Keith West-Harrison	The Week of July 24th, 2005

Serial Entrepreneur

1. What’s in your wallet right now?

My driver's license; a PayPal debit card (where the money for our online orders go); 3 debit cards (one for each of my businesses); Sam's Club card (got to save money where you can); voter registration card (didn't do me any good last election); $23 (my husband takes my cash so I never have much); receipts, receipts and more receipts (I'm really bad about getting things to the accountant); some GAP summer coupons.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

That it is not a secret between spouses. My mother hid our financial status from my father so they always fought about money. They paid cash for things until the late '80s when they got into way too much credit card debt, but they never explained the evils of credit cards.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

Tracking debit card purchases in my checkbook.

4. What makes you happy?

Successful implementation of new ideas. I love to see a plan come together. I base my entire self-worth on my business success.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

Money is power. Power can be used for good or evil. I try to do good. Grow my business, employ good people. It is not the most important piece of being happy. We have struggled for years just to get new ventures off the ground. Each time we succeed it allows us to go on to something greater.

6. Where does money come from?

Hard work. Planning. Happy customers.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

Buy a building on South Beach and open another day spa.

8. What is your most prized possession?

My husband. Without him my vision would be incomplete (but I love my iBook G4 a lot too).

9. Who is your role model?

Cyndi Lauper. She went from bubble gum pop music stardom to growing her career, improving her voice, building a loyal following and being happy with herself.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

Recovering after 9/11 and being $60,000 behind on a mortgage to creating the top New Orleans spa in less than 2 years.

11. Tell us about Miss Celie's Spa.

This place is a concept unlike every other spa. It is our home and we make people feel welcome and appreciated. Back in 1883, Miss Celie was a lively Creole woman who pampered New Orleans' socialites in her beauty salon, which was modeled after the European spas. We've tried to recreate that old-world pampering in the reborn Miss Celie's spa.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

<pid=page>Enlightenment. Personal success is a driven by self worth, and everyone has that worth. I want to teach people to appreciate themselves and take control of their futures.

13. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

A baby. We are at a point in our life where we want to start a family, but since we don't have the right parts, we'll need to purchase one.

14. Favorite activity that doesn’t cost a dime?

Walking through the French Quarter and taking in the sights.

15. How do you indulge yourself?

Food. We love to eat out and it is the perfect reward.

Keith West-Harrison, featured on The Start-Up, an online reality series, is a serial entrepreneur. Along with his partner Andre, Keith owns and runs Miss Celie's Spa, which grew out of their bed and breakfast, Olde Victorian Inn. They've also recently opened VooBrew Coffee House. AOL and Entrepreneur.com have run a series of articles on their entrepreneurial exploits.

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