Constance Drew MBA

Pay It Forward
Monthly, I will highlight a selected successful entrepreneur as part of our “Pay It Forward” program. This entails being featured on my website, as well as an articles published through Examiner.com and other social media sites.

Interview by Constance Drew (CD) with Shabnam Rezaei (SR) of Big Bad Boo Studios    

CD: Briefly describe your business.
SR: Big Bad Boo is a production and Distribution Company dedicated to teaching children culture through entertainment. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver, the company’s first animated TV series, Mixed Nutz, will debut on PBS and many other stations worldwide this January. The creative team's first direct-to-DVD product, Babak & Friends - A First Norooz, told the story of little Babak who is stuck between his Iranian and American life and featured Emmy Award winner Shohreh Aghdashloo. Big Bad Boo is currently in production on 26 episodes of a new series, 1001 Nights, and is launching its online retail distribution channel at oznoz.com.

 At Big Bad Boo, we offer world class animation services to our clients with access to Canada's best animation talent, tax credits as well as the industry top writers, storyboard artists, voice-over actors and production crew. Big Bad Boo provides the full spectrum of pre-production, animation, and post production services and is the largest Toon Boom facility in Western Canada, employing an Emmy Award winning creative team.

CD: Who is your “Target” audience?
SR: We target children and parents who are interested world cultures and languages. These tend to be immigrant families but also pertain to families who are interested in their kids having a well-rounded upbringing. In this day and age, it is a real advantage to speak a second language and so we think every child should be exposed to this type of content.

CD: How long have you been in business?
SR: We started the business as a hobby in late 2005 with the name Norooz Productions. Our first production was “Babak & Friends – A First Norooz” which we self-distributed. The DVD did well and we managed to raise funds for the first TV series Mixed Nutz. In 2007, we decided to take it seriously and start our first major production. Big Bad Boo officially opened in January of 2008.

CD: Why did you decide to start your business?
SR: Because there is a real need in the market to entertain and educate children about the world. With Babak and Friends, we entered the NYU business plan competition and upon winning that we realized there was a gap in good cultural programming. This put us on the path to Mixed Nutz which is going to air on PBS in the coming months. We are currently working on our second series “1001 Nights” which is 26 X 11 min episodes and already placed 6 at the Cannes TV market among 1200 other children’s shows.

CD: What is the one “nugget” of advice you would give to other Business Owners?
SR: Never give up. Many doors will shut in your face and many people will laugh you out of the room. Don’t let it get to you. Back up your conviction with sound data and if you have the passion, you will get there.

To nominate a deserving entrepreneur for our "Pay It Forward" honor,  please complete the nomination form and send in to us. We will contact you within 48 hours to discuss your nominee.

"I trust that as I live true to the vision of my purpose, the Universe will provide everything I need for the expression of my purpose" Inuitive Coach Constance Drew

"Set your house in order, tend to business, be clear and take action upon the Universe's guidance" Intuitive Coach Constance Drew

"Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!" Dr. Seuss

"Faith means living with uncertainty - feeling your way through life, letting your heart guide you like a lantern in the dark." Dan Millman

 Looking for Purpose Paul (Looking for Purpose Patricia)
As Looking for Purpose Paul, you are going through the motions of day to day life. You feel an inner emptiness reflected in a lack of passion and motivation. Once driven, you have lost your determination and feel there is something missing in your life. You yearn to find meaning, guidance and direction so you can feel good about who you are and where your life is headed.  

What Keeps You Up At Night
Your life is going well in many aspects, yet you feel like something is missing. You aren’t enjoying your life as it is but fear making any changes or stepping out of your comfort zone. You wonder why you feel this way when on the outside, all looks fine. Tossing and turning, you keep having a “feeling” or nudge that you need to do something different. You find yourself constantly day dreaming about doing what you love and getting paid for it. Yet, you fear that if you take a leap of faith, you won’t know where you are going to land.

What You Most Need Right Now
You need to pay attention to how you really are feeling. Without acknowledging its presence, you will continue to drift through life without truly living. Your feeling of emptiness needs to be filled so that you can live a meaningful and enjoyable life. It is time to evaluate what you are passionate about, what is important to you, what you already love to do and what you are a natural at. Once you have a clearer picture of these things, you can find something you love, make a difference in the world, make money from it and live each day to the fullest.

The Business On Purpose Plan to Best Support You
The FREE Let Your Purpose Find You Constance M. Drew, MBA
Creating Your Vision Plan

The Coaching Program You Will Thrive In
Finding Purpose Coaching

Start-up Sarah (Start-up Steven)
As Start-up Sarah, you are a person who believes in living a purposeful life who is thinking about or just starting a business. You love what you do, but you need to make money at it. Without more money, you fear you either can’t start a business or sustain one. You may have a day-job or just need to get more paying clients, but either way; this is the building stage for your business. You need to get clear on your purpose to start and quickly begin making money in your business.

