Female Disruptors: “How Zondra Evans is breaking paradigms by encouraging small businesses to be early adopters of streaming TV”
In business, there are a lot of shiny objects that come your way. It becomes critically important that you stay the course and accept those things that will move you and your organization forward. Therefore, understanding needs no explanation! Stay true to the vision and know “Why” you are doing what you do. You’re WHY is the way to evaluate the best next steps.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Zondra Evans. Zondra has 40+ years of corporate experience and is the founder and owner of ZondraTV Network. She is a Talk Show Host and Executive Producer of Real Biz Talk with Zondra, a global TV platform created to showcase small businesses on Roku, Biz TV, Apple TV and Amazon Fire, just to name a few. She also hosts an unscripted Talk Show called “Fireside Chat with Zondra” that is a feature show on Zondra TV found on Roku. One of Zondra’s main goals is to provide a global, yet affordable media exposure experience for small business entrepreneurs and solopreneurs. Her motto is… — “Be Heard, Be Seen and Grow”. Zondra is a motivational speaker and is known for her revitalizing messages which makes her the inspired choice for memorable and entertaining, seminars, lunches, and partner programs. She is an Author, Certified Self-Investment Coach and Strategist where she assists people on how to best navigate the terse waters of their personal and professional journey. She resides in Dallas Texas and is a lifetime fan of the Dallas Cowboys!
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I worked in Corporate America for 40 years. About 4 years ago I received the “Golden Handshake”. This is the elegant way to say “They no longer need my services”. To my surprise, I was one step from skipping through the hallways while other people were sobbing about the news of their lay off. I realized that the one difference between me and them was, I had developed an exit strategy and made great strides at accomplishing those strategies while things were good in good old Corporate America. I took my exit plan, blew the dust off of it and immediately began executing. I got my feet wet and started a very humble webinar service for women to experience motivation in the comfort of their homes monthly, which included a weekly motivational video from “Yours Truly”. This business was my preparation to the creation of ZondraTV Network
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
I’m breaking paradigms and shattering the norm by encouraging small business to be early adopters of streaming TV. ZondraTV has developed a global streaming platform specifically for small business entrepreneurs, so that small business have an affordable landscape to tell their story, run professional commercial advertisements which includes GEO targeting to the zip codes that the business desires to increase their exposure and potential new business. I consider myself on a personal crusade to educate start-ups, small business entrepreneurs and solopreneurs the importance of early adaption of streaming technology beyond our typical social platforms that are saturated with a lot of white noise with an average of 155 friends yet there are 2.2 Million users and the age old question is: “What is your conversion rate?” How will small business make a bigger impact is by reframing their mindset from a “local focus” to a truly global landscape that is offered through streaming TV. ZondraTV Network is well positioned to help small business thrive and have the same tools that will fit any self-employed business owner. In fact, I can state boldly that our pricing is the most cost effective in the industry for the myriad of services that we provide.
We all need a little help along the journey — who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
One of my many mentors that helped me the most was Angel Tuccy, my Media Coach and PR Manager. I met her at the Small Business Expo in Dallas, Texas. Her time to speak was late in the day but I was determined to hear what she had to say. She started talking about the importance of media and why your story counts. She further stated that she had a proven system to get you out there speaking on larger stages. When her presentation was over, she called out for the few serious people in the audience. I felt like it was alter call and immediately ran to the front waving my hands like over here!!! She has taught me the true value of media and assisted me to develop a flagship product to address Startups and Small Business and their advertising dilemma. Needless to say, I hired her and the next day I was speaking on stage because of her. That was over 2 years ago and she still manages me and is my “Earthly Angel”
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
- My outro has been consistent for the last 5 years “Be the Best You — Peace”. I was in a coaching session with my business coach and in her subtle, oh so loving voice she said: “Zondra I love the outro that you have used for years, but now that you are in Television consider this outro: “Come In, Sit Down and Let’s Chat”. How appropriate this suggestion was given the TV platform design is for small businesses to showcase their business globally.
- In business, there are a lot of shiny objects that come your way. It becomes critically important that you stay the course and accept those things that will move you and your organization forward. Therefore, understanding needs no explanation! Stay true to the vision and know “Why” you are doing what you do. You’re WHY is the way to evaluate the best next steps.
- My pastor is a key member of my advisory board. He continuously reminds me that FEAR is not an option and to continue to move forward, even when the going gets tough and the hills seem impossible to climb.
How are you going to shake things up next?
I am on a crusade to help small businesses be early adopters of Streaming and Digital Technology. One might say its because I have a major streaming platform. But I beg to differ. Small businesses are typically lagging in our understanding, accepting and implementing new technology. We develop our small businesses on a shoestring budget and try to make moves like a mid to large size company. We spend countless hours running all over town to networking events, gathering business cards and praying that something will happen. I am shaking up the mindset of startups, small businesses and solopreneurs to read the tea leaves and become early adopters of streaming and digital technology. After all, if you buy a TV today it comes fully loaded with applications such as, ROKU, AmazonFire, Netflix, etc. Consumers are cable cord cutting massively because streaming is much more convenient. If that is the case and we believe that, then in order for small businesses to compete effectively there is no other option but to develop marketing strategies that embrace the technology difference and provides a larger audience for a quarter of the price. What is the difference between a well-known carpet cleaning service and “Bob’s carpet cleaning? The major carpet cleaning service invest differentially in every form of advertisement (social platforms, ads, press releases and yes TV). ZondraTV Network is here to level the playing field. We consider ourselves the Super Bowl for startups and small businesses that they can afford.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
Yes, I wrote a bestselling book titled “The Power of Investing in You” http://bit.ly/Invest-Today This book highlighted the power that is innately placed inside of you from the day that you were born. The book challenges you to spend quality, yet so quiet time with yourself to hear the small voice inside of you telling you why you are here. We all have gifts and talents that we are not utilizing because of FEAR. In fact, most human beings leave the universe never having the courage to present the world with true authenticity of purpose.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
It would be a “Boss Chick” Movement for Women. This movement would give women needed resources and technical strategies to change the game for current and up and coming Women Leaders. It would focus on the importance of bringing others along in your journey and not only telling but showing the next generation how to refine and really master being a boss chick.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Life Circumstances don’t define you but creates depth in your character.” I have experienced a lot of family loss in my life and I have had favorable and unfavorable circumstances occur, however I learned early that Life is a journey and it may not always be roses. In fact, I have learned to reframe my mindset about unfavorable circumstances to understand that it’s in your response to anything in life that dictates how and when you recover. Life is one big journey of choices, so I choose my response daily.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
www.linkedin.com/in/zondra-tv-network-9012787
https://www.facebook.com/ZondraTVNetwork/
https://twitter.com/CoachZondra
https://www.instagram.com/coachzondra/
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
