I love an inspir-o-girl. Someone who completely rocks and kicks my butt with exciting possibilities. That’s why I dig Sarah Prout.

Sarah is the super-talent behind SPROUT,  a boutique media empire designed to inspire entrepreneurs – she’s also author girl of Sprout The Life You Love, a book filled with everything a girl needs to know about how to make money doing what you love. I got my copy last week and LOVED it. I’m a total fan-girl of reading profiles about successful types  and this book is positively bursting with them, along with Sarah’s own tips and insight into being an entrepreneur – awesome.

So, meet Sarah here, go visit her empire, then buy the book – all in that order, ‘k?!!

What is it you do exactly, Sarah – care to share?

I own a publishing company called SPROUT.  I create products that inspire people to live a life filled with fun, creativity & passion. Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to make money doing what they love!

I LOVE Sprout The Life You Love – total inspir-o – can you tell us how you put it together, how successful it’s been, and why self-publishing is a totally do-able option…
The first SPROUT book was a gigantic project.  I first set out the intention in April 08 that I wanted to create a book. I then sent emails to various celebrity businesswomen that I thought would be suitable and it virtually just snowballed from there. I just trusted that the right people would contribute to the book and they did! The final manuscript went to the printers in November 08 and I had to ship out 950 copies worth of pre-sales within 4 days! A second print-run was ordered within a week!

It was pretty much a one-woman production. I designed the cover, did the layout, edited (with the help of 1 other person) and wrote 3 chapters, marketed, wrote press releases & shipped out all the books myself. Keep in mind I have 2 kids that I look after full-time so it was a very crazy period of my life! It’s all been totally worth it. The great people I’ve meet and media attention I’ve gained has positioned me as somewhat of an expert now. I recently did an interview on LA Talk Radio.

Self-publishing is a very do-able option because you retain 100% control of the creative process. I was fortunate enough to have investors jump on board with this book, but there are ways you can utilize print-on-demand services (like Lulu.com) and you don’t have to pay a penny!

Where do you get your inspir-o to continuously produce new prods in new ways?
The ideas just seem to evolve over a period of time. The nature of this industry means that you have to constantly produce new products to keep the audience ‘fed’ with opportunities and inspiration.  It’s lucky that I LOVE to read profiles so much and get the chance the offer people the opportunity to get profiled.

For example, our current eBook compilation project is called ‘The Millionairess League’ and will contain 30 profiles of businesswomen from around the world. This little PDF will give readers a great dose of inspiration and ideas that will hopefully translate into their own entrepreneurial journey.

What 5 tracks would be essential to a Sprout soundtrack to life?
Tchaikovsky’s -  “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”
Madonna -  “Holiday”
Cheryl Lynn – “Got to be real”
Earth Wind & Fire – “September”
Franz Ferdinand – “Turn it on”

Who rocks your world?
I love those ‘rags to riches’ stories of people that went from poverty to having millions of dollars in the bank.  The successful Internet marketers such as Ali Brown & Sandy Forster really inspire me.

I get inspired by people that can ‘walk the talk’ – having a desire to empower other people to live better lives.

What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
When I launch a new product and people like it! I also get amazing emails from people occasionally that explain how my book got them all excited and inspired. That is an awesome feeling. I also tend to jump for joy each and every time I check my sales totals.

What’s your life motto?
Your thoughts and feelings and what manifests is always a match.

What’s a typical day in the life of Sarah?
3 days a week I try and go to the gym before 6:30am.
Most of the time I’m ‘mummy’ – so cooking, cleaning & playing.
Most days I write (press releases, sales letters, emails, website copy, blog posts etc.)
I’ve been doing interviews quite a bit lately too.
I Tweet regularly.  I love Twitter. You can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/sarahprout
I have coffee with my buddies
Watch movies with my husband
Eat mostly raw food.
Read inspiring books. I hardly ever read fiction.

Quick fire round – what’s your favorite:
City: I have 2 favorite cities: Melbourne (Australia) and Gothenburg (Sweden)
Book: The Law of Attraction by Jerry & Esther Hicks
Movie: Anything written by the Coen Brothers.
Website/blog: Twitter.
Hang-out: A bar called Polly. www.pollybar.com.au
Way to chill: Watching movies with my man at home.
Store: www.alannahhill.com.au
Celebrity: David Tennant as Dr. Who
Must-have item: A MacBook

Okay so now you’ve met Sarah, go visit her blog, then buy the book – she’s a rockstar.