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Interview of Keli Lenfield

Hi there:

Welcome to the second installment of my author interview series. Today, I have Keli Lenfield with me, author of “Everyone Is A Supermodel: Secrets For Any Career Based On My Modelling Experiences.

Keli Lenfield

In addition to being an author, Keli Lenfield is a collaborator and the founder of www.kelilenfield.com.  As a published author, course developer, internationally accredited achievement coach, and workshop facilitator, she focuses on raising awareness, improving intercultural understanding, and helping others find their talents and achieve their successful careers.

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Born to an Estonian father and a Danish mother, I grew up in Canberra, Australia. I began dancing when I was 3 and made it to the Australian youth ballet when I was 12. When I became too tall for the Australian ballet, I started modelling. By the time I was 17 I was doing more catwalk shows than study, so I completed my IB at college and went on to study in Paris at the Sorbonne University. Modelling again became part of my life and I ended up walking on the international circuit until bulemia took hold and I was back in Canberra on suicide watch. A number of abusive relationships followed until I had my son and chose to be a single mother. This is when I began to write.

So, what have you written?

I have written a Certificate II course aimed for national accreditation here in Australia as well as my first book “Everyone is a Supermodel. Secrets for any career based on my modelling experiences.”

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

I was 36, a single mother, in serious debt and back home with my parents. I needed to start something that could keep me at home with him and help people at the same time. So I started on an intense personal development journey, used my background in vocational education and began writing down my last 20 years' experience in the most competitive industry on the planet!

Where do the your ideas come from?

Lately, my ideas have been extension of my book and how personal branding is essential to differentiate yourself. I also get my ideas from situations that annoy me and go against my social entrepreneur side that sees greed and industry treating people badly – especially in the modelling industry. I am researching my next book about social sustainability which is a whole other interview 🙂

Who edited your book and how did you select him/her?

As part of my writing practise I joined sourcebottle.com and answered an ad for some articles about body image and health. The enquirer was Nicole Russin-McFarland from New York and the articles were for her magazine The Comeback UK. She liked my articles and posted them. We stayed in touch and about 18 months later Nicole contacted me and asked what was happening with my then shelved book? We negotiated terms, she edited my book and has been my publisher and publicist ever since. She is remarkable, creative, tireless, focused, generous, dynamic, sassy and very clever!

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

I have learned that any review good or bad is great for exposure and growth. Like any type of feedback you have to put it in perspective and use your power of choice to either take it on or ignore it.

What is your favorite positive saying?

My tagline – “Be the Difference to make a Difference.”

Any tips on what to do and what not to do?

Really dig deep and discover why you want to do something, even if you don't know what you want. Be brave and stay true to yourself and express your own voice in whatever form. Don't take negative feedback too personally. Listening to someone who hasn't done what you have done is a complete waste of your time and your energy.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Everything about me is available for view and contact at www.kelilenfield.com

Thanks to Keli Lenfield for agreeing to an author interview and giving us some insight into her important work.  I hope that you enjoyed it.

Peace.