Having started from humble beginnings, Shar Moore is now an International Speaker for P&O Cruise Ships, the Founder & CEO of a lifestyle business magazine called YMag®, an internationally sought after keynote speaker and business mentor, author of From Broke to BMW in 18 Months and Your Life, Your Purpose, and the host of “The YWoman Show.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
The burning desire to help more women become the best version of themselves. I knew I had to find a way to make that happen, and even though I knew nothing about the industry, I knew it was something I had to do.
Tell us about your business.
YMag® is a magazine that empowers women to become the best version of themselves. We are a printed publication distributed in Australia and through airport news agents.
YMag is not your regular glossy. We don’t feature celebrities, diets, the latest exercise fad, or tell you you are too fat! YMag shines the light on everyday people around the world and Y they do what they do. We bridge the gap from where people are now to where they want to be.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Our 2018 YPlanner, which features a beautiful cover created by artist Lisa Pollock, is now on sale!
Oprah, Ellen, and 50 other A-list celebrities have one! We have also been featured on Studio 10, and now we want to give you the chance to own one of these diaries. We have limited stock left. So visit our website, and grab your celebrity planner today www.ymag.com.au/yshop.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- Best Business Mentor in Australia – Main Training Perth
- International Gold Stevie Award for Women Helping Women 2015 – New York
- International Woman of the Decade in Personal Leadership 2018 – Presented in India
- International Best-Selling Author
- International Keynote Speaker and approved speaker for P&O Cruise Ships
Where is your business based?
Our head office is on the Gold Coast, and our team is global.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
The first step was to find a mentor and learn everything I could from her. Then I took courses on media and publishing. I asked a million questions to ensure I was truly understanding the need for a quality printed magazine and listened to the responses.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
One strategy was to crowdfund the first publication, as this created huge awareness and support of the brand pre-launch. I also use the power of video to connect to my audience and ensure they see me in the flesh, not just read a great marketing post.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Educating women that there is a positive magazine on the newstands that will empower them. Many women have refused to even look at the newstands anymore, because they are sick of being lied and gossiped to.
How did you overcome these challenges?
By running #YSelfie competitions on social media, women take a selfie with the magazine, share it with their friends, and tell them Y they love it. This encourages others to get their own copy.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I focus on my Y. It is the only thing that will ever fuel you enough to keep going through the tough times. Your Y has to be bigger (way bigger) than your fears and it has to be about others, not you.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I don’t. I don’t believe in competition. No one has my Y, no one is me, and no one else does things the way I do. There is a place for every other magazine on the shelf and I neither compete nor want to compete with anyone. We are YMag, and we will always run in our own lane.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Remember my unique gift and never ever give up.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
Find a mentor! Fullstop. A mentor has walked your walk and tried the things you are about to invest in and can save you so much time and money. As they say, “you either pay for a mentor now, or you pay in lost opportunities in the future, but either way you pay.”
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
- Asana: with a global virtual team, we can’t live without it. It’s colorful, practical, and easy to use.
- Plann: we can plan out our instagram posts in advance and see what they will look like.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
I’m currently reading High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchards.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’m currently sourcing an international mentor to help me grow the business globally. We want to see YMag in every country that needs it, as women globally need empowering, and we want to be their go-to magazine.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
We have recently gifted Oprah, Ellen, and 50 other A-list celebrities. So our goal is to be on Ellen, have Oprah call us for a chat, and see the other celebs tweet out saying how much they adore YMag! We are also planning an East Coast tour and launching officially our YJuly day where everyone in Australia has to ask someone else, “So, what’s your Y?”
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @ymagglobal, @shar_ywoman
Twitter @ymag_australia, @shar_moore
Facebook @ymagglobal, @sharmoore
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/sharmoore