Kerry Garner Venter is a business and leadership mentor, life coach and certified Joy of Business facilitator. A near death experience as a child forever changed her views on human potential and inspired decades of study into psychology, consciousness, and subtle energy. Her profound insights into the mind and the constraints of perceived limitation led her into a successful career as an executive coach and consultant, covering a diverse portfolio such as leadership, team optimization, culture transformation and learning and development. As a facilitator of Joy of Business, a special program by Access Consciousness, Kerry now travels the world leading business classes and retreats, assisting and business and team leaders to transcend the limitations of conventional business.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I started my first business at a very young age and at the time I didn’t set out to really ‘start a business’ – I just desired to share what I knew was possible in life and it evolved from there into what it is today. I followed the energy of what was true and inspirational for me, rather than what I was being told or encouraged to do by others. I think this has been a vital part of my success and continual business expansion. The more I follow the joy and what’s light (true) for me, the more I have continued to expand into areas that I would have never imagined or thought to go into.
So many people have fixed points of views about what their business needs to be or how it looks, and for me, I believe that if we wake up in the morning and we have blood running through our veins, we are in business… even if we don’t have technically have one!
And if we look at life and business in that way, it opens up a whole different set way of being with them. When I started to put the fun back in my business and didn’t separate it from my life, everything changed and I have a level of joy, presence and creativity that wasn’t available before.
After having been an outside consultant, facilitator and executive coach for the majority of my career, I realized that I required some internal experience and so I joined a global marketing/advertising company. Although I was technically employed, I didn’t that let my entrepreneurial spirit die or falter.
I made sure to keep up with the latest trends in my space, knowing that if the energy shifted, I’d be ready to go with its flow. And that’s literally what occurred.
Tell us about your business.
My business provides transformational life and business coaching, facilitation, and mentorship for creative entrepreneurs and leaders who have yet to really claim, own and acknowledge their unique contribution in the world. I have integrated everything that I have learned and acquired to date into a unique blend of energetic mind and body work and pragmatic online marketing strategies to assist people access, leverage, and monetize their contribution to the world. From one on one coaching, to classes/workshops, to retreats, to virtual energetic healing sessions, to self-paced online courses, I aim to offer solutions that meet people where they’re at.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
I have a FREE CLINIC I’m running for Suicide Awareness Week from Sept 10-16 where people who have had suicidal thoughts, depression, themselves, know someone dealing with that, or have been affected by someone with that, can come and experience a free Access Bars® and facilitated session during scheduled office hours. You can book on my website www.kerrygarnerventer.com.
I’m also running a promotion called “Planning for Profit” that is a 6 month coaching program with me to learn how to expand your life, not just your wallet! Usually it’s $1000/month but until Sept 25, you can sign up with the coupon code: Ladybossprofits and get 50% off!
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
- MA Conscious Leadership Development & Whole System Change
- Access Consciousness® Certified Facilitator
- Joy of Business Certified Facilitator
- Bars® Facilitator
- Certified Meta® Coach
Where is your business based?
I chose to have my business be mostly virtual. I do see clients in Greenwich, CT where I live at the moment as well as anywhere else I may happen to be in the world when I’m facilitating classes and retreats.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
While I was at my corporate job, I made sure that I stayed abreast of all the latest in online marketing strategies and technologies, so that once the time was right, I could implement them and launch.
When I started to realize that there was no more joy in what I was doing at my job, my very first step was committing to myself and my knowing and chose to change it. From there things, fell into place and – as always – it never shows up quite the way you expect.
I built my website in a weekend, did all my own graphics, and set up the systems that I knew would contribute to the growth of my business now and in the future. I asked tons of questions, stayed out of conclusion and control of how things should work out, be, etc. and that allowed my business to guide me and show me what it desired, which is a very different way of functioning in this reality, but works like a charm!
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
I have found that the more I just BE ME, and share what is going on for me and what I’m inspired about, it draws people in. Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn have been invaluable for sharing my journey so far, and allowing people to see that I actually walk my talk and use the tools and services I offer.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Honestly, nothing has seemed like a challenge so far. Using the Access Consciousness® and Joy of Business tools that I am equipped with, I am truly able to function in and from a very different space, which I’m forever grateful for because it wasn’t always like this for me. I used to be a control freak of nature, operate from trauma and drama, conclusions, trying to have/find the answers, solve problems, etc. and all of that just created a vicious cycle.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I use my tools – every single day.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I use my tools every single day! Seriously though, I do and that’s why I’m so inspired to share them and equip and empower others with them. They have been SUCH a massive contribution to me, my relationships, my business, and all areas of my life.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
Besides the cliché answer of me just being ME, which I have a monopoly on 😉 I would say that it’s the unique combination of coaching, training, and facilitation that I provide and the fact that I’ve been able to apply the various tools and methodologies into so many different niches/contexts: leaders and their teams, entrepreneurs and their dreams, couples and their relationships etc.
This reality tells us to pick and stick to a niche, but what I did was find tools and models that applied to multiple niches and contexts that would add value and be able to pivot when required.
This means that I can assist a leader and help his/her team optimize the interpersonal dynamics as well as the assist the individuals on the team find more joy and engagement with what they love and can actually contribute to the team!
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Pay more attention to the whispers of creation rather than the big/loud actions that we all too often only believe we should be doing. We are not taught that ease is ok – which is not the same as easy!
I used to function from the point of view that if I wasn’t working hard and putting in a ton of effort, it wasn’t worth it. Now I’m learning to follow those subtle energies or whispers that are like, “Hey over here! Come play… there’s something juicy waiting for you!”
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
To totally, unequivocally, courageously, and fiercely follow their OWN knowing and what is true for them! So many of us get led astray when we buy into the projections and expectations of others and then we end up mistakenly thinking that there’s something wrong with us, and that can create a vicious cycle.
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
Without sounding like a broken record, I would say the tools of Access Consciousness and Joy of Business. There is such a delicious, kind, nurturing global community of people all around the world and the company itself gives away so much free support and tools that I never feel like I’m lacking in terms of having the latest, most effective tools to empower others with, see how others are applying the tools, knowing how to grow my business etc. It’s truly a company unlike any other on the planet and I’m really grateful that I followed my knowing to become a Certified Facilitator.
Three tools that people can apply right away are:
- Don’t take business so seriously! Put the fun back in it.
- Get out of conclusion and answer and rather into questions like: How does it get any better? What else is possible?
- Destroy and uncreate your business every single day – otherwise you treat it from the same reference points and don’t allow new fresh energy in!
From a technical point of view, the tools that enabled me to get going and keep creating quickly were:
- Zapier
- Convertkit
- Squarespace
- Canva
- Scrivener – I use these tools every single day!
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Wow there are so many! Two that I would highly recommend are:
- Dr Dain Heer’s “Being you Changing the World”
- Simone Milasas’ new book “Getting out of Debt Joyfully”
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I am currently looking to expand my team so I can do more live events, speaking, and facilitation.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
Over the next few months I will be launching some signature online programs and having a retreat at the end of the year, so I’ll be focusing on preparing the content, platforms and logistics!
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @kerrygarnerventer
Twitter @kerrytweeting
Facebook www.facebook.com/kerrygarnerventer
Website www.kerrygarnerventer.com
Email kgv@kerrygarnerventer.com
Hashtags #lifewithkgv #businessdonedifferent #businessdonewhere