What Keeps You Up At Night
You are super passionate about what you do and really want to express your true self through a successful business. Right now, cash-flow is an issue for you causing stress and putting doubt in your mind that you can really do this. You are putting in endless hours thinking about how to make your business work, yet not quite sure how to do it. That’s because you “don’t know what you don’t know” about the business side of living your purpose. You are afraid to leave the comfort of what you do know and not quite sure how to transition into a business owner. Fear of the unknown tends to keep you stuck and afraid to try what you most want to do.

What You Most Need Right Now
Your primary focus needs to be on getting crystal clear on your purpose and creating a Vision & Client Draw Plan that attracts ideal clients to you. We need to look at your current service plans, and then create specific goals that will create the clarity you need in quickly launching a money-making business. It’s about working this plan with a passion, so that as you serve your clients, you will increase your income. Learning as much as you can about business, as quickly as you can is crucial right now. You need a supportive environment to encourage your ideas.

The Business On Purpose Services to Best Support You
The FREE Define Your Purpose in Business Constance M. Drew, MBA
Creating a Vision Plan
Client Draw Plan

The Coaching Program You Will Thrive In
Rapid Start-Up Coaching

 Ready to Rock Richard (Ready to Rock Rachael)
As Ready to Rock Richard, you are over the top passionate about your business on purpose, created and worked your Vision & Client Draw Plans. Yet, you are not feeling the traction on much needed client action. You are running your business at a fast pace but only seeing your clients crawling in, leaving you exhausted at the end of the day with little money to show for it.

What Keeps You Up At Night
Although your business is running, it’s not making the money you need to justify all the hours and money you have invested so far. You have dabbled with marketing ideas to get more clients coming in but the results are not coming in fast enough. You begin to doubt yourself as a successful business owner or if you can even stay in business at this rate. Bills are climbing as the business is growing, but where are more clients? You are being distracted with the bright shiny objects steering you off-course, zapping your energy and you are trading “hours-for-dollars” making less money than you did at your day-job.

What You Most Need Right Now
You need to take a step back and evaluate what is and isn’t working in your business right now. This includes how your marketing systems are affecting your day to day operations, as well as how it affecting your time spent. Changing how you market and who you market to is crucial to gain the necessary traction to make the money you need and deserve to keep your business moving. It’s also time to re-focus on where you are really spending your time, staying on purpose and aligning with more efficient marketing strategies.

The Business On Purpose Plan to Best Support You
The FREE Grab Back Your Time Constance M. Drew, MBA
The Client Draw Marketing Assessment
Client Draw Marketing Plan

The Coaching Program You Will Thrive In
Rocket Marketing Coaching

Moving Along Martha (Moving Along Manual)
As Moving Along Martha, you are totally moving right along with your business. You are making good money and the clients are flowing in. You are working more and more hours to keep up with the flourishing business you have created. Your business now feels like a J.O.B. leaving you stressed out with little to no time for anything or anyone else in your life.

What Keeps You Up At Night
Business is great with client referrals coming in, but as your wallet is fattening so is your never ending to-do list. You find yourself constantly worrying about the business, what you did today but how much more you still have left to do tomorrow. You are snapping at those closest to you as your stress level continues to climb higher and higher. There is just not enough of “You” to go around! Working longer and longer hours feels like the only way your business will survive. Instead of you running your business, it has now become your business running you.

What You Most Need Right Now
You need to change the way you think about and run your business in order for you both to sustain. It is time to evaluate what day-to-day operations and systems you have in place. You will need to create and implement systems that will leverage your talents, time, marketing and operations to free up some time for you. Your high stress level needs to come down through working smarter, not harder. It’s time to let go of control and get the support that you need. Without the support your business needs, not only do your clients suffer but you as well.

The Business On Purpose Plan to Best Support You
The FREE Leverage Your Business Growth Constance M. Drew, MBA
The How's the Biz Running Assessment
The Running the Biz Plan

The Coaching Program You Will Thrive In
Mastering Leverage Coaching

Testimonials:

Working with Constance was a great opportunity for me to figure out how to execute my vision in realistic manner.  We were able to figure out what to focus on which was to choose one division and come up with a prototype of marketing plan as well as to build a strong business foundation for growth.   These are the things I have been aware of, yet didn’t really know where to start or what to do with, so to be able to narrow down and coming up with marketing plans and strategies was a great jump start for me to be on the right track to my dream.  Another great thing is to have someone who believes in you and motivate to get things done, I feel like during this time with Constance I got a lot done.  Also having someone to report the progress kept me in good shape.  It’s been extremely helpful working with her and I’d like to continue working with her in the future. Akiyo Ogura of  AkiyoHenna

When working with Constance I found my personal attitude towards my business- 123organize.com take a major positive shift. Constance had the very unique trait to bring out my growth potential simply through her professional directives and various creative stimulating exercises. She has excellent startup coaching ideas that can empower any type of business to launch their dream and grow their company to it's maximum potential. I look forward to sharing my company's success with Constance and to proudly recommend her to others.  Marla Alt - The Moving Planner - 123Organize.com

Constance M. Drew, MBA
Intuitive Life & Business Coach
A Business On Purpose
advisor@abusinessonpurpose.com