January 14, 2004

By: April Tom
Website: http://www.1st-in-cosmetics.com

Creativity and personal determination takes the "dis-" out of dis-abilities

This was the exciting news that Karen Nooruddin received one bright, sunny morning in the summer of 2000. After months of being sick and disabled with a debilitating condition known as "fibromyalgia", Karen began researching ways in which she could naturally, without the use of pharmaceuticals, improve her health. Having heard about the benefits of an herb called "Black Seed" (or Nigella Sativa L.) used since ancient times. Having sought out suppliers in the United States, she finally began using the herb and to her great surprise and pleasure, found relief from the myriad of mysterious symptoms that come with this often misunderstood and misdiagnosed health condition.

Inspired by the multiplicity of uses of the Black Seed and its aromatic oil for her natural remedies, Karen began creating for herself an array of personal care products, including perfume oil, soaps, and lotions, which she then shared with friends and family so that they could receive the same benefits she was enjoying. At the same time she was being encouraged to go into business selling her quality hand-crafted gifts, she happened to receive an email "out of the blue". Out of the "Blue for Business" people at IBM and American Express that is. On a whim, Karen put together a business plan, incorporating her love of multi-faith community outreach, and the new products she was putting together.

Two months later, the doorbell rang and an overnight courier delivered a letter detailing the judging criteria for selecting the winners:

Entries were evaluated by three judges whose final decisions were based on "Creativity, innovation and business potential" of the entrants' submitted business proposals. Although the winning entry would have allowed her to compete for additional monetary awards and recognition, Karen felt that the 4-week restriction on the time required in the contest to start from nothing more than her concepts to a completely incorporated "ready and open for business" with interactive web site with shopping cart system and catalogue already in place would be pushing her newly recovered "health" too far. She voluntarily stepped out of the contest, but continued to slowly put things together at a pace at which she felt it was safe to proceed.

Today Karen is the President and CEO (Owner/Operator) of her own hand-crafted gift basket business which has expanded to include other gift items and helpful information as well that are targeted to anyone interested in finding peaceful ways of living healthily with their global brothers and sisters.

About The Author:

April Tom is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cosmetics.com.  Tips on skin care, hair care and beauty products to bring out natural beauty.