Interview with Motivational Speaker and Business Coach Scott Chesney
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

As a two-time world traveler and notable motivational speaker and business coach for the likes of Smith Barney, ING, First Financial Group, Prudential, and Avis, Scott Chesney has accomplished much by his mid-30s. But his life hasn’t been all mountain peaks.

In 1985 at age 15, Chesney manifested foix-alajouanine syndrome, an extremely rare, usually fatal condition. Chesney’s case resulted in sudden, permanent paraplegia, which destroyed the young athlete’s dream of playing college basketball. A generous benefactor later came into his life to send him on a worldwide quest to learn about alternative modalities to cure paralysis. His travels eventually morphed into public speaking engagements. Today, he advocates looking at limitations as opportunities to reach new dreams. Home Business® Magazine recently spoke with him about overcoming adversity.

Home Business Magazine (HBM): How can home business entrepreneurs stay positive?
Scott Chesney (SC): Exhaust the fear. Fear is the only thing that prevents us from moving forward, even in hard economic times. Ask the question, “What’s the worst case scenario?” That doesn’t mean you don’t have legitimate challenges at these times, but fear prevents us from thinking clearly and being productive. I think of it as an acronym, Fictionalized Evidence Appearing Real. I’m physically paralyzed, but emotional and mental paralysis are far greater.

HBM: Many home business entrepreneurs are cash-strapped or lack impressive credentials or the stability they need to succeed. How can they overcome these kinds of limitations?
SC: The best thing is very humbling for some people. It’s getting out of that realm of having total control. I’ve run my own business for 10 years. I had to call the shots and make the decisions. It’s when you drop the need to control and partner up with other organizations, you can hold one another accountable to professional and personal goals (both of which have to be accountable to one another). Joining a trade organization is like having your own board of directors that will help you see things in a different way and challenge you to be the best you can be.

HBM: Why is goal setting so important?
SC: It’s one of those major facets of accountability. I set personal and professional goals. You have to specify a completion date. You have to break it up into monthly, even daily goals so you can see progress being made. It’s hard to otherwise see results. We need to acknowledge ourselves.

HBM: How can one know the difference between realistic goals and unrealistic ones?
SC: Anything is possible, but not everything happens. Be realistic with the line of work you’re in. If you want to earn a certain amount of money, are you in a business where you can generate that much? If you aren’t, maybe there are businesses you can add to it. Model the behavior of competition that is accomplishing your goals. There’s something to be learned from everyone in our lives.

HBM: How do you balance work and home life?
SC: I call working from home heaven and hell. It’s heaven because you have so much freedom and creativity. There’s no boss to answer to. It’s hell in that you don’t have a boss to answer to, and you can basically leave the lights on all day and night and develop bad patterns. There are lots of people running their home businesses who don’t get fresh air and exercise. You have to create a schedule like you were reporting somewhere. Most people don’t have a problem being flexible. They have a problem being disciplined.

HBM: What is your home office like?
SC: I am a collector. I have stuff with encouraging sayings on it. Behind my desk, which takes up my whole wall, is a picture of Nelson Mandela, whom I would like to meet. I have knickknacks from when I went around the world twice. They help me go back to the energy I had at that moment. I have family photos.

HBM: How does technology impact your work?
SC: I’m a big advocate of Skype to reach my international clients. I also use a webcam for face-to-face time. HBM

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant writes from her home in Wolcott, N.Y. Her website is www.skilledquill.net.

Previously published in the October 2009 issue of HOME BUSINESS® Magazine, an international publication for the growing and dynamic home-based market. Available on newsstands, in bookstores and chain stores, and via subscriptions ($19.00 for 1 year, six issues). Visit www.homebusinessmag.com