Intuitive Eye Productions Experiencing Motivational Success

NOTE: The following feature story was written for the Nova Scotia "Come to life" initiative. "Come to life" is a public-private sector initiative that markets Nova Scotia as an excellent place in which to live, work, invest, play and visit.

Cara Jones feels like life has given her a second chance, and adding motivational speaking to her portrait photography and video production company Intuitive Eye Productions, is the latest way she is making the most of it.

"Every day I'm grateful to have everything I have and I feel like there's no time to waste," said the Antigonish business woman. "Get cracking."

There is little wonder Jones is living life to the fullest. Until she was 18, she had severe epilepsy, sometimes suffering more than 100 seizures a day.

"I was told that I probably would never graduate high school, never go on to university, and never for a second did I believe it," she says.

Her seizures stopped after a tumour was surgically removed from her brain. Jones continues to emphasize the positives of her experience, and is now using it as well of inspiration for her budding work as a motivational speaker.

"I'm now mentoring with a motivational speaker in Halifax, Eddie LeMoine, and branching out as a motivational speaker on overcoming life's obstacles and achieving abundance through your business and your life and your relationships. Because how can I not? I've lived it."

Jones also videotapes other motivational speakers, allowing them to reach a broader audience. She is writing a book which she describes as "the story of myself and others who've used adversity to accomplish great things and changed and healed their lives."

And that is just part of the expansion of Jones's business, which she began in 2007.

"It started off as a ripple and now it's a wave," says Jones, who graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a major in photography. "I've learned probably about five years worth of information in one-and-a-half years. I'm constantly growing and I think that your business can't grow unless you realize that you don't know everything.

"When you realize that you don't know everything and are willing to learn, you're going to succeed."

She wants to share that philosophy with others. Recently, Jones travelled to Ethiopia, with director Peter Murphy, of SeaBright Productions, to document the Antigonish Movement legacy and its presence internationally, with hopes that the documentary become part of the school curriculum.

The movement, which began to help small, resource-based communities in the Maritime provinces improve their social and economic circumstance, has spread around the world.

Jones's documentary Yesterday's News, examining the positives in the life of a single mother, was a hit at the 2007 International Documentary Challenge, received awards for best writing, best use of experimental genre and best original song. The song was by Antigonish musician Betsy MacDonald.

From weddings to family portraits and commercial work, Jones's photography is also leaving its mark.

"I met Cara at a small business expo and instantly I loved the style of her photos and knew it was what I wanted for my wedding pictures," says Sheila MacNeil of Antigonish.

"Cara is passionate about pictures and takes pride in her work and it shows in her finished product."

Whether it's through her photography, video production or motivational speaking, Jones always tries to offer a unique perspective.

"Creativity is the whole essence of the business," she says. "I know that people have said I exude creativity, but that's just who I am. I think we all do to a degree, really."

Jones says the music and culture that surround her in Nova Scotia are a perfect example.

"I'm really lucky to be living here, especially working in my area, because I have so many artists at my fingertips who are just wanting to be successful. So we all work together, support each other."

She says she would like Intuitive Eye Productions to thrive so that she can hire employees.

"I have this dream of bringing people back here," she says. "There are a lot of people out there who would love to be doing film or photography in Antigonish or in Nova Scotia. They want to come home."