Sandra Nomoto is a Filipina Canadian who operates as an ethical marketer and book whisperer. She helps ethical businesses with various marketing tasks, and authors with services to help them publish their books. This is Sandra’s second business, which she started in 2020.
What inspired you to author and self-publish the world’s first vegan marketing book “Vegan Marketing Success Stories“?
Right around the time of my birthday in April 2021, I received an intuitive reading from someone who told me I was going to write a book. I had no idea for a book at the time. I thought about potentially writing a marketing book because I’ve always been interested in marketing, but became vegan in 2018. When I Googled and found out that not only was there no book about marketing in the vegan industry but that there was only ONE book out there about running a vegan business, I saw a gap in the market I knew I could fill.
What were some of the challenges you’ve faced with self-publishing and how did you overcome those challenges?
When you self-publish, you have complete creative control, but that also doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. With my first book, I did most of the work and only hired a book cover/interior designer, and an editor. I also didn’t promote the book heavily because it talked about services I no longer offered.
With my second book, I hired my vegan dream team, but learned a few more lessons along the way. First, having colour images in the interior of your book drives up the price of your paperback. Second, publishing through a platform most people don’t know about (Lulu) results in making less than I might have made on a different platform or if I only sold on Amazon.
Finally, if you create an audiobook, besides a narrator (if you do not narrate yourself), you also need someone with sound engineering expertise to make sure your audio files are in the right range for Audible.
The biggest tip I give authors who are self-publishing is that the writing of a book is the easy part. Everything else is marketing.
You were in two self-development cults in your early 30s and have since worked closely with a cult whistleblower. Would you mind sharing with us what you’ve learnt about that experience?
I’ve learned that it is a good thing to be a lifelong learner and want to work on yourself, but you need to be careful who you trust. Even the most famous motivational speakers or popular “healers” have elements that border on emotional abuse or high control.
Some tenets of each of the cultic programs I’ve taken are good at their core, but be careful when you get more deeply immersed in any one community. Are you being asked to give more time or money, or do things that don’t feel right to you? Are you supporting a leader you don’t know personally, or is there a veil of secrecy with the leadership at the top of the organization? Are you being asked to quit your job or spend less time with your family to support “the cause” instead?
You might ask yourself these questions in other life experiences, too. Just make sure you always put yourself and your physical, mental, and emotional health first.
What was it like growing up as a Filipina Canadian?
I had a unique childhood in that I went to a school for 13 years with a predominantly Filipino/a/x community. Most of my closest friends are also Filipino/a/x and I only learned in adulthood that my childhood was rare. Some people are the only Asians or people of colour in their schools or neighbourhoods. However, I also feel more Canadian than I do Filipina.
I visited the Philippines when I was a toddler and haven’t been back to the country, so I’m definitely overdue for a visit. I can’t speak Tagalog or any Filipino dialects and don’t do many cultural activities, but I’m trying to make more of an effort to learn from others online and attend cultural events in Vancouver to stay connected with the community.
What is that legacy that you would like to leave behind?
I want people to feel that I had a positive impact. I have spent most of my professional career representing companies that are socially/environmentally responsible.
Since becoming vegan, I’ve tried to amplify vegan businesses in my work and personally as much as possible. Wherever I’m invited, I speak about the importance of a vegan lifestyle.
What does a day in the life of Sandra Nomoto look like?
My daily morning practice includes breathwork, affirmations, prayers, and meditation. I drink my morning smoothie, then do some form of exercise. On weekday mornings and afternoons, I’m working for clients, having meetings, doing business development, networking, or attending events. I try to “shut off” right at 6pm and meditate before I eat dinner, and then answer personal emails, usually while watching a TV show. Before bed, I’ll read for an hour and do some journalling.
On weekends, I spend time with my husband, family, or friends and enjoy watching movies, eating vegan food, and attending stand-up comedy events and concerts. Occasionally, I hike and hunt for murals in and around Vancouver, and travel somewhere else at least once a year.
Follow Sandra along on her journey