Women At Work: Becky Sheetz-Runkle | Entrepreneur, Author, PR PRO

I’d like to introduce you to one of my favorite people, Becky Sheetz-Runkle.  You might remember me talking about Becky awhile ago in my book haul video.  Her book Sun Tzu for Women: The Art of War for Winning in Business is LITERALLY changing my life.  I’m pretty sure I’ve read it at least 3x now!  You should at least read once … or twelve … I mean … do what moves you.

1. What is your dream job?

Martial arts. If money were no object and I could do what I wanted to do, I’d be a full time martial arts instructor. I’m most fully “myself” when I’m training and teaching.

I’d travel all of the world, teaching, learning and experiencing. I’d write about martial arts and I’d change people’s lives by teaching them how to defend themselves and how to defeat enemies of all types both without and within themselves. I’d go into facilities in disadvantaged communities where kids couldn’t otherwise afford martial arts. And I’d teach at shelters for domestic violence victims.

I teach martial arts currently, but it’s very much part time, and hardly for the money. There’s not much money to be made with the types of martial arts I practice, namely aiki-jujitsu.

That said, I very much enjoy the things that pay the bills for me–marketing consulting, writing and speaking. If I hadn’t found martial arts, I would probably say that marketing, writing and speaking WAS my dream job.

2.What industry is most of your work concentrated in?

My marketing, PR and copy-writing work is heavily in the technology space. My book, Sun Tzu for Women: The Art of War for Winning in Business and related speaking and writing, is industry agnostic.

3. Got a side hustle?  How does it affect your daily schedule?

I used to be a regular person. I worked in an office for an employer, though I was always teaching martial arts on the side. But now I’ve transitioned into marketing consulting, copywriting, freelance writing, authoring and speaking to women in business. So I’m always hustling! I thrive in the variety.

4. Discuss your path to where you are now in your career?  Has it been planned?  Were there unexpected turns?

There are a lot of factors in success. I think one of the biggest is serendipity! I didn’t go to school for marketing. In fact, I planned to go into politics. I went down that path, but falling short of what I had envisioned, I ended up at a marketing and PR firm. I had done communications on the Hill right out of school and was a strong writer, so I was able to position that to get my first marketing agency job.

From there, the doors opened and I went on to co-found Q2 Marketing with Pamela Girardin.

I think people make the mistake of positioning themselves too narrowly and not branching out into related opportunities. Think broadly and creatively and be ready to harness serendipity! Then you can use those unexpected turns to your advantage.

5. What have you discovered about yourself along the journey?

I’ve discovered what I’m good at, and equally as importantly, what I’m not good at. I’ve discovered that while I genuinely love people and respect my clients and partners, I work best independently. I enjoy collaboration, but I also really enjoy making things happen!

Also, with experience comes perspective. I don’t let things get to me like I did when I was younger. I learn from problems, adversity and mistakes and get better. I’ve learned to trust my instincts and trust myself, and when and how to call and the advice of others whom I trust.

6. If you knew in the beginning what you know now, would you have done anything differently?

Absolutely! I would have been more assertive and more clearly communicated what I wanted. Women in particular too often think we’re clear in asking for what we want professionally, but it’s not clear to others.

I would have worked harder to make connections with senior people who came into my path, instead of being intimidated by them.  Also, earlier in my career, I would have gotten out of positions that were not advancing me more quickly. Comfort is the enemy of excellence.

7. Describe a day in your life.

My days vary a great deal, which I think contributes to my sanity. This is the Monday after our annual Sho Bushido Ryu jujitsu seminar. So my day began slowly. I’m pretty stiff today! One of my first orders of business was a call from a very well known corporation looking for a speaker for their women’s business group. I also talked to some others about some topics related to publicity for Sun Tzu for Women.

I worked with a client on a copywriting project in the tech world, and digested feedback from another on my recommended PR strategy for a business media story. I’m preparing for a presentation Wednesday to a women’s business group in Washington, D.C. Oh, and I just reviewed a press release for a major announcement related to my company, Q2 Marketing, which I can’t disclose yet.

Monday is typically my “short day.” I try and be at the gym by 5:30 for a class I really like. I have the freedom to start early so I can leave early and spend my days in ways that I think are most beneficial and most productive for me today and long term. That’s something else I learned–to honor my boundaries. There’s great liberation in that, but it took me many years to respect that. I used to see boundaries as weakness.

8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? 10 years?

I see more books in my future and more speaking. I expect to continue to do strategic marketing, PR and copywriting, because I’m good at it and I’ve built up a solid client base. Plus, it’s fun!

As for the martial arts, I see myself practicing it as long as I can move.

Tags: becky sheetz-runkle, business, sun tzu for women, women at work