We had the good fortune of connecting with JaNette Lilly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When my husband passed away, I knew that I had to step up to provide for my 3 kids. I have an amazing support system, but I didn’t want to have to rely on anyone financially and I wanted to give my children the best life I possibly could.

I started my business with $10 in my bank account. I watched my dad struggle with his small business, so I knew small businesses were going to be my target market. I wanted to be able to offer an affordable and effective way to market on social media.

I started with a few clients that were friends and family, but once I started proving myself, I had the confidence to branch out beyond my little small town. I started reaching out to businesses across the country and found that people really connected with my story. Still to this day, I don’t “market” my business. I tell a story and with social media evolving so quickly, I realized that is the one thing that remains steadfast. You don’t need to sell a product or a service, you need to sell yourself, and this applies to every industry. Your customers want to get to know you and your story. When they truly connect with you is when they become a customer for life.

I absolutely faced many challenges, even to this day. I am still working 7 days a week 12-16 hours a day. I’ve become a bit of a workaholic, but I love that I can include my children within my work life. They are my models, my motivators, and my influencers. They keep me up-to-date on what’s trending, they help me edit, and I can take them on vacation and work from anywhere.

I think the valuable lessons I’ve learned so far is that integrity will take you very far, nothing ever remains the same, and you need to be constantly learning and investing in yourself.

I want the world to know that there are companies out there who truly care about your success. I’ve heard so many horror stories about companies not living up to what they’ve promised, or taking advantage of kind people and it is so disheartening. My clients respect my time, but they also feel comfortable enough to include me in their life. I love hearing about their accomplishments or their families and I pride myself on being open enough that my clients can confide in me. I had heart surgery a few months ago and one of my clients sent flowers to my home! When you own a small business, it’s not just business, there is so much more that goes into the heart and soul of your passion and each step and each person is vital to your success.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh boy, if a friend was visiting for a week, I would take them all over the state! I think we would start with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the valley. We’d probably catch breakfast at either Matt’s Big Breakfast or Hash Kitchen and then catch one of the amazing art installations in the city. We would definitely make a trip to Sea life Aquarium, because I’m obsessed with sharks. Lunch at Buffalo Spot for their Hot Cheetos Buffalo Fries and maybe some shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square and finish the day with an amazing dinner at Top of the Rock. Don’t forget to save room for their to-die-for Corn Brûlée.

Next, we would drive over to Prescott, but first stopping at Rock Springs Cafe for breakfast, then visit the Phippen Museum, head to Bill’s Pizza for lunch and hopefully it will be the right time of year to catch The World’s Oldest Rodeo. For dinner, we would eat the amazing waygu beef at Farm Provisions, then we would wander down Whiskey Row and visit all the cool bars and dance the night away at Matt’s Saloon.

On day 3, we would take a short drive from Prescott to Jerome, eating breakfast at The Flatiron, shopping at all the unique shops in this quaint little town, stop at The Haunted Hamburger for lunch, then take in as many ghost tours as possible, and finally head to the haunted hospital turned hotel, Jerome Grand Hotel. Hopefully we stay in room 32, known as the most haunted of them all!

On Day 4, we would drive to Sedona, stopping at Casa Sedona for breakfast, take one of the many vortex tours, stop for lunch at Creekside American Bistro, take some amazing photos on the red rocks, visit a psychic, get our palms read, and kayak down the Verde River and end with tapas and a wine tour!

On day 5, we would head over to Williams, stopping for breakfast at Cruisers Cafe, ride the train to the Grand Canyon and back, then end the night at Grand Canyon Brewery.

On day 6, we would drive to Page, eating brunch at the Ranch House Grille, then visit the amazing Antelope Canyon, something everyone needs to experience at least once in their lifetime. If there’s time, we would tour the dam, eat an early dinner at The Dam Bar & Grille and start our trek to my favorite place in the state, The White Mountains. I was raised here so I could go on and on, but I will try to list a few things you can do in a day or two. First off, my favorite places to eat are Johnny & Dee’s Picnic Basket, where you might run into the famous Angler, Johnny Johnson, Persnikkity’s for lunch (Southwest Cobb Salad with their homemade avocado ranch is my fave), Moose Henri’s (tell Amanda and Jimmy I said hello) and Charlie Clark’s, El Rancho, or Licano’s for dinner. One of my favorite things to show off in Show Low is the poker game statue and tell visitors the story of how the town got its name and how my great-great-great grandfather lost the poker game and had to keep moving and started the town Lakeside. You must visit one of the many lakes in the area, go hiking, boating, fishing, or just watch the wildlife. Definitely head up to Sunrise Ski Park and snowboard, ski, or just ride the lifts for the amazing views. Take a short drive to Greer, stay in one of the quaint cabins and travel back in time about 50 years. Molly Butler’s Lodge is the BEST place to eat (the founder is also a family member) and you must try the prime rib chili. This town is very small, so you can walk all over and explore. From Greer, take a drive up the mountain to Alpine, AZ. They have a fun Bluegrass Festival every year, but don’t forget to eat at Foxfire and take a pie for the road from Bear Wallow Cafe. I would end the day with a long drive down the Devil’s Highway and then my friend would have to fly home because we’re officially out of time!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents really instilled a great work ethic in myself and my siblings. Everyone of us is an Entrepreneur! However, it’s really my 3 children that keep me going every day to be better and successful. I’ve been through a lot, but I want to prove to my girls that no matter what curveballs life throws at you, you are strong enough to overcome them. Each time I go through a rough patch, I try to stay positive and remember that each time I come out stronger and God is just preparing me for something amazing.

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