SCORE Helps Entrepreneur Find a Creative New Direction

SCORE Helps Entrepreneur Find a Creative New Direction

Laura Dessauer decided to put her master's degree in art therapy to use aiding children through her Sarasota business, Creativity Queen LLC. Laura met with Manasota SCORE mentor Wally Bishop for 25 mentoring sessions. She opened her firm in November 2006, just as the Florida economy was beginning to slide. Together with Wally, she developed her strategic plan, trademarked her logo and planned a sales strategy. She wrote a book using the character she created, "Creativity Queen." Wally helped Laura identify opportunities that included multiple product lines to give her more revenue options. She not only offers direct art therapy, but she’s expanded her business into 12-week courses for children, plus a book and DVD available commercially. SCORE provided mentoring on business planning, sales planning, financing, leasing, marketing planning and publishing. Laura Dessauer was honored by Manasota SCORE as client of the year in 2007 for her first year of success. She says the SCORE honor brought her publicity and credibility and helped more people find out about her business.

"What I learned from SCORE continues to help me make it through the recession. SCORE mentoring helped prepare me, so I could double revenue for four months and have a cushion as the recession continues." —Laura Dessauer, owner, Creativity Queen

Laura's first year in business was profitable and she added her first employee. Her second year revenue grew 20 percent and she continued to be profitable. As the recession took hold in Florida, Laura says, "SCORE helped me lay the foundation, so I could be nimble and effective in adjusting my product offerings in the fall of 2008. SCORE mentoring helped prepare me, so I could double revenue for four months and have a cushion as the recession continues." Laura adds, "I wholeheartedly recommend SCORE. The business experience and knowledge my counselor shared helped guide me through unfamiliar territory and set up a path forward to meet my goals. What I learned from SCORE continues to help me make it through the recession. I'm ahead in revenue for 2009. I'll be back in touch with my mentor to brainstorm ideas and look ahead to the next six months and how to stay profitable in 2009." From the SCORE website: http://www.score.org/success_creativity_queen.html

CREATIVITY QUEEN MAKES NATIONAL NEWS!

The Creativity Creativity Queen's success is featured on SCORE's national website and in the Statement to the U.S. House Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade U.S. House of Representatives on April 2, 2009!

Art Therapy and Employment

National Institutes of Health (CLICK HERE) has a tremendous amount of information that will help with answering any art therapy questions you may have about the profession, salary, requirements and much more. This is well worth your time to read and if you have any comments or questions please post them!

Help my child survive and thrive the last few weeks of school teleclass

Want to help your child manage their end of the school year stress?

It is the end of the school year and you are feeling overwhelmed!  If so, I understand. Many of the families I see in my private practice are feeling the same way. I'm hearing from parents that they are burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted trying to help their child deal with the end of the year stress. So I wanted to share with you some of the easy successful strategies that have helped other parents help their children through this stressful time.

What if your child ended the year on a HIGH note? It may be hard to imagine, but it is possible! I've had the opportunity to witness this with many of the families I see. Because the end of the year is looming and I know it is possible for your child be successful, I have decided to share what works!   No more nagging, no more blaming,  no more arguing, wouldn't that be nice? Join me on three teleclasses where I share strategies that have helped 1,000 of families over the last 20 years. I promise you will learn specific steps to help your child end their school year in a positive manner.  Three 1-hour teleclasses cover the following topics: The Top 5 Problems your child may be encountering and what you can do about it. The biggest mistakes parents make and some simple solutions that work. Why nagging, blaming, and arguing do not work, and what you can do instead. Creating accountability, responsibility, and success with a simple strategy. BONUS: Live Question and Answer online forum.

It is my heartfelt desire to help your child have a successful school year. I hope you will join me as I give you the strategies to support your child, teaching them tools that will last beyond the end of the school year.