Featured Friday: Janene Liston of Janene Liston Coaching & Consulting

This week we talked with The Pricing Lady, aka Janene Liston of Janene Liston Coaching & Consulting. Janene helps small businesses owners gain confidence and using pricing as a tool to grow their business. You can visit her online at janeneliston.com. 

Tell me about yourself!
I'm born and raised in California and studied Architectural Engineering in University. I worked in that area for a few years then switched to product management for a high voltage test and measurement company. I also moved to Connecticut during that time. It's with this company that I had the opportunity in 2001 to move to Switzerland where I've been living for the past 19 years,  and am currently a Swiss citizen. 

My career switched again when I was hired by Siemens to be their Global Pricing Manager for the Building Automation division. It was during this time I became a certified pricing professional and pricing has been my thing ever since. In 2017, I started my own business as the Pricing Lady. My clients are typically small businesses who are struggling with pricing and/or seeking to improve the bottom line with pricing. I show them how to set, get, and manage prices so they can close more details, at the right price, confidently.

On the personal side I enjoy traveling, public speaking (especially Toastmasters), mountain biking, cross country skiing and I crafting my own greeting cards. 

What made you decide to start your own business?
The biggest catalyst was a burn out. I had been thinking about starting my own business for years, but was always afraid of the financial struggle. As I was recovering from the burn out of the corporate world, I realized I truly love pricing and what I can bring companies with that expertise, but that I wanted to help out smaller companies. I also wanted to build a business that gave me flexibility and the ability to also spend a couple of months a year doing volunteer and social work abroad. In the end, my own business offered me the opportunity to achieve these things.

What's the hardest part about being an entrepreneur?
Riding the roller coaster- the highs and lows are the hardest part.

What's your favorite part?
Helping people achieving their dreams and seeing their confidence as they improve pricing in their businesses.

What advice would you give to women either working in business or starting their own?
Trust yourself and use your network. As women, too often we turn to others to confirm our own ideas. We should have the gumption to take decisions, not because others say it's right, but because we trust ourselves and the fact that even if it doesn't go as planned, we can handle the situation anyhow.

What's your favorite quote?
Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias said: "I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."