As promised, we are continuing with the second part to our Positive Role Model interview with Marty Stevens-Heebner, of Rebagz. Enjoy!

Missed the first part? Read it here!

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8. Where do you find inspiration to continue growing your business?
From our customers and, frankly, from my own needs.  I have to be perfectly blunt:  when it comes to designing my handbags, forget about everyone else.  I design for me!  I like bags that are colorful, durable and utilitarian without being obvious about it.

With Manufacturing the Right Way, every time I meet someone who’s too intimidated to create their product idea, I feel that fire being lit right behind my hindquarters.

9. When you are faced with a setback or an enormous business challenge, what do you do to keep moving forward?
I call friends.  First I vent and then I listen listen listen to their sage advice.  After that, I hug my dogs and I’m ready to set about fixing the problem.  I also find 30 minutes on my little stair stepping machine helps cool my mental state.  This is also when chocolate becomes medicinal, especially if it’s presented in the ice cream form.

10. Who is your personal role model? What about this person do you truly admire and aspire to?
I’m not in the position to ever be like her, but Nobel Peace Laureate Aung Sun Suu Kyi of Burma/Myanmar is someone I truly revere.  She’s sacrificed everything in her quest to bring democracy to her country – her own freedom, her family and her health.  I admire her for her brilliance, courage and thorough devotion to the people of her country.

On a personal note, I have to give it up to my parents.  My Mom died many years ago from colon cancer, but during her life she set the bar for living an ethical life.  She was always honest, involved and even went to Attica State Prison to teach inmates how to read when she was a Literacy Volunteer.  Mom also broke her wrist rollerskating at the age of 52, which in its own way is something to aspire to.

My father never remarried and still misses my Mom.  Like her, he’s always involved in one thing or another, and one of the things I respect most about him is that he loves to learn new things.  If he gets curious about a subject, he’ll research it for weeks on end.  That’s what’s kept his mind young all these years.  He’s a great business advisor.  Granted, he retired before the days of the internet – which he uses quite a bit, by the way – but his advice on how to manage people is priceless.

11. What has been your biggest achievement recently that you are proud of?
Being named 2009 California Small Business of the Year after being in business only since July 2007.  I had to ask them if they’d called the right phone number.  Then I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.

I think I’m proudest of it because we received it because we conduct our business in an eco- and human-friendly way.

12. What are your goals for this upcoming year?
Sleeping more – seriously!  That and launching the third branch of our Rebagz™ Eco-Chic Handbag line.  They’ll be available this fall and they’re called “Statement Makers.”  They’re going to be verrrrry fun.

I’m also launching my new consulting business Manufacturing the Right Way (www.ManufacturingTheRightWay.com).  I’ve been so fortunate with all that’s happened with my handbags, and I want to show other women how they too can find success with their own product designs.

I got really tired of smart women talking to me about the great product ideas they were too scared to manufacture.  So I’ve created a step-by-step system to guide them from product concept to profitable reality.  It’s a “do as I say, not as I did” kind of system, ‘cause I made oodles of mistakes that they don’t need to make.

13. What is your ideal work outfit? (We work in our PJs whenever we can, what about you?)
Jeans, a t-shirt and flat shoes.  That way I can spill anything or get dog slobber on me and not give a damn.

14. What do you think is the most challenging part about being a female entrepreneur? How do you overcome this challenge?
Besides getting up in the morning?  (Actually, that’s always been a toughie for me.)  There’s the obvious – being in a room full of men and having to work so hard to get them to genuinely take in what I’m saying.  And there’s the subtle side, as in people assuming I’m the boss’ assistant instead of the boss when they meet me.  It’s also a little tricky with a name like Marty because sometimes they’re expecting Mr. Marty instead of Ms. Marty.

15. What is the ONE web marketing best practice that you would share with other Web Marketing Therapy readers?
“Talk” to your audience online like one of them is right there in the room with you.  Have fun!  Get a little emotional sometimes, let the seams show.  From a practical standpoint, people want to connect to the human behind the business.  More importantly, it helps you keep perspective and gives you the chance to be yourself instead of your business all the time.

To learn how you can “Nudge the Norm”, visit Marty’s blog.

Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:

• Featured Wild Web Woman Positive Role Model: Marty Stevens-Heebner (Part One)
• Featured Wild Web Woman Positive Role Model: Margie Z. Fisher
• Featured Wild Web Woman Positive Role Model: WMT Interviews Meryl K. Evans For a Healthy Dose of Web Marketing Inspiration
• Featured Wild Web Woman Positive Role Model: WMT Interviews Ann Levine to Learn Tips for A Successful Entrepreneurial Career (Part One)