Once upon a time, I wrote for a content farm, while trying to re-sharpen my pencils and work my way back into the deep end of the writers' pool. During my time there, I got acquainted with some truly awesome talent and many people I became friends with, and am still friends with. Among those was a writer whose work was so polished, it sparkled. Time has passed and I'm no longer writing for that farm, but I've been blessed to have been reconnected with her and discovered she's not only a fantastic writer, but is running a new and growing business that's truly impressive! Content farms seldom appreciate the talent and hard work of their writers. They're constantly urging them to produce more content, often for mere pennies. They're prejudiced in which ones they promote, and yet want the ones they don't like to keep spinning articles, just to have them in their content bank. The writer I'm about to introduce you to was forever having struggles with the farm-regulators, and after much petitioning and arguing with both bots and people (that often displayed the wit and warmth of a Michigan fence-post in December), she left a note on her stall, packed up her computer and high-tailed it to greener pastures. I remember her exit note to the other writers on the farm, and I remember leaving a comment on it, mentioned how the class-factor would drop significantly with her absence. After she vacated, greener pastures came in the form of beach-front property. From there, to the rhythm of surf and and the singing of gulls, she set to work establishing her own business. Under her diligent care and guidance, it's burst into blooms in the ocean breeze. Today I'm excited to introduce you to the talents and business of Alexandra Lucas and The SilverGenes Group. Hailing from Cape Breton Island, in Nova ScotiaMeet AlexandraPer Alexandra, SilverGenes has been around for years, but it's "current incarnation" came about in January of 2012. "I work from the shores of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. It's a mining town where the last one closed about nine years ago so I'd like to see the business grow and employ some of the very talented people in this community. "Healthy growth and prosperity begin at a community level, not a global level. The Internet allows us to connect with each other, business to business and community to community. "Shopping 'local' takes on new meaning when you think about the Internet as a community. It's people-power as opposed to corporate-power. Supporting each other, whether we are in Cape Breton or Dallas, works the same way as shopping on Main Street. "In a nutshell, independent businesses represent freedom and an open marketplace - freedom for the entrepreneur and for the consumer. It's an opportunity for all, not just a select few." How about that for supporting and working with locals to enhance business in the community? Yup ... I love it! I asked her to tell me about her favorite aspect of The SilverGenes Group. Her response was simple, and very appealing. "Helping clients turn their dreams into reality is exciting. It often develops into friendships and that is my favorite part of the job. Anyone who contracts the SilverGenes Group gets personal attention every step of the way. "This is about you, not me. Your success is my success. "I'm learning all the time and pass the knowledge on to my clients, helping them navigate unfamiliar territory. It can be something as simple as how to acquire ISBNs (International Standard Book Number) or more complex strategies like branding. "This helps all of us in the long run. We end up with a network of friends and associates who understand that working together is more powerful than working alone competitively. It's a very large pie and the more we give, the more there is to share." Advice for the newbies ..."The best advice I can give to the newcomers venturing into similar industries is to have a business plan and be prepared to work hard. Online businesses are no different from their brick and mortar cousins when it comes to the basics. "There are no magic solutions and no one has all the answers, in spite of what you see online. It's a young frontier and we are all learning together so be flexible and ready to meet a demand when you find it." On the horizon ...Is there new stuff planning to be added to The SilverGenes Group's services? She says she's glad I asked because ... "The answer is a resounding YES! "I'm working on a complete course so people will have a visual road map to follow and do a lot of these things for themselves. Sharing knowledge is a good thing! "My other pet project is to complete the template collections for SilverGenes Family Books. I've combined my love of scrapbooking with my fascination with history and heritage to create book templates. When it's finished, everyone will be able to mix and match pages designed with culturally authentic elements for a family book that reflects their own unique heritage. "It's time consuming, but the results are worth it. For instance, every tartan is digitally woven using the same thread-count and colors as recorded in the Scottish Register of Tartans and Irish lace is woven according to a 19th century pattern. "I've also expanded the collection to include time lines, too, so you can choose templates by century or by 20th century decade. Again, everything is based on authentic colors and designs from the period. "It's a labor of love and I hope to have the first few up soon. It's a massive project so I'll be adding to it regularly. "Some of the examples are up as a background on my page at http://about.me/silvergenes. "Yes, even the sheet music is digitally created to look as real as possible! "Just to sum it all up, The SilverGenes Group is about learning, creating, sharing, and growing together. It's about you and me creating our own strong community in a new frontier." So, whaddaya think?Personally, of course I think The SilverGenes Group is a smokin' hot biz to get involved with. I love the positive attitude Alexandra is consistent in expressing, and it shines through in her work. I also love that she's community minded, but not limited in that to just one community.
Small communities can make their mark and have a wonderful, even global impact while maintaining their own identity and heritage. I love the variations that define different nationalities and heritages, and I love that with a bit of communication, we can all still work together to achieve shared goals. For what most of us do, there is a unique flavor that defines our work, much like a logo defines our brand. I'm grateful to be acquainted with some awesome businesses made of up everything from photographers to writers to mechanics and chefs who are consistent in displaying their unique style while maintaining a quality standard in their work. Alexandra Lucas andThe SiliverGenes Group is one of those. My thanks to her for granting me the interview, and I hope you've enjoyed her visit to the Pumpkin Run Pulse! Please take the time to visit her awesome website at silvergenes.com, and get further acquainted with her myriad of talents and the services her company offers, and share this link in emails and on your social sites, if you're feeling generous. That's a wrap, and I'll see you at femme's Desk on Thursday! God bless you, thanks for the read and please don't forget to thank a veteran at your next opportunity! femmeflashpoint
12 Comments
4/1/2014 02:49:14 am
Wow! The Silvergenes Group offers a myriad of services. Her website is awesome and packed with information. It was a pleasant surprise to see so many familiar faces who have become clients of Alexandra's.
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4/1/2014 03:10:26 am
Hi Sha!
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4/1/2014 05:44:11 am
I'm honored to be featured here! My goodness, femme, this is just wonderful and I want to thank you very, very much!
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4/1/2014 07:10:03 am
Alexandra,
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Mike
4/2/2014 06:46:55 am
Hello femme. I have run across this wonderful person who always gets high praise from those associated with her before, at that very same content farm no doubt. Great to see that she has set sail on a new adventure and I hope this write up spurs much interest in her latest endeavors.
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4/2/2014 08:07:46 am
Hi Captain Mike!
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4/3/2014 11:55:26 am
Hi Karen :)
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Dear femme,
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4/3/2014 04:03:09 pm
Mar,
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Cindy Serway
4/29/2014 12:52:17 pm
Interesting and enjoyable reading! Thanks for sharing this with me!!
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femmeflashpoint
4/29/2014 01:54:53 pm
Hi Cindy!
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