Key Business Partners, LLC

I met Carrie Lower when I was discussing my work with another potential client and she told me to get in contact with her marketing manager…who happened to be Carrie.

Carrie inspires me because she not only is a mom…she is ALSO going to school to get her doctorate! Talk about inspiration—woohoo…you go girl!

Please see below my blessed interview with Carrie Lower of CL Consulting and Administrative Services:

When did you start your business? I can’t remember the exact moment I went from being an avid reader to author support. But about 2001, I started helping friends create their own business plans, as well as connect them to the resources they needed to make those businesses successful. After working this job as a hobby for several years, after a divorce and my 4^th layoff from corporate America in almost as many years. I realized that I didn’t need to look for a new career, I had already been doing it.

Please tell us what your business CL Consulting? I do marketing and business consulting for small business owners and Entrepreneurs. Mostly I find myself working with authors and others in the media and entertainment industry, working with them to get their marketing and promotion plan formulated and implemented

What made you wish to start your business? I have been doing this on a volunteer basis since 2001. After being going through my forth corporate layoff/reorganization and buy out in almost as many years, I realized that I already knew what I wanted to do with my life. I love helping people

What would be your 3 top tips to let others who are new in business for themselves?

Find something you are passionate about. What makes you want to get up in the morning. Make sure you have a solid plan about how you are going to make it work, don’t forget about the money side. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. and Most important… JUST DO IT!

What is the one subject that you would like to know more about either in business or in general?

My 7^th grader’s Honor’s algebra and advanced math classes just absolutely fry my brain.

What is next in the upcoming year for you and your business?

I have started to branch out in helping businesses attract corporate sponsors. Working on proposals, and approaching companies to sponsor events, websites, blogs, book signings or even print runs for an author’s books. I am also working with PIVTR to start setting up virtual book signings.

Here is a fun question just for fun sake. What is your favorite color and why? Purple, Not just any purple, but the electric purple. It is a bright color that cheers people up. The first coat that I was given when I got out of the Army was from my mom. She decided I needed something other than camo, olive drab and black. So she gave me a full length bright purple coat. The coat is almost 14 years old and I just haven’t found any other that I like as much. I like how I feel when I wear it, and now that my mom has moved on from this world, sometimes when I need to feel closer to her I grab a purple quilt that my daughters and I put together and curl up in it.

How can people get in contact with you? My website is www.clconsultingsvcs.com I spend my days working on the computer. So Email: clconsultingsvcs[at]sbcglobal[dot]net, Yahoo IM clconsultingsvcs or Skype me at carlower1

Thank you so much Carrie for your patience and understanding (we had a bit of technical difficulty the morning of this interview. Also, at the time of this post, I am still needing to find out how to get the audio to play on the blog)
Also, thank you for your connections to help me fill up the schedule for Moms Coffee Break with some incredible guests for Dec and Jan.

It is my pleasure to introduce you to a lady who inspires me because she thrives on sharing her creativity to others through her songs, drawings, paintings and her writing.

Here is my interview with Pam Sargent. Thanks Pam for the honor of interviewing you.

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Pam Sargant. I am an artist/writer/singer/songwriter and the owner of Delaney Imaging where I create original images for websites, print books and e-books as well as music for podcasts. I am the mother of 4 children and stepmother of one and have run a daycare off and on for over 20 years. I am the oldest of 5 children and grew up in a small village in northern Ontario.

When did you start writing?

I always enjoyed and excelled at writing compositions all through my school career and of course, I was always telling some story or another. When I got married and had children of my own, I set aside writing as well as my dream of singing on the stage for a while, but some things you just can’t stay away from.

Please tell us what your inspiration for writing the book?

My children and the children have provided me with a lot of inspiration. The necessity to occupy so many of them and keep some semblance of order in the house was another source of inspiration, especially when I started my business.

Can you tell us a bit more about the books?

Mother’s Survival Kit, and Christmas Survival Kits are just that, a survival collection of crafts, games, cartoons, songs, and coloring pages with a recycling theme, to help entertain and occupy children when they are full of the “Mommy I am bored!” complaints. This is a selection of activities that are easy for kids to do, with products that are around every home. Projects that can be done together as a family.

For others out there who wish to write…do you have any advice for them?

The first bit of advice I ever got and hold dear is from one of my favorite books, Little Women, and that is to write what you know. Write what you are passionate about. Also, research your topic thoroughly. Take what you know and expand on it.

What is next in the upcoming year for you regarding your writing?

I am starting plans for an Easter Craft book. I also have a cartoon series that I have started. Right now they are available online at my website http://www.pamsargant.com.

Here is a fun question just for fun sake. What is your favorite color and why?

Every time someone asks me that, I automatically think red. I think because it’s bright and cheery and was always my favorite color to color with when I was young. However, I have a great affinity for dark green. It’s so natural and reminds me of the evergreens from back home where I grew up.

How can people get in contact with you and to purchase your books?

Anyone can get in contact with me by writing to delaney2@sympatico.ca. You can purchase my books through my site at http://www.pamsargant.com

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Last month, I attended a Law of Attraction Intensive Seminar hosted by Kim Emerson and Jenn Givler.

Now, this is the 2nd time I attended their seminars and you may wish to know why. I will tell you. The reason I attend is because each time I go, I learn something VALUABLE to use with my business and once I incorporate even one technique or method….I see success in my life and my business.

At this session at the LOA Intensive Seminar the main focus was about being deliberate and bringing on focus. You may say to yourself, “Geez, Teresa that is easier said then done.” Well, I may agree with you normally, HOWEVER, I have to tell you that by taking ONE, just ONE thing they told me to do, it has changed my business for the better. No kidding.

Register NOW: The 3rd LOA Intensive Seminar on November 28th.

Here is the one thing that I took away from the seminar (and this is ONLY one of the subjects they talked about).

Jenn and Kim were talking about not getting wrapped up in the mindset of being stuck and why is this happening to me or why don’t I have more clients or why isn’t such and such a person calling me or emailing me back? Jenn called it “the white-knuckled grip” on our business. Some business owners or entrepreneurs focus on what is NOT happening and either continue to focus on that or just stop dead in the middle of their business path.
She used an example of setting the goal of receiving 5 clients each week (I swear she was reading my mind!) Well, instead of concentrating on the why they don’t call or email…it is best to concentrate on positive ways to bring them to you. By sending positive energy and being deliberate in your actions by doing and focusing on them becoming your client any second or day then you are placing POSITIVE and celebratory energy.

Jenn said she combats the “white knuckle” feeling by journaling every morning and writes down her intentions for the day.

That statement got my attention. At first I was thinking about writing a to-do list HOWEVER, then I replayed the statement in my mind. What she said was WRITE DOWN MY INTENTIONS for the day. She didn’t say write down ALL the things I WISH I could get done in one day. But WRITE DOWN MY INTENTIONS for the day.
I really liked that statement of writing my intentions for the day.
Well, then I thought, that I can and WILL do.
So the next day, that is what I did first thing. I sat down at my computer and while it was starting up for the day, I wrote down my intention for that day (work on promoting and marketing my services). Then I thought to myself…ok, that is good. Now, I am going to write down “all” the things I need to do in order to get those clients I want. WAIT!! STOP!! That is not what I heard the night before and all that was going to do was to frustrate me because at the end of the day I wasn’t going to be able to do ALL the things there was to do in order to promote and market myself to get more clients.

Promotion and marketing in any business is a continuous action, so thinking these tasks only have to be done one time or every once in awhile, you would be mistaken.

So for me to think that I was going to hit every site and person I could spread the news about my business in one day…well, that is plain silly. And on top of that. It wouldn’t be effective either.

Then I decided to write down 5, yes, just 5 tasks that I really wished to accomplish in my day. I also decided that if I completed those tasks before I was done with my day, I could then continue and write down one or two more items to complete.

Here is the outcome – Since I have started to write down each day just 5 things and been deliberate in completing them, I have accomplished ALL of them AND completed more. By doing this, there isn’t any more feelings of disappointment or frustration.
Each day I feel successful and fulfilled because I COMPLETED my intentions for the day.

Now, being deliberate in my actions…let me explain how I did this too. One thing I may have on my list is to call a bill or setting up an appointment. Before I would have put this task off because in my mind I would be thinking, “That is only going to take me 2 minutes so I can do that later”. HOWEVER, by the end of the day, this wouldn’t get done and then I would have to remember to do it again and it will have to be written on my next day’s list of things to do.
And where did that lead….GUILT, FRUSTRATION, DISAPPOINTMENT.
Now, I put it on my list and I DO IT. Right then…and it is DONE. It doesn’t have to appear on my list again.

That is taking deliberate action.

Of course now, being a part of the seminar doesn’t mean you the business owner or entrepreneur do not have to do anything. YOU do need to DO the action and MAKE the steps to GET to where you want to go.

So, as Kim might say…if you would like to “retrain your brain” and I am adding, “and not strain your brain”

Sign up to be a part of this 90 minute seminar
Believe me, you will NOT regret it!

You may say, if you can talk, then you can network. I don’t totally agree with this statement.
Networking is not really about talking…proper networking takes more than just talking to someone or alot of people. Just because you introduce yourself and hand someone your business card, doesn’t result in a business relationship. In fact, they is most likely, the quickest way to have the card go from your hand to theirs and into the trash can.

Yes, talking is a mode of communicating that works best for networking…however, it is important on HOW you network not just what you say.

One way you can improve HOW you network is to acknowledge and embrace that networking is about cultivating relationships not just find a name you know at ABC Company.

Here are a few easy ways to cultivate a relationship:

Ask questions first - Begin the conversation asking about their business background, what they enjoy doing, their family, etc. Be sincere and be present by listening to what the other people you meet have to say. The end result of this is NOT to talk about you and your business. Keep asking questions of interest and be sure to listen attentively.

Bring unconditional value to the table - offer your expertise and advice without expecting anything in return. The last part of this sentence is vital to understand and believe. The minute you expect something in return, then it negates the value of the advice you provided others.

Get involved – Either become on a committee or do some research for the event coordinators. This provides a win-win for everyone because you gain experience working with other business owners or entrepreneurs and they gain from your work and knowledge. Also, when you go to events as being a chair of a committee, you gain recognition as a “go-to” person (always a plus!).

Learn About Networking

“It is not about WHAT you do, but it is HOW you do it!”

Now it is time to find the right ways to develop a ongoing expanding network of connections that you can rely on to help in your life and your business.

Don’t be left out from succeeding with making those joint ventures, partnerships, friendships and business relationships that will continue to build as the months go by.

Are you a business owner who would like to know the RIGHT way to network?

This is a seminar all about the correct methods on how to network in order to solidify lasting and ongoing relationships with others.

Join Carol Deckert, networking expert and founder of RUN (Referrals Unlimited Network) and Teresa Morrow, aka. “The online Prima Connector” at the

“It is not about WHAT you do, but it is HOW you do it!”

November 29, 2007

1:00 pm EST

Cost: $22.95

To register, please fill out the form below.

(You will receive an invoice and call in details shortly.)

If you are interested in learning about the components of proper networking, this is the seminar for you.

This seminar is all about learning and sharing, come and join us!

I know that sometimes we all WANT to do so many things, however, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do them all. Well, I would like to share a true story with you all and this is another business lesson from a child…my daughter.

A few weeks ago we were at my parents house and my daughter was in the pool. She just loves to be in the water and has been teaching herself to swim for awhile now. She has progressed to where she can swim across the length of the pool with the “safety” of flotation devices near her to grab onto if needed.

Well, this day she decided that she was going to challenge herself and she told me, “Mom, I think I am going to swim across the pool and NOT have the flotation thingys next to me”. “Ok”, I replied (as inside I was a bit nervous, however, I knew that she could do it).

So, off she started swimming once to the other side of the pool. I was steady cheering her on, stating, “Just keep kicking your feet” and “You’ve got it”. She made it to the other side and she exclaimed with a big grin on her face, “Mom, I did it without needing any help!”

Within a minute, she added, “Ok, now I am going to try and swim to the other side and come back without really stopping. Ya know, like those people do on TV.” Well, needless to say, I was abit apprehensive about this feat. I didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm so I just gently said, “Just take your time and remember to kick your feet and swing your arms and I am sure you can do it.”

No more than a few minutes went by after she took a couple of deep breaths, and off she went to swim to the other side of the pool again. When she got to the other side, she came up, took about 3 more deep breaths and become to swim again back towards me.

As she was swimming back, I noticed that her moments became slower so I kept cheering, “Keep going-kick, kick, kick!” She was looking at me and then she closed her eyes. Next thing I knew she had made it to the side of the pool. Even though her breath was heavy indeed as she wiped her face off, she panted saying, “Mom, you know what I did?” I said, “Yes, sweetie, you did it. You made it all the way across the pool and I am so proud of you.” After a couple of much needed deep breaths and sitting on the steps, she turned to me and said, “No, do you know how I was able to do that?” Again, in my mom mode, I said, “well, you kicked your feet and kept going.” She said, Mom (you all know the voice), yes, but, the reason why I was able to make it across was I closed my eyes and invisioned the side of the pool closer than it was and that made it easier for me to get to the other side. (and here comes the kicker)

She continues, “It is like in life, if you think about how hard something is or how long away it may take you to get there…it seems impossible, however, if you take it one stroke at a time, then it makes it easier to reach.”

Well, what else do I need to say? That’s my girl.

I have met some truly wonderful people online and I was trying to find a way for others to get to know them as well. So, then I thought, “Well, Teresa…why not offer these people to do a interview of them and showcase them on your blog”….so that is what I am doing.

For the first interview, I would like to introduce you to a lady named Anna Farmery whom I met this past year at the online Podcasting Expo.

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am 41 years old and live in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in the North of England. I originally qualified as a Chartered Accountant and spent 20 years in large multinational companies as a Group Finance and HR Director. I have been lucky, as I have always enjoyed work, enjoyed inspiring others to achieve the potential that I know is inside of them. The turning point in my life was when my business mentor (and my dad) died, he had always said that I should run my own company…when I turned 40 I thought you know, he was right..let’s have a go!
When did you start your business?

I started the business in April 2006 and really have never looked back. I love the freedom. I don’t necessarily mean in terms of time but mainly in thinking, in having the ability to have an idea that is not constrained by corporate rules, guidelines and of course …meetings!
Please tell us what The Engaging Brand is all about?

The Engaging Brand helps people how to boost their bottom line profits by engaging employees and consumers. Often people forget to link their people strategy to their profit and loss, I believe that you can link the two. So my work concentrates on helping individuals to create “engaging” personal brands, companies to create “engaging” employer and consumer brands. More and more my work centres around social media and indeed half of my time is spent speaking on social media. The great thing is that although I love the face to face sessions, the web means that I can hold a speaking session for a company in Singapore – all from my desk…fantastic!

So what does that mean on a day to day basis, well I deliver speaking, motivational, strategic, development, social media or coaching sessions – wonderful ! Each day I am working on how to inspire and how to release that talent inside people…..no wonder I love my working life.
What made you wish to start your business?

As above, the inspiration came from the death of my father who had always said that I should run my own company. I had got to the stage in my life where I wanted to give something back to the business world, I wanted to spend my time doing things that I love….the time had come to conquer that fear of failure and give it a go.

What would be your 3 top tips to let others who are new in business for themselves?

Never fear failure, fear not trying. If you are passionate about your business, you will work out how to achieve that dream.

Explore social media – blogging, podcasting etc Wonderful tools to promote your business with little or no budget. I have only ever spent £200 on marketing….

Always remember it is not what you want to sell, it is what people want to buy. Customers should be at the heart of your business. At the end of each podcast I quote Eleanor Roosevelt who said “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel” I think that is a wonderful quote for business people.

What is the one subject that you would like to know more about either in business or in general?

I love to study the brain….now I bet you weren’t expecting that one!!

But I love to learn more about how we can engage and inspire people through the scientific research that is continuously being produced.

And what is next in the upcoming year for Anna Farmery and The Engaging Brand?

I have several products in the pipeline that is really exciting for 2008 – new products that will really help people to get the best out of themselves and others. Next year, I would like to also spend more time on personal coaching as I love helping individuals achieve that success that they are looking for in their lives.

Here is a fun question just for fun sake. What is your favorite color and why?

An unusual one but it is orange – it always makes me smile as it is so bright and vibrant. I always use orange t shirts for the gym as it gives me energy.

How can people get in contact with you?
Visit The Engaging Brand website
Listen to my weekly podcast on leadership
Phone Me: +44 (0)7914 381864 or Skype AnnaFarmery

Thank you so much Anna for chatting with me and agreeing to do this interview with me. You are a gem of a lady and a testament to taking a “bad” situation and turning into the positive to follow your dreams. Thanks again!