Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Rohn Kessler.
Dr. Kessler, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Following careers in psychotherapy and college teaching I decided to create a business helping children with ADHD optimize brain potential. I called it Sparks of Genius and developed a strength-based brain training program to improve focus, self-control and spark intelligences. Built on neuroscience, psychology and technology, it was designed to be safe, effective and medication-free. The prototype program proved successful and we opened in 2001 with two students. Parents liked the benefits; their children were happier, more focused and less impulsive. Both children, given opportunities to express their curiosity and passion, liked the game-like brain training exercises, cool technology and sparking their intelligences. The program grew slowly during the first year or two and picked up when we were featured one Sunday on the first page of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Health Section. We were overwhelmed with calls, business accelerated, and lasted for several years. In the meantime, we started getting some adult clients, at first one or two. Their main concern was memory loss; their main fear was Alzheimer’s. I developed a brain training program to help them improve, protect, maintain or slow down the loss of memory. My wife Ninah developed a speech titled, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Memory… but Forgot to Ask” which we presented throughout South Palm Beach County. We started presenting at Conferences in South and Central Florida. Then we were mentioned in an Article in the Wall Street Journal, business picked up and lasted for many years. We were also getting some clients with brain injury and I created another brain training program to assist their recovery, where possible. We were able to slow down memory loss and increase attitude and mood in many clients, Today, we help children, millennials, adults and seniors (also known as “oldsters”) optimize brain potential. The “magic sauce” in Sparks of Genius is alive and well.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was not a smooth road, especially in the beginning. The main challenge was to learn how to start a business. During my previous two careers I had jobs in psychotherapy and college teaching and was successful in both. For example, I worked in pediatrics, substance abuse and corrections – helping many children and adults along the way. When I earned a doctorate, I ran a research project at the University of Oregon to improve science education in America and taught Education Seminars at Florida Atlantic University’s Graduate School. But starting a business was different, They say “3 is a charm” and I was challenged to the max being an entrepreneur. The first struggle was to get organized. Admittedly, I did (and still don’t) ) have great organizing skills. And prioritizing skills were also a challenge. In 17 years, I can summarize the challenges as follows: 1) getting started, finding a name of the company (Thinking Pays) and a name for programs (Sparks of Genius). Finding the right person to design and launch the website and writing content for it, choosing the best company purchase hardware and software. Finding and negotiating for office space. Designing the initial Sparks of Genius Program. Deciding how much to charge for services and finding clients. 2) During the first year or two parents came from word of mouth. The program was helping children with ADHD to focus better and sparks their genius. Parents were pleased with the results, children loved the program and business was picking up. 3) Marketing was the main challenge then. Some new clients were coming from the website, especially after I designed a free online Attention Skills Assessment that parents could fill out in 10 minutes. 4) When we were featured one Sunday on the first page of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Health Section. We were overwhelmed with calls, business accelerated and lasted for 3-4 years. 5) Re-inventing the Sparks of Genius Program. Changing vendors, adding new technology, updating the website, Emphasizing multiple intelligences to spark genius and adding the M.I.D.A.S. (Multiple Intelligence Developmental Assessment Scale). 6) Marketing to adults. See “Your Story.” Wall Street Journal” Previous page. 7) Stagnation. Re-invent Sparks. Make it easy to get started: MIDAS + Consultation.. Lower pricing. Work more online (Skype, FaceTime), Innovate children’s ADHD program moving to a family system model. 8) Current situation: I did have the advantage of knowing I wanted to combine neuroscience, psychology and technology and create safe, effective and medication-free programs to help children focus better. I liked the excitement.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sparks of Genius – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Sparks of Genius specializes in developing personalized Optimum Brain Training Programs for children and adults. All programs are safe, effective and medication-free. Children’s programs help them strengthen attention skills, gain self-control of emotions, mind, mind, body and behavior. And of course spark their genius. Each student receives a personalized program to achieve this goal. The program includes brain training with game-like exercises to improve cognitive skills, biofeedback to reduce stress, mindfulness to improve focus, self-control and awareness. This program focuses on the whole family, most often with the mother becoming the coordinator and learning new parenting skills This takes some of the pressure off of the child and the entire family. Benefits include: 1) a more attentive, happier, confident and creative child. 2) a better student 3) a more peaceful family Specialized Adult Optimum Brain Training Programs are available to 1) millennials wanting to jump-start their personal and professional life, adults with brain injury needing to improve cognitive skills and seniors wanting to stay as mentally sharp as they can. We are know for sparking genius, uncovering, nurturing and optimizing one or more intelligences or passions and taking them over the top to higher levels of accomplishment. I am most proud of the outcomes for our clients. 1) Children floundering in first, third-fourth or seventh grade overcoming challenges and soaring to new heights, Some are now in college, others in the workplace, and one is happily married and has a successful business. 2) Adults in their fifties, sixties and seventies with major brain injuries courageously brain training ever so hard, sometimes for months or years, to gain as much mental functionality as possible. They all succeed to some extent. 3) Men and women with memory loss surprised at what they CAN do. What sets us apart? Every program is strength-based, meaning Dr. Rohn Kessler helps you or your child discover and nurture something you are good at or passionate about and take it over the top.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sparksofgenius.com
- Phone: 561-245-4613
- Email: dr.rohn@sparksofgenius.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/OptimumBrainTraining
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