Interview with Mandee Widrick

Mandee Widrick is an energetic go-getter and entrepreneur. From a very young age, she set out to learn a little bit of everything, eventually finding her niche in writing, marketing, and public speaking. Today, Mandee is editor-in-chief of Bit & Bridle magazine and handles all aspects of management for the publication. She enjoys speaking to young people and encourages them to pursue their dreams in life, regardless of their age.

In addition to writing, Mandee works with horses and spends much of her time involved in local youth ministry. A home school graduate of 2006, she is the oldest of four with three younger brothers, and resides in upstate NY on the family farm with her beloved Paint horse, Lark.

Q: When did you first become interested in horses and why?

A: I guess you could say I was born with a love for horses. Even though I didn’t get my first horse until I was 13, I grew up with a crazy love for horses that couldn’t be tamed. I was the typical young girl that begged for a pony for my birthday, especially once my family moved to a farmhouse when I was 7 years old. There was no letting my parents off the hook once we moved, seeing as the barn was full of empty stalls and there was a pasture just waiting for a horse. When the day finally came, I was ecstatic, and it’s just been craziness since then. I can’t imagine life without horses.

Q: Have you always been interested in running a business?

A: Yes. When I was young, I would sell my own hand-made crafts to friends and family. I loved earning money even if it was only one dollar at a time. At 18, I got my first job in retail, but I didn’t like the lack of integrity in the workplace. I did work a couple jobs that I enjoyed, yet I always knew that I was only there for a season. I was confident that I could make something of myself doing other things and with that attitude, I was ready to go where the grass was greener and become my own boss.

Q: What inspired you to take on the task of running a magazine?

A: I had many different sources of inspiration. As far as my inspiration to write, I specifically remember writing a few poems one day when I was about 15 just to pass some time by. I ended up sending them into a contest, and walked away with $200 in cash prizes for my work. That showed me that I had a skill that could actually make me some cash. From that point, I started submitting articles to various publications and I absolutely loved seeing my writings in print. When the opportunity arose to write for Bit & Bridle magazine, I jumped on it, and only a year later the owner (also a young home school student back then) decided to turn the magazine over to me due to her busy schedule. Around that same time, I was seriously searching for my “purpose” in life, and the opportunity came at just the right time.

Q: In your opinion what does it take to run a business?

A: Running a business is no piece of cake! This is probably why we don’t see many young people operating a business. I believe that many people have great ideas, but often times don’t know what to do with them. It’s very important when starting a business to have the dedication and discipline to figure out the next step because I think the trap that a lot of people get caught in, regardless of age, is feeling like they’re incapable of accomplishing something bigger and better. They have that great idea, but they don’t know what to do with it, and eventually they give up because it’s “too hard”. I get caught in that trap every now and then, and have to remind myself that this is God’s calling on my life and YES, I can do it. It can be challenging but it is worth it. I have to work long hours into the night sometimes when all I really want to do is sleep or watch a good movie. I also have to live on a tight budget because I don’t have a lot of money until things really get established. One good way of staying on track is to find an accountability source, because with being your own boss, it’s too easy to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” The deal with procrastination in your own business is that if YOU don’t do it, the job simply won’t get done, because you don’t have someone else to step in and do the job for you.

Q: Do you think older business owners or managers treat you differently than they would if you were older?

A: Sure, but in a positive way. Most people are inspired to see a young business owner, and I’ve rarely ran into someone who’s given me a hard time due to my age. I think if a young person handles their business with professionalism and integrity that they will be setting themselves up for success. Now, if you walk into up to a potential customer and say, “Hey dude, wanna buy my stuff?” obviously you’re not going to be taken seriously. Know what you’re going to say ahead of time, practice it, and plan on a good response. Nobody likes a wishy washy salesperson that doesn’t have a clue. People are going to say no sometimes, but expect a yes and don’t be discouraged just because one or two people turn you down. If you get turned down on a regular basis, just look at your approach and make some changes. It’s not your age that’s turning them off, it’s probably what you’re saying to them.

Q: How do you utilize the Internet regarding your business?

A: I’m quite the internet marketing guru. I encourage all business owners to get online and start marketing their products, because I know it will boost their sales and their reputation if done correctly. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn…you name it, I’m on it. I love how the web allows me to meet people I wouldn’t normally meet. I sell a lot of subscriptions through Facebook and Twitter because I interact with everyone. Contests are a great way to promote a product, and people love freebies. I also get to meet other people in the magazine industry that can offer me tips and pointers. For example, I recently met an editor in California through Twitter, and she just gave me great suggestions that have really helped me in running my magazine. So even when I can’t find some to mentor me locally, I can always turn to the internet to give me the answers and connections I need.

