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Ten questions in ten minutes
With Linda Coles
Thursday, 01 April 2010
Linda Coles is the director of Blue Banana, a company specialising in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and social media.
Linda Coles.
Business to Business
- What inspired you to start up your business?
Linda Coles
- Initially it was to work and fish when I wanted, but reality quickly set in!
BtoB
- Who has influenced you the most professionally?
LC
- Seth Godin and my husband Paul Coles. A great source of expertise and inspiration.
BtoB
- How would you describe yourself as a businessperson?
LC
- Easy to deal with, I want to be friends with everyone. I am in the building relationship business, so it is handy to be that way.
BtoB
- What do you consider your greatest achievement?
LC
- When the phone rings and it is someone who wants you to speak at their event or present a workshop for their team. Being a magnet and not a cattle prod is an achievement in itself. My first half marathon was pretty hard, but I made it without walking.
BtoB
- With hindsight, what is the one thing you would do differently?
LC
- I would have had more action and focus 2 years ago. I look back and wonder how I got anywhere. Today, I know exactly what the plan is, what needs to be done, and where I am going.
BtoB
- Who do you find inspirational and why?
LC
- Dale Carnegie who wrote ‘How to win friends and influence people’. It is such basic stuff, yet so many people don’t use it. Go get a copy today and start using his thoughts.
BtoB
- What is the most inspirational book you have read recently?
LC
– ‘It’s not about the bike’ by Lance Armstrong. You can’t help but feel motivated when you have read his story.
BtoB
- What is your favourite website and why?
LC
- I don’t really have one, but I guess it would involve food if I did.
BtoB
- What is the first thing you would do if you became Prime Minister?
LC
- Change the way we sentence criminals. If the maximum sentence is not long enough, change it. Getting a few months for gross animal cruelty is not common sense in most peoples’ book, and a life sentence should mean life.
BtoB
- What is the best thing about being in business?
LC
- Helping others pro bono if you can, that need your help. I hate to see people make mistakes. Also the ability to finish early on Friday and go away for some R&R without having to ask permission.
