We had the good fortune of connecting with Kara Jensen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kara, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
I would say the habit of scheduling all of my activities. I time block just about everything on my calendar. I always know what I will be doing from one hour to the next, I find it important to block of periods in the day for a break – to do some reading, exercise, or run errands. It keeps me accountable to things that need to be done.

Along with that is writing things down. I take notes when I am on a phone or video call. Any time I speak with anyone and make any sort of promise to do something, I write it down so it isn’t forgotten and as soon as I can I schedule it on my calendar.

Something that ties with both of these is NOT having the habit of answering a phone when it rings! Interruptions like that wreak havoc on efficiency. Things can easily be forgotten when you let yourself be interrupted to handle something else that could’ve waited. I focus on one thing at a time. Plus, how annoying is it when you call someone and they answer the phone with “I can’t talk right now” well, why did you answer the phone?

What should our readers know about your business?
I am really discovering what I enjoy doing. When I was young I had no idea the options of career that were out there. I grew up in a very small town, I received no real guidance what my future could hold. And my grades weren’t much. A guidance counselor told me I’d just end up as a waitress or working at the factory! I ended up just defaulting to what I knew or what was available. When I had the chance to go to college I studied Automotive! In High School all I could afford was a very beat up 1970 Mustang. It needed work, so I ended up taking shop classes and rebuilding the thing! I actually enjoyed it and was good at it. So I just signed up for Automotive Tech!

I worked in that industry for a while and then did some temp work and ended up in a customer service for a manufacturing company, I grew with them and ended up in Business Development, worked with the sales reps across the country and did tradeshows. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot but I hit a ceiling there and moved on.

Real Estate was next venture and I did really well. It was here I discovered by creativity and interest in marketing. I started building websites and doing some campaigns for my clients who owned businesses. I also became a broker and trained agents, it was really satisfying to see them start up, grow their business and then go out on their own. After 15 years I made a poor hire and an agent who was working a bank fraud scheme brought my career and life tumbling down. It was very ugly and was in a dark place for a long time. I end up relying on the marketing services I was providing so I eventually created a marketing company.

It was here I started meeting the people who have been a great influence on me. I became involved in conservation and the outdoors and volunteered for a small group called Be Outdoors Arizona. I saw so much that this organization could do. Their goal being a calendar and system to connect people who are interested in being more outdoorsy to the events and social support they need to continue their learning. Plus, I saw a huge need to break the habit of so much screen time that kids spend! Everybody for that matter, needs to spend more time in nature!

The opportunity came up for me to take the reins of the organization and I jumped. There were some immediate roadblocks, like the pandemic, but I used the lessons I learned such a preservarence, believing in myself, setting goals, building relationships and most of all caring about what others needed.

What I do now with Be Outdoors Arizona is support the non profits that perform the boots on the ground work towards conservation of our open spaces, habitat and wildlife. I have over 200 groups as partners and provide promotion of their events, volunteers, help with marketing for donations or members, and connect them with the assistance they need.

Outdoor Recreation businesses also benefit from hyper-targeted marketing, public events, connections to these non profits and systems to build better relationships with their customers. I can also keep them apprised on the legislative issues that affect their businesses in this industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I don’t spend a lot of time in the city! I would show them the diverse topography we have in Arizona. I am still fascinated by the fact that we have expansive rolling grassy plains, rushing rivers with thick tropical-like riparian areas, the looming mountains covered in conifers and snow. The scrubby chaparrals, juniper forests and almost barren deserts. Then there’s mysterious rock formations and caverns.

The wildlife here is incredible. We’d go on some hiking trips to see the elk. and deer, javelina! Drive the plains and look for pronghorn antelope, do a little climbing to see bighorn sheep. I am sure we’d spend the night under the stars and listen to the coyotes too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many authors have influenced my growth, I have more books than I can count! Some local people who have positively impacted my success are Angel Marie Monachelli and Irene Lededies, they have both coached me in the early years and helped me break through my limiting beliefs.

Others tied to my endeavor with Be Outdoors Arizona include Rich Glinksi, retired State Parks, Eric Proctor, wildlife educator Arizona Game and Fish, and Doug Burt, Hunting and Shooting Sports Program Manager.

Currently I am honored to be brought on board as a mastermind facilitator by Andrew Kolikoff for hi the Secret Sauce Society, His support and encouragement has been wonderful.

Website: https://beoutdoorsarizona.org/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karajensenaz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaraJensen.AZ

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@beoutdoorsarizona

Image Credits
Big Horn sheep photo by Valerie Cozart.

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