Being Certified Doesn't Make One an Entrepreneur

How many people have found this out the hard way? There is (at least) one reason why all business start-ups don’t make it. Just because you are an expert in your field, does not make you an expert in starting a business. This makes sense to me for every other business, why did it take me so long to apply the concept to EAP/EAL? Because EAP/EAL is still considered new and innovative, there just aren’t that many jobs where you can work for someone else and still do the work. Sooooo . . . many to most people either try to make their own business out of it (or try to charge money as trainers in the field). Sometimes these efforts end in frustration.

I have heard of agencies and trainers who give EAP/EAL practitioners business tips and pointers, but, to be honest, I am not sure to what degree (if at all) it has boosted the bottom line of the people who also shelled out money for that training. What is the answer? Still don’t know, but I am thinking about it constantly. Recently, Greg and I took the Nx Level entrepreneur training sponsored by the University of Nevada-Reno, and this seemed like a solid business foundation for any business owner. What have you found? If you know someone who is making a healthy income from EAP/EAL work (NOT training) – endeavor to learn from them all you can. Expertise is no guarantee of business success. Your thoughts and experiences are welcome!

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“I had a profoundly life changing experience in Reno last spring. Learned so much that makes such a difference in my life and horse business. Still incorporating all I learned. A must do for your Bucket List!”

Elizabeth A., Florida

“Greg has proven his determination, professionalism, and leadership abilities in the development of the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). I am proud to have been involved in Greg’s vision from the early days of founding EAP.”

Lewis Feild, 3-Time All-Around Champion Cowboy & ProRodeo Hall of Famer

“I never thought I would be learning so much usable and actionable material from spending a day with horses.”

Mesfin, Corporate Workshop Participant

“This was a life-defining experience, personally and career-wise. Thank you, Greg, for being the frontrunner full of super stories and deep knowledge.”

Crossroads Corral Seminar Participant, Florida

“Thanks for the wonderful time and experience at the Belton, TX event. It was informative, exhilarating-I still want to be in TX- and I’m so glad I didn’t pursue EAGALA. Your simplicity and directness as well as your amazing experience and “cowboyness” that always shines though, makes your program superior. It was so worth the time and money!!!”

Nancy B., Colorado Springs, CO

“Greg’s seminars are almost an untraining, they really open you up to live the experience the way your client would. You aren’t saddled with a 300 page manual of stirrup specifics, do not’s, and “you can only do this if you are a gold level instructor”. He didn’t teach us rules and regulations, he encouraged us to use our own beautiful brains, life experiences, and knowledge of horses and take what we learned and make it our own.”

Colleen C., Borrowed Freedom

“As an Equine Specialist, spending three days under the tutelage of Greg Kersten was exhilerating. Greg’s skills in EAP as a communicator, teacher and practitioner are adept, astute and comprehensive. His congenial accessibility allowed for humor and information to be free flowing and fortified the learning experience.”

Wayne B., Healing Through Horses

“I have always credited you as the creator and creative genius behind EAGALA and EAP. I have always said that to others as well as you that no one is as good as you at EAP. You are the founder.”

Lynn Thomas, Former Executive Director, EAGALA

“I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful training you gave in Glendale last week. It was my first O.K. Corral Seminar, and I learned so much. Not only about EAP, but about myself, too.”

Hilary R., El Paso, TX

“I am here to tell you that I could not have been more impressed than I was with the OK Corral Series you presented those 3 miserably hot days in Pierre, SD. I would not have believed it if I had not attended myself. Your insight about horse behavior was not new to me, but your perspectives about how observing human/horse interactions could be so therapeutic was indeed an epiphany. Not too many of those come along in a lifetime . . .plenty of hindsight but epiphanies are rare. Your perspectives of what people show you and tell you and have the potential to learn through human/horse interactions was so refreshing . . . an understatement at best.”

Peg M., Evansville, WY

“This has been the opportunity of a lifetime. This has helped me grow as an individual, already. I can’t wait to see where this is going to take my family, horses, and our farm! Thank you so much!”

Kelly G., Hartford, KY

“Excellent metaphors to the corporate world! Fabulous learnings and references to team building that we can share in the workplace.”

Microsoft Licensing, Corporate Workshop Participant

“This training was like going to the source, my other training was just a want-a-be effort not the real deal.”

Paula B.

“Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and talents. This training will make me a better therapist!”

Keanna J., Cary, NC

Being Certified Doesn’t Make One an Entrepreneur