Featured Member: Sue Paananen

When I was 9, I begged to take a summer class in science—just for fun.  As a kid, one of my favorite solo games was to make as many equations as I could with the numbers of a digital clock before the minute changed to the next number.  At 14, I asked so many questions of my orthodontist that he and my mother both were amazed at my depth of analytical questions.  During my years as a stay-at-home mom, an ophthalmologist asked me if I was an engineer due to the analytical questions I asked.

It was a year after I finished my master’s degree in computer science that I gave my life to the Lord.  After working 7 years at a very good job as a Software Engineer, my company offered a voluntary layoff and I took it so I could stay at home with my now growing family.  I stayed at home with my 4 children for 15 years. For 13 of those years, I homeschooled them.

After this time, I needed to re-enter the workplace.  I landed another job again as a Software Engineer, and thanked God that he provided that for me after many years of being at home. But in 2009, I was laid off.

Between the instability of the economy and the desire to be at home and more flexible again, I decided to become an entrepreneur. With my background, it made sense for me to build my business around computers and the internet.  For a year I trained as an internet marketer. In my journey to learn as much as I could, I attended many conventions. And I met many women entrepreneurs struggling in their business because they lacked the very skill I was learning.

It was then I changed my focus from only internet marketing to helping other women entrepreneurs showcase their expertise and their blessing to the world using the internet, and in turn, transform many more lives.

I love being a woman entrepreneur because I love the like-mindedness of other women entrepreneurs. There is a whole world out there of caring, loving, giving, supportive, heart-based women entrepreneurs who have a purpose in their lives and a big “why” of what they are doing.  It’s really refreshing to be surrounded with women like these.  Many people in jobs don’t have such a big “why” for what they do other than to pay the bills.

What would I share with other beginner entrepreneurs?

• The only thing that limits you is your limiting beliefs, thoughts and fears.
• With God, all things are possible.  When we leap off the cliff to start our own business, never forget that God is there to catch us.  Don’t fight Him, but listen for His guidance.
• Get mentoring from those who are where you want to be.  No one can or should do it alone.

It really strengthens my faith to know that God is in control of it all, not me.  I’ve committed to tithing no matter what, trusting that God will take good care of my family financially. I also strive to remain humble no matter what the success of my business, to be generous to others in need when more income is earned than is needed. And one key thing the Lord has led me to do: Forgive others in the past and present. If we struggle with unforgiveness, it pours over into all we do.

Sue Paananen, known as an expert in computers, is passionate about empowering women entrepreneurs to take control over their online presence and to move them forward in their business in technical areas that they might otherwise avoid.

Sue provides Personal Tech Help and can translate all things technical for non-techy women solopreneurs. She also mentors women on how to easily craft articles, blog posts, press releases, Facebook/Twitter posts, and Videos that will showcase the client and position them as an expert in their field.

She’s trained with several of the top internet marketers, and her formal education includes a BA and MS in computer science. Before starting her own business, Sue spent 10 years working with computers as a Software Engineer in Corporate America and 15 years appreciating being a stay-at-home mom raising and homeschooling her 4 children.  Visit her websites at http://MeetSuePaananen.com and http://EEKINeedAGeek.com.