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The Heart And Soul Of Business - Mable Cannings
The Heart And Soul Of
Business
Mable Cannings
ISBN: 9781606473450
Xulon Press
Reviewed By Dominique
Sessons
Official Apex Reviews
Rating: 
Like many entrepreneurs, Mable Cannings struggled for years
in the pursuit of her passion, doing everything imaginable to bring her dreams
to life. Understanding that the ultimate success or failure of her organization
rested squarely on her shoulders, she toiled day and night, often working as
many as 16 hours a day, inching ever closer to her goals; however, despite her
best efforts, Mable eventually found herself struggling just to make ends meet,
and her business never took off the way that she’d hoped it would. Furthermore,
her physical health began to decline, and, as she grew increasingly isolated
from her family and friends, her spiritual health began to bottom out, as well.
Mable’s life finally took a turn for the better, though,
once she discovered the true source of her problems: the absence of a close, personal
relationship with God. When she began to build the missing spiritual connection
she so sorely needed, then and only then did she finally break out of her
personal and professional doldrums and begin her march toward excellence. As a
result, she is now a highly successful author, entrepreneur, and motivational
speaker, and her personal testimony is one that continues to inspire countless
individuals worldwide.
In the pages of The Heart And Soul Of Business, Mable
Cannings takes readers on an enlightening journey through the highs and lows of
her noteworthy life, providing them with eye-opening insights into the problems
– and ultimate solutions – that often trouble us all. With the edifying example
of her own personal experience, as well as an abundance of encouraging axioms
and biblical scripture, Cannings’ volume is a strong testament to the rewards
that await anyone with the tenacity to remain committed to a goal or dream and
the determination to make it happen. In the face of adversity, the temptation
to quit can often be a tough foe to defeat, but Cannings is living proof that
what matters more is not how many times you get knocked down, but rather how
many you get back up and keep moving.
Filled with sound advice
and invaluable life lessons, The Heart And Soul Of Business is a highly
recommended offering that belongs on the bookshelf of every leader and
entrepreneur worldwide. An excellent read.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Mable Cannings (The Heart And Soul Of Business)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Mable. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your book and other efforts.
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Mable. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your book and other efforts.
How did
you ultimately come to the decision to share your life experiences with the
world?
Mable Cannings: It wasn’t
even a question of ‘If’ I would share, it was only a question of ‘When’ because
I don’t want to see anyone go through what I have gone through to forge my
business from the ground up. This book is a part of my legacy to the world of
entrepreneurs. This is something I was
called to do. If there is something
that I have experienced that can help others, I feel compelled to share it.
Twenty five years ago, the concept of business coaches was unheard of, at least
in the circles that I moved in. The
literature of the day was not geared to poor people starting businesses. Poor people worked for someone else and that
was that. But my father, who had an
eight grade education was able to start his own grocery business and meet the
needs of the communities he served with pride and integrity and was able to
provide for his family as well as help others.
His example was great impetus for me to have my own business and to want
to see others start businesses also.
Starting a business today shouldn’t be that hard with the right tools,
systems, the right advice, and support from so many sources. We also live in a global society now, not
limited to the people in our immediate area, thanks to the internet. If you have a product with mass potential,
the world is waiting at your door.
AR: Please
share more with our readers about why you were considered the “Oprah” of Nacogdoches?
MC: From the
beginning of my business, the media
seemed to be attracted to me. I never
had to go out and solicit media. I
established myself as an expert early on using my knowledge and becoming
visible in the community. Also, living
in a small town, there are not a lot of highly visible, articulate African
Americans women running businesses. In
fact, there are no blacks running a
retail travel agency and a tour bus company in the East
Texas area that I am aware of. That fact alone, made me unique.
I became very
active in community based activities and
promoting events, fundraisers, etc. to benefit the community such as Juneteenth and
scholarship events, walkathons, and a rodeo. Coordinating all of the events
made me somewhat of a local celebrity. I was often invited to speak at local events such as black history month
and to other business and professional groups.
At one point, I obtained media sponsorship for the first Black Rodeo and
the station manager actually had me on the air along with the evening anchor
commenting about the event for the entire evening segment. Local news reporters would also seek me out
to get my views on hot destinations for travel for spring break gave me a lot
of exposure.
I was also the first African American woman to
run for mayor of our city, that alone created a lot of buz in the
community. Like Oprah, I was involved in
significant events that mattered and I
was able to communicate the issues effectively.
AR: What
finally prompted you to fortify your conviction to making your dreams come
true?
MC: My
conviction to make my dreams come true come from deep inside. I have a vision for my life and know what I
want and where I’m going. I have a
legacy of success in my own life and through my parents. My father, who was an entrepreneur, taught me
early on, “there is no such thing as
can’t”. I started with the end in
mind. I will never quit. I have invested a life time in pursuit of the
American dream and while it has been a long journey, I can see the end of the
tunnel now, and I am determined to continue to moving in the direction of my
dreams. Many people would have already given up, but I owe it to my children, my grand children
and to all of those who stood in the gap for me and on whose shoulders I have
stood to succeed. How can I motivate
other women to pursue their own economic empowerment, if I don’t believe it’s
possible.
AR: What
inspired you to include the motivational sayings and biblical scripture peppered
throughout the book?
MC: I
included the motivational sayings and biblical scriptures because they inspire me. Biblical support and the experiences of
others always gives credence to the views you may hold. I wanted my readers to
be able to go to the specific references and read it for themselves as a means
of personal growth. On this entrepreneurial journey, there are many days when we
just have to encourage ourselves and using positive affirmations and scriptures
helps me to ground myself and press on. Hopefully, my readers will be challenged to do the same, and dig deeper.
