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The idea of a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/neil-patel-talks-personal-branding-and-success/">personal brand</a> in marketing is nothing new. Taylor Swift. Orville Redenbacher. Oprah Winfrey. These are all names that immediately evoke a product, a sentiment, an experience. Yet the strategy of applying one’s personal attributes to a business isn’t just for music, popcorn and media moguls. In fact, experts say every business should be bolstered by its owner’s personal brand. Plus, learning how to brand yourself isn’t as daunting as it might seem. 



“Research suggests faces were the first logos, and people were the first brands,” says Chris Malone, co-author of <a href="https://amzn.to/43iEE7I" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Human Brand: How We Relate to People, Products, and Companies</a>. “This notion that small business should be built on personal brands is an old idea, but still perfectly on-target.” Businesses historically have been built on customer service and the unique qualities the proprietor brought to the operation, points out Malone, who is now a consultant after 20 years of marketing for brands such as Coca-Cola, