There was a time when life simply didn't get to me. I had adapted a "So what, God will work it out" attitude and life seemed easy to manage. Then life threw me a curve ball and my world came crashing in around me. All of a sudden, every mole hill seemed to become a mountain, with mountain-sized issues. Eventually, life got back to normal, but I'd been mishandling the stress for so long, that I forgot what it was like to relax and distress. In fact, I began experiencing chest pains and my hair began to fall out, by the handfuls.

So when I heard about Crockett's book, Breakaway Laughter, I knew I had to read it and I'm glad I did.

Crockett begins each chapter with a story from her own life, then shares stress-reducing techniques to not only show a healthy way to deal with stress, but find the humor in life's hectic situations.

Of all Crockett's advice, the one that rang out to me the most, was "the greater and more cemented down our expectations, the harder the fall when something goes wrong...life is full of imperfections. If upon waking each day, I acknowledge this, I will not feel so blindsided when the inevitable mishap occurs." As a perfectionist, I can say that we, perfectionists, expect things to run smoothly if we do all we're "supposed" to do, but life cannot be micromanaged because there are simply too many outside factors. Taking Crockett's advice and tips to heart can help us live more happy lives.

So of course, having read Nan's book, I just had to interview her! Enjoy...

I understand you are a business-to-business consultant. Was there anything particular in your life growing up, or as an adult, that helped lead you down this career path? If so, can you explain?

I have always been very independent, so it seemed a natural fit to start my own business. Before starting Rutter Communications, I directed marketing, consumer affairs, governmental relations, sales promotions, public relations and charitable foundation activities for a large firm on the east coast. That experience prepared me to work with clients on a variety of issues. I function as a content expert in interpersonal communication, change and stress management. I also facilitate problem solving sessions, and I love the variety that comes with having my own business.

Before starting your own business-to-business consultant business, did you have an internship anywhere? (ie. Work for a particular company for a few years, take college courses, volunteer, etc.) If so, when, where, and how did it help you prepare for your own business?

I have a Masters Degree in Communications from the University of Iowa and an undergraduate degree in Broadcasting from the University of Northern Iowa. I was a radio station intern while getting my undergraduate degree. After completing the graduate program, I taught at Denison University before moving on to a career in business. The business experience was extremely valuable in preparing me for the work I do now. Since I have managed large numbers of people and multi-million dollar budgets, I can understand some of the unique challenges my clients face.

What was the most difficult thing about starting this particular business venture?

It felt like I was taking a pretty substantial risk when I started out on my own. I think most of us now recognize that "job security" is a concept that is no longer relevant. People get laid off all of the time. Still, there is a certain sense of security that comes with that weekly paycheck. When you are on your own, the income stream is not that consistent. You might have a couple of great months followed by a couple of months with very little income. I had to re-think the way I handled and budgeted money to accommodate this kind of pattern.

Did you ever have a business blooper? If so, what was it, what happened, how did you resolve it, and what did you learn from it?

I have definitely made my share of mistakes. I remember getting into trouble a few years back when I led a stress management workshop. I promote the notion that we should work to create balance in our lives. We should not, for example, spend so much time working that we neglect family, friends, exercise, spiritual exploration, and so on. I suggested in this workshop that everyone needs a mental health day once in a while. I got a call from my client, who said that several people took that comment to heart a bit too much. Some of them failed to show up for work the next day. Whoops! I apologized, and I was careful in the future to include some discussion about being responsible while working to meet our need for balance.

If someone was looking into becoming a business-to-business consultant, what advice would you offer?

There are so many things to consider. What is your area of expertise? What does the market need? How comfortable are you working on your own? Can you enthusiastically sell your services, and can you handle rejection well? I often meet with people who want to start their own businesses. I am high on going down this road, and I love to support others who want to do so. At the same time, it isn't for everyone. It takes pretty careful consideration.

You've written a very helpful book for a society that seems life a stress-filled lifestyle, why did you decide to write, Breakaway Laughter?

I was going through a painful divorce at the time. My energy was depleted, and I experienced bouts of depression. I realized that humor has so often brought me back from such places. Over the years I have kept a journal. There has been a fair amount of chaos in my life, but a lot of it has been pretty funny. I have learned through humor, and I have healed through humor. I wanted to use my experiences in service to others. My goal with the book is to inspire, provoke thought, offer some positive perspectives for dealing with life's challenges, and make people laugh!

If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?

My book has already brought me more than I could have hoped it would. There was the letter from the prisoner in New York who wrote that the book brought him comfort and a way to look at his circumstances more proactively. There was the woman who experienced the loss of a husband, breast cancer, and the loss of her mother in two short years. She also wrote that the book brought her comic relief and comfort. I can surely ask for no more than that.

What was the hardest part of writing this book? How did you work through those issues?

The writing and publishing process were both great fun. It was hard to wrestle with the notion that I was spending time writing the book when I could have been doing work for pay. I am a single mother, and it can be especially challenging to meet all of the financial commitments. I am certainly glad I took the time. It has brought me great fulfillment, and I'd like to think it has helped some other people as well.

Visit her at http://www.breakawaylaughter.com/