Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Clive-Smith.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Krista. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Kamloops, BC, Canada where I figure skated competitively through my childhood until a career-ending injury took me out of the sport I passionately loved. After graduating, I accepted a position as the Marketing Director for the Prince George Cougars hockey club, then as the Merchandise and Marketing director for Molson Breweries. Still unsure of what I was meant to be doing with my life, I became a travel agent until 2001, when I made the decision to start my first business, Organized For Life. Like any crazy entrepreneur, I decided that wasn’t enough and began writing my first book, “Get Noticed. Be Remembered”, the following year. Organized for Life went on to become the first Professional Organizing franchise system worldwide – and the first employer in the industry in Canada – with three locations in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto.
After making the decision to get out of the franchise business and following my desire to live somewhere warmer, I moved to San Diego and landed a TV show about personal branding. In 2014 I made the choice to step away from my career to take some time off to spend with my then two-year-old daughter, Kennedy. Once she reached school age, I was itching to get back to work, so I started with speaking and consulting and in February of 2018 I launched CLUTCH Personal Branding, a company I had written the vision for 15 years before. I’m now proudly the CEO of a group of companies including CLUTCH, Merack Publishing, and Little Authors Academy.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been the opposite of a smooth road! I think when it comes to business it’s safe to say that I drove from pothole to pothole to pothole, it’s a wonder the car survived!
My single greatest struggle was something that could have been solved by someone asking me “what business do you want to be in?” When I was growing my organizing business, I made the decision to franchise. I interviewed dozens of people who had franchised their companies to gain insight but not once did anyone say that they were no longer in the business of offering their product or service, they were now in the business of selling and running franchises. If they had, I can guarantee you that my mind would have been made up on the spot to go a different direction. So really stop and think, what business do I want to be in? That can help clarify your growth strategy and help align your goals with the lifestyle you want to lead.
The best advice I can offer to anyone just starting out is to be persistent. Don’t let the rough days throw you off track. Put your head down, believe in what you’re creating and know that challenges are an inevitable part of the process. If you view those challenges through the lens of “closer to” or “further from” in terms of moving you down the path to your end goal, instead of just looking at situations as good or bad, it will help you to ride out the storms.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with your business – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My family of companies supports aspiring authors at every age and every stage. At Little Authors Academy we run camps and after-school enrichment programs that turn kids into published authors. Our goal is to empower them to use their voices and ignite their imaginations. At Merack Publishing we’ve created a hybrid publishing agency that blends the best of self-publishing – retaining full creative control and royalties – with the support of a traditional publishing team. At CLUTCH, we build personal brands, one book at a time. We work with subject matter experts who are looking to expand their reach by leveraging their proprietary content. We work with them to write their book and build a personal brand platform and presence.
When I began the process of building a family of companies, there was no question in my mind that integrated philanthropy would be a pillar of our brands. In fact, our core values are Family, Freedom & Philanthropy. To achieve that I launched Unknown Voices, a registered non-profit that will benefit from a share of our companies profit, time, and resources. It is truly the foundation of the work we are doing, and although both the companies and the non-profit are still in their early days, we have big goals for giving back.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
When it comes to finding a mentor my advice is always very simple, find someone who you feel would be the right fit and invite them for coffee. Just ask. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to step into that role. I’m an outgoing introvert so attending networking functions is pure torture. I come armed with a handful of signature questions, and when I find myself in an awkward moment where I don’t know what to say or do, I ask the person one of those questions. My philosophy is on par with the book “The Go-Giver”, I try and create value for the other person instead of just talking about myself. It’s amazing way to build solid connections.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristaclivesmith.com
- Phone: 877 32 BRAND (877 322 7263)
- Email: hello@kristaclivesmith.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/kclivesmith
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/KCliveSmith/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kclivesmith
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristaclivesmith/
Image Credit:
CLUTCH Personal Branding
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