Name of company:
MediConnect Global Inc.
Name of woman leader: Amy Rees Anderson
Based in: South Jordan, Utah
Description: Provides online medical-record retrieval and digitization
services to insurance companies and law firms
Began: 1996
2003 sales: $2.8 million
2007 sales: $35.6 million
What was the inspiration behind starting MediConnect?
MediConnect Global is a consolidation of two different companies that
Anderson shared ownership in, and the inspiration behind it was getting
health-care records digitized and viewable online to parties who needed them.
"It was about shifting the market by giving consumers information and access to
their records," she says.
What do you think is the secret to growing a multimillion-dollar business?
According to Anderson, it's all about sales. "It comes down to making sure that
whatever your product offering, it's something that can expand into multiple
markets." She adds that it helps to be in a market so big--in her case, health
care and medical records--that capturing just a small piece can equal success.
How do you balance your family and business responsibilities?
Anderson recalls that early on in her career, she was reluctant to say no to
people and found herself missing out on important family events. For her, the
best approach has been to set boundaries in advance.
"Make your rules and say, 'These are the times I will work, and these are the
things I will not miss,' and I've found people are actually very understanding
if you tell them the reason you can't do something at a particular time." She
acknowledges that it can be a risky thing to do. But in the end, she believes it
works out the best for the family and, ultimately, for the business.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who want to grow their business?
Anderson's advice is to be realistic and not label something a failure when
you can see it as a mistake you can learn from. "Never lose sight of the fact
that it takes a lot of hard work to get where you're going to go, and the best
way to do that is to continuously move forward and not let things get you down,"
she says.
How do you relax?
For Anderson, spending time outdoors on her boat with her family helps her
relax--whether she wants to or not. "After about 30 minutes out on the lake, I
could care less about work."
What's on your iPod?
Anderson's tastes range from pop to country to hip hop. "I have a little bit
of everything on my iPod. I love anything upbeat and positive," she says,
"because it really helps your mood."
What books are you reading?
Anderson's favorite author is C. S. Lewis, and she is a big fan of
motivational books by Deepak Chopra and Brian Tracy.
Do you have a message you'd like to share with other women business
owners?
One thing Anderson does want to tell other women business owners is that
they can do anything if they put their minds to it--really. "I was a single mom
for almost nine years while running my businesses," she says. "A lot of women
get discouraged and think they can't do it, but the fact is that I did it. And
if I could, they can, because there's nothing special about me that would allow
me to do it over them. I'd love to see women go for it more.
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