Congratulations to Irene Suttner for achieving One-Star Director! Irene lives in Menifee, California. She tells us, "If there is one thing I have learned throughout my life, it is that you are never too old, too established, or too far into one chapter of your life to start writing an entirely new one.
"Before travel and PlanNet Marketing, I spent 27 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department before retiring in 2014. I have always been a people person, and I have always loved helping, teaching, encouraging, and bringing people together. I just never imagined those qualities would eventually lead me here.
"I started my business in August 2022, and what began as an opportunity to do something I already loved grew into something much bigger. I discovered that I didn’t just love travel. I loved helping other people see what was possible for themselves.
"Travel has always been something that excites me. I love experiencing new places, meeting new people, and creating memories with the people I love. But today, one of my favorite parts of this business is helping other people experience travel while also showing people that they can build something of their own in this industry.
"My success with PlanNet Marketing has come down to something very simple: relationships, consistency, and refusing to quit.
"I talk to people. I follow up. I invite. I guide. I show up. I celebrate people. And when something doesn’t work, I don’t sit there very long feeling sorry for myself. I figure out what I can learn from it and keep moving.
"One of the biggest things I teach my team is that you cannot build this business by being busy. You have to do the activities that actually move your business forward. That means talking to people, sharing the information, following up, asking questions, and helping the next person do exactly what you did.
"I also believe that people need to know that you genuinely care about them. I don’t want someone to simply join my organization. I want them to know that when they do, I’m going to be there to help them learn, grow, and become a leader themselves.
"Achieving One-Star Director and building an organization of more than 100 people is incredibly special to me because every number represents a person and a family who decided to take a chance on themselves.
"And I didn’t build this alone.
"I have been fortunate to build alongside my best friend since high school, Jayme Torres, and achieving One-Star Director on the very same day that she achieved Two-Star Director made this milestone even more meaningful. After 40 years of friendship, getting to celebrate two major accomplishments together is something I will never forget. I have also been incredibly fortunate to have mentors and leaders who have poured into me, challenged me, and taught me that leadership isn’t about being the person at the front of the room. It is about helping other people realize what they are capable of.
"If I could give someone trying to grow their PlanNet Marketing business one piece of advice, it would be this: Don’t quit before your story gets good.
"There will be people who tell you no. There will be people who disappear. There will be months when you feel like you’re working harder than your results show. Keep going. Keep learning. Keep talking to people. Keep developing yourself. And most importantly, start developing other leaders instead of trying to do everything yourself.
"One-Star isn’t my finish line. It’s proof to me that the process works, and now my goal is to help as many people on my team as possible experience their own version of success.
"As for a few fun facts about me, I am a wife, mom, huge Dodgers fan, Georgia Bulldogs fan, and I love hiking and staying active. I even completed the Los Angeles Marathon in 2019. And here’s one people usually don’t expect: I was a cast member on MTV’s The Real World: Los Angeles back in 1993 and returned almost 30 years later for The Real World Homecoming: Los Angeles. Apparently, I have never been very good at living a boring life!
"At 59, I’m probably more excited about what is ahead of me than I have ever been. I’m building something that challenges me, allows me to help other people, lets me travel, and gives me the opportunity to leave an impact that goes far beyond myself.
"I’m just getting started."