Q: Who is your target audience?

A: Right now my magazine focuses on anyone looking to learn more about horses. Simple horsemanship is our theme. This typically targets a younger crowd between the ages of 13-21, but I have several readers that are both younger and older than that age group. I like to offer a little bit of something for everyone, because horse lovers come in all ages.

Q: How do you market to this audience?

A: I probably spend more time marketing to adults than to the young people. The parents are the ones with the money, and they are the ones with the ability to place online orders. If I’m at a speaking gig where I’m specifically speaking to young people, I get them fired up and excited about what I’m doing, and that gets the parents excited too. But for the most part, I look at who has more purchasing power when it comes to my specific product, and that is the adults.

Q: How do you advertise the magazine?

A: I am a pretty creative person. Earlier this year I discovered that I could be in my local parades free of charge, and I spent the entire summer running to parades just to get the word out. I didn’t have the funding for a big float, but I found a family friend with a Hummer and we put a big sign on the both sides of the vehicle advertising the magazine. We also had business cards and flyers about promotions to hand out to the crowd, along with a sign slung over my horse’s back. It was great, and it only cost me about $15 for materials (mostly just candy) because I used items I found around the house. I also spend a limited amount of money on advertising in local papers, flyers on bulletin boards, brochures, and sending people to our website. It’s a necessary investment in my eyes, and it really doesn’t cost a ton. If I could recommend a book on all of this, it would be “Guerilla Marketing” by Jay Conrad Levinson. I heard about it on the Dave Ramsey show a couple months back and it’s been an amazing book that is all about saving money and using creative marketing methods for your small business.

Q: How does being a Christian effect the way you run your business?

A: My business is God’s business. That’s the way I see it. If this is what He has called me to do, it will be successful as long as I always give him the glory for my success. I would not be here without God’s hand in this magazine, and I remind myself of that often. It’s all about trusting Him to provide and give me the wisdom I need, and I also believe the Lord is using this opportunity to teach me how to be a better leader.

Q: Do you express your Christian view in the magazine? If so how and why?

A: We are a Christian-owned magazine, which doesn’t necessarily mean that readers have to be a Christian to read it. There are great Christian magazines that are specifically out there to help people go deeper in their walk with God, but Bit & Bridle is targeting horse enthusiasts, not specifically Christian readers. I want people who aren’t saved to pick up my magazine, so I keep the Christian content to a minimum. At the same time, I also put enough in to spark their interest and keep them coming back for more. I often times have Bible verses in my editorial and we occasionally run a devotional column. I always want God to have the credit, but I don’t want to scare unbelievers away by being too pushy. As believers we are called to love God and love people, and I don’t feel I’d be portraying that if I isolated Bit & Bridle to just Christian readers. If I were to go on a missions trip, I would look for people who needed to find Jesus, not those who already knew His. This is why I’m not trying to specifically target readers who are already saved. I view Bit & Bridle as a ministry tool that reaches horse lovers without condemnation. Therefore, I don’t force them to receive ministry from me that they do not want, but I offer it to those who do.

Q: Does your family support you in your business endeavors? If so, how?

A: They sure do. They love what I’m doing, and together, we’re looking forward to what the future holds. I’m having a great time with all of the opportunities that are arising, and they get excited when I have big interviews or make an awesome connection. Who knows, maybe I’ll even have a paid position for one or more of my family members as this continues to grow. The possibilities are endless.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a magazine?

A: Do your research before starting ANY business. I didn’t really know what it took to run a magazine before I got into this, and I spent the first couple of years trying to figure it out. Now that I’m finally beginning to grasp the whole concept of being a business owner/editor/marketing director…it’s a lot to manage. If you’re specifically looking to start a magazine, start first by writing articles for other publications and make your business plan in the meantime. Decide who your readership will be. How old are they? Where do they live? Why will they want to read what you have? Find answers to those questions and be as prepared as possible before starting, but don’t let preparation hold you back. It doesn’t have to be perfect. A good business usually takes a good 4-5 years to establish, so even if your plan is good, it won’t benefit you at all if you keep waiting until it’s just right.

Q: Where do you feel God is leading you next?

A: I definitely believe there is a bigger future in store for my magazine. I’m also looking into starting another business (or two!) sometime in the near future. In addition to running my business(es), I’m establishing myself as a public speaker and hope to do plenty of that in the upcoming years. I find great joy in helper others - especially young people - to find and pursue their dreams in life. I love inspiring people, and I’m sure that’s what God will have me doing for a long, long time.