AR: What
specific advice would you give to someone currently struggling with some of the
same problems that you ultimately overcame?
MC: My advice
would be to seek counsel [Godly] from some already experienced in the field. Get
outside of your own head. Expand the
think tank and most of the time it will help you to gain new perspective on the
problem. Seek a mentor or a coach to
help you arrive at a solution. There are
also free sources of advice such as small business centers located on numerous
college campuses. Contacting the local chamber of commerce or SBA are excellent
sources of guidance as well. Join a business networking group for on-going
support. Do not remain in isolation
about your business problems, no matter how personal you feel your problems
are. You will likely find that you are
not alone, and together solutions can be more easily found. Next, I would recommend every entrepreneur to
find a system that works. There is
nothing new under the sun. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel if you don’t have
to. And, finally, don’t try to do all of
the work yourself. You will burn
yourself out. Hire/barter/partner
with others to do some of routine and administrative details so that you can
focus on your gifts to get those to the marketplace faster to began to making a
profit.
AR: What’s
the main message that you’d like readers to take away from the book?
MC: The main
message I want readers to walk away with is that they are deserving of a
successful business and should never
give up in trying to achieve it.
However, it is really important to first discover what their true
purpose in life is and to build a business around their core values. Their business must be a reflection of their
authentic self. They should never be led into operating a business because it
is popular or because it is what everybody else is doing. They must have the
right motivation and passion. If they
do not they will burn out -- because it is not easy to start and sustain a
business. They need to make sure it is
something they are really committed to and can sustain a prolonged effort and
be happy in doing so. Their dream business will require their heart and soul so
they’d better make sure it’s what they truly want to do.
AR: We've
learned that the Heart and Soul of Business has recently become a bestseller (congratulations!);
How does it feel to see your publishing dreams come to life?
MC: It’s
really awesome and incredible but not surprising, and I don’t say that in a prideful manner
because I am so grateful for the reviews and publicity it has received. From the beginning, this has been a God
inspired work and I know that God does
not start anything without knowing the end.
God ordained me to do this work and it is his plan that will elevate me
from obscurity to become a force for other economically disadvantaged
women. He has shown me my purpose now I
simply face each day with a definiteness of purpose, anticipation and proceed
just like it is already done. This
book is a part of my strategy/ministry to empower women and entrepreneurs. Soon, there will be other books and
publications, CD’s and DVD’s and
talk shows available so that people can sat in the convenience of their home and
be motivated to trust God for the lives and be educated on how to build a life
for themselves by starting and growing businesses that will glorify God.
AR: Please
share more with our readers about your company, Mable Cannings International.
MC: Mable
Cannings International is personal development company focused on empowering,
educating and training entrepreneurs and women.
Right now, I operate as a consultancy. I spend most of my personal time
writing, speaking and motivating others. I formed my own publishing company, MC
Publishing & Design Group and I am on the brink of releasing a trinity
series of journals for women, teenagers and entrepreneurs. They are completely
written and I am in the process of putting the financing together to release them over the next few
months. I am also hopeful that I can
produce another book specifically for women early next year. This book will be
designed to help women overcome adversity, break through barriers in their
lives and achieve outrageous
success. That’s my goal.
Under the
Mable Cannings International umbrella, I will produce my signature events, The
Conference for the Empowerment of Women and the Mind, Body and Soul Retreats at
Sea for Women. These will be 2010
events. My focus for the balance of this
year however, is the publishing company.
AR: Please
share more with us about the other brands/companies that you’ve created.
MC: I am also
the President/CEO of Charisma Events
Management and Marketing Company.
It is a meeting planning, special events, promotion and public relations
company. Here I help business owners,
corporations and non-profit groups design and execute marketing programs,
special events, and meetings for special
markets.
Charisma
Events, will host an entrepreneural boot-camp for entrepreneurs before the end
of the year. This event is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs who need hands
help with start up, business planning, branding, internet marketing, legal
issues, etc. I will be making an announcement about this event very soon. So watch the website: www.mablecannings.com.
AR: What’s next for you?
MC: The next
few years will be spent expanding my publishing and speaking businesses. As a
prolific writer, I will have an outlet for my work. With exposure, I will begin to receive more
opportunities to speak to larger audiences and have a greater impact around the
world. Ultimately, I will have my own talk show.
I’ve actually written a boiler plate for a new Reality TV Show. I haven’t decided just yet who would be the
best target to pitch for the show,
secular TV or Christian. But I do know –
it is going to happen!
AR: How can
our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
MC: By visiting to my website at www.mablecannings.com. Readers can also follow me on my blog at mablecannings.com/blog and on Twitter.com/mablecannings
AR: How can
they contact you directly?
MC: By
calling 936-212-6852 wish the best
way or 1-800-781-4890 for out of state
viewers. Or just email me at info@mablecannings.com
and I will get back within a few hours.
AR: Any final
thoughts you would like to share?
MC: Yes, I am
really concerned about the state of our economy and it’s impact on low and
moderate income people as it relates to housing, credit, and health insurance. For some incredible rates and
options, please visit my on-line businesses at www.higherimpactonline.com/10675can.
Also,
save time shopping by visiting my online store for name brand merchandise for
the home and office from MACY’S,
Overstock.com, Dell, Walmart, Fingerhut, 1-800-Florwers, and more. Go to www.higherimpactonline.com/10675can.
Also, for
busy working people who want to save gas and time, and the inconvenience of
driving to the drug store standing in
long lines to get basic necessities, I have an excellent on-line pharmacy that is FDA approved for prescriptions,
vitamins, herbals, pet medications delivered direct to your home. Check it out at www.bestsourcerx.com.
AR: Thanks again, Mable, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!