Introducing our PWP feature of the week, Courtney Crosslin. Courtney is the creative owner of, haveAwonderful. After a tough divorce, Courtney explains how she had a mini breakdown and moved across country to start a new life. She began dating and sharing stories with her colleagues who began asking her tips on how to enjoy being single and begin dating again. Eventually, her advice turned into her business. She is now a successful work from home mom and coach offering outings, mock dates, image consulting, and date planning for divorced men and women looking to get back on the dating scene. It was a pleasure hearing Courtney’s story and inspiration to take her pain and make it her gain.
1. Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?
Before starting my own business and getting married, I worked in IT sales. After getting married, I was a stay at home wife and mother.
I've since divorced, traveled, learned to love life, and I'm happily dating.
2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?
I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I remember other kids playing house (changing dolls, grocery shopping with the little plastic carts, cooking, etc.), I never really did that. I would always figure out a way to play corporate woman. I'd shuffle papers, hold meetings and hand out money. I'm not sure where it came from, but my Mother says that I've always been bossy -- but I know I got it from her, my Grandmother and Great Grandmother.
I run several businesses, but my mission has always been to make a difference. Be it teaching a small business owner how to update their website or a divorcee how to enjoy dating again. I just want people to learn how to haveAwonderful...
3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?
Life inspires me! I love to travel and meet new people. My love of travel definitely came from my parents. We (they) were master road-trippers. My Father (who passed away from cancer 13 years ago) was a master storyteller -- and I loved that about him -- and to this day, I'm a sucker for a great life story.
I've always been and have felt blessed. I've had a good life. I have an amazing family, a great circle of friends and I've never been seriously ill. This is something that I'm grateful for. As I've gotten older, I have realized that not everyone can say that. Therefore, I feel like I have a responsibility to do good and work hard. That notion alone, keeps me motivated.
I'm also madly stubborn. My Mom says that as a kid, I would physically shiver when she would say "No" and that I would always follow her "Maybe" responses to my questions with, "Maybe yes or maybe no?"
4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it is important to have one?
I can't say that I have one mentor, but I do have people in my circle of friends whom I trust and go to for professional advice. I have an accountability partner and friend that I meet with once a week and I value that relationship like the air I breathe. Since we're both entrepreneurs and work from home, it's good for us to have someone to check in with to discuss our goals, wins, losses and challenges. We keep each other on track.
So, I would say an accountability partner is very important! I guess a mentor is too as long as they have the time to help you get where you want to be in a manner you want to get there -- hopefully ethically.
5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?
Research, find a niche and just do it!
6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?
If you're already out there pursuing your entrepreneurial dream, keep at it.
If you're just getting started (or are afraid to start), understand that you will have good days and will have a lot of bad days. You HAVE TO be fearless and tenacious. Oh, and watch the movie "Random Lunacy”. It's a great movie about what can be accomplished with very little and the worst thing that can happen is that you hit bottom -- but you're still alive to fight another day.
Courtney’s story is a true testament of how to make the best out of a difficult situation. If you are looking to revive your self-esteem and confidence because of a failed relationship, I would encourage all of you to contact Courtney. You can visit her website at haveAwonderful.com. Follow her on twitter @haveAwonderful and contact her office at 914-816-1129. And in the words of Courtney,
haveAwonderful…
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Be someone’s motivation and tell us your story! To be featured on PeopleWhoProsper.com email Tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com. Put PEOPLEWHOPROSPER in the subject line and share a little about yourself.
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