Introducing: Corine La Font, Communications Specialist at La Font and Associates

What is an Entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is an individual who creates a new business, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the rewards.?The process of setting up a business?is known as entrepreneurship. The entrepreneur is commonly seen as an innovator, a source of new ideas, goods, services, and business/or procedures (source: www.investopedia.com)

Every issue of our Epic Entrepreneurship newsletter will highlight the stories of entrepreneurs, ordinary people with grit who are grinding and growing while stepping up to do the extraordinary. Make sure you hit that subscribe button to ensure you never miss an issue ??

PS: Sharing your story is free! Click here to learn more:?https://tinyurl.com/bde4vwwc

Introduction

Today we are sitting down with Corine La Font, a child of God, who is filled with energy and life. A mother, daughter and deep thinker, she has a passion for Latin and Ballroom dancing, as well as to serve her clients in the best way possible.

Her goal is to accomplish this by helping to make an indelible and lasting impact in their personal and professional lives and business.?

Q. What events led you to this path and how long have you been in business?

A. Divine order led me on this path.

For me, it started many years ago as a High School student helping my mother with her investigative reports as Administrator of a local Hospital in Trinidad. As life would have it, after 5 years of teaching in the classroom in Trinidad, I migrated to Jamaica in 1997 and within 21 years of residing there, I worked in the public and private sectors that allowed me opportunities to grow and develop in the space of Project Management, Publishing, Digital Marketing, Public Speaking, Podcasting and Virtual Events.

I have been blessed to be a featured guest on Television Jamaica, Power106 FM Radio, Jamaica and a Speaker at the Bocas Lit Fest, Trinidad. The experiences gained culminated into my Public Relations and Communications business under the registered name of La Font and Associates.?

Q. How did you come up with the name for your business?

A. Easy – my name is my brand. I had other business names but with vision, I wanted to continue building my name as the brand as well as have independent consultants who can work with me under that brand; hence the ‘Associates’.

Q. Who has been your biggest loudest cheerleader on your journey?

A. I have had cheerleaders along the way, silent and vociferous; each at different phases, stages and seasons of the journey and I welcome all who have poured into me in some way or form.

However, the ONLY consistent person who is my greatest cheerleader is my God and savior Jesus Christ! That may sound cheesy to some but I wouldn’t be here doing what I do without Him. I take no credit for my gifts and I do my best to use it to glorify Him.

Q. What is the one biggest challenge you have faced so far and how did you overcome it?

A. Challenges to me are experienced as opportunities. For example, when faced with challenges to secure a client or consultancy contract that I really put time and effort into and I feel confident about, I see it as an opportunity that we shouldn’t work together or obtain that contract. It may be for several reasons; the silver lining I may not understand or be willing to accept at that moment. Instead, I take the time to breathe, know that I did my best and have a template that can be used for the next big opportunity on its way to me, saving me time and effort.?

Q. Did the pandemic affect your business in anyway i.e. did you have to implement a Plan B due to Covid-19?

A. Not in any significant way that I couldn’t bounce back from as I have been operating online since 2003 so challenges of this nature are not really new. For me there is ONLY plan A; yes Plan A evolves but it is Plan A. ?

Q. What are your top three (3) goals for the future?

A. My top three goals for the future are:

1. To keep building my PR and Communications business, its reputation and brand on a global scale

2. To increase my speaking engagements on podcasts, for workshops and training at the corporate level

3. To scale my business where I can leverage talent globally allowing me to sit back and watch others learn and grow and move on to the next challenge to conquer.?

Q. Name one thing that you currently do to exceed your clients’/customers’ expectations.

A. My way is exceptionally unique in that I hear and see their vision and over deliver in ways they least expect and didn’t ask for.

I stay with them from beginning to end leaving a lasting impression that they will always want to work with me for the safety, comfort and assurance that all will be well and done on time with class and professionalism.

Q. What was the best advice you ever received and who gave it to you?

A. I am not sure if the person who said this to me realize it was advice but when I was looking around for a dance class when I returned to Trinidad in 2017, I called a well-known dance studio in South Trinidad and in speaking with the owner, he said to me, “what you seek, is also seeking you”.

When he uttered those words to me, it resonated so deep, the words have never left me and will always stay with me for life. In other words, what I focus on, I get more of. So, I have to be aware of what and where my mind goes and what I give attention to. This is a practice I have been living.

Q. How do you spend your free time?

A. What free time? I am a creative and my mind is always on the go. Ideas are always poured into me daily and ideas are withdrawn from me daily. I wait in silence and thoroughly enjoy being present which takes active listening, slowing the mind and focusing on that one sound I can hear from the farthest distance or the sound of raindrops or watching an insect crawl. Let’s not forget, dancing!

Q. What is something most people do not know about you?

A. I am a Sapiosexual and an introvert. Many think that I like attention. That’s the furthest from the truth. I do what I have to do and then slide right back into my space where I can think and be me. Oh, I am also a fabulous Latin and ballroom dancer.

I am also an artist. I paint and draw, won competitions and have sold my art work in a prominent art gallery in Trinidad.

Q. What advice would you offer to anyone thinking of becoming a full-time entrepreneur?

A. Go for it AFTER having a conversation and the go ahead from God! Bet on you and give it your all, have fun and enjoy the journey especially learning about you and loving you again. Start it and then share the idea with those you trust (no more than 3 persons). That way there’s no turning back and if they try to throw cold water on it, you already started and instead they will find ways to support you

Q. You also found time to write a series of books, tell us what led to their creation.

A. When I started offering Publishing Services in 2010, it was prudent for me to understand the challenges my author clients would have faced to best advise them. I wrote my first book in 2013 titled ‘12 tips and Secrets for Authors’, as a test piece which you can access at this link. https://amzn.to/3E2gL6F ?

I was invited a few years later to co-author a book titled ‘Office For One: The Sole Proprietors’ Survival Guide’ The focus of this book as you can tell from the title is about business survival tips for the solopreneur. You can find it here - https://amzn.to/3EupkJ5

My other book for FREE download, is ‘5 Must Have Tools For Self Publishers’ available at - https://payhip.com/b/qFO9

Q. What services/products do you offer your clients?

A. I Help C- Suite Executives (CEOs etc), Business Coaches and Professional Speakers Tell Their Stories Using Brand Journalism, Corporate Communications, Podcasting, Branding, Publishing, Repurposing Content, Content Strategy and Virtual Events. My LinkedIn profile provides even more details and you can request a service on the ‘providing services’ tab at this link - https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/clafont/??

Q. Where can potential customers go to find you?

A. ?Potential customers can reach out and connect with me via my website at https://www.lafontandassociates.com/ and/or my Linkedin profile at https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/clafont/??

Q. Do you have an upcoming event that you would like to mention.

A. Yes, I do! I have my "Between the Lines" podcast and an invitation is extended to everyone reading this to be a guest. You can book your 30 minutes spot at this link - https://bit.ly/2kkyCxm

I also have my ongoing coaching/mentoring programs for Authors, Speakers and Entrepreneurs which can be accessed at this link - https://bit.ly/3hFZWqA

We can't wait to share your entrepreneurial story of Grit, Grind & Growth! Click to learn how you can participate:?

https://tinyurl.com/bde4vwwc