practices work best to 'keep it in the black'? Knowing your market, knowing what they want to hear, see and experience from you. It's a must to keep your name and face (brand) in front of the public. Work hard and be the best you can be at any given time. In the entertainment industry you are constantly working because your potential clients could be anywhere you happen to be. WW: What examples of business innovation in New Zealand have inspired you? The way people have taken to the internet 10 | WHO'S WHO 2012 is something that continues to amaze me. I must confess, I'm not the best at using technology but I am very aware of how new technology is becoming more and more important to your ability to work efficiently to expand your business. It's mind boggling to see how fast things change today with new and better ways to do business via the Internet. I know I'm slow out of the blocks. I've only just had my own website designed but I understand how important it is to get on board with social media to promote my brand (Suzanne Prentice). Ian Taylor from Dunedin's TaylorMade Productions is a leading example of inspiring New Zealand innovators. Ian had a great product and took it to the world. He hasn't rested on his laurels either, he continues to better himself. I really admire Ian. Fuelling the Fire: WW: Where do you draw your personal power from? I feel strongly that personal power comes from within. If you're not strong yourself, you cant rely on anybody else to make you strong. I was incredibly lucky having a great upbringing where I was taught not to rely on others, to get out there and do it for yourself. My mother was English, she lived through the war, she met my father when he was a Naval officer based in England. When you live in times of war it must give you a different perspective on life. That was passed on to me and it's stood me in Being fit and healthy is something that is very important to me. If I'm not feeling fit I think it reflects in my performance and personality to a greater or lesser degree. Good healthy eating, a dose of exercise and getting my sleep keeps me pretty well on track. It's not always easy though and sometimes I really have to make a conscious decision to take some time for myself and get out there and walk, or whatever exercise I choose to do. In my experience women especially tend to put anything and everything in front of taking time for themselves, sometimes feeling slightly guilty when taking "time" for themselves, but if you're not fit and happy within yourself I feel you often aren't working at your optimum. As for the thinking disciplines, being positive makes for an easier life. In saying that, surrounding yourself with positive people is a bonus too. I find it very hard work in a negative environment. Below: Rehearsing with Tammy Wynette's band on stage at Wembley Stadium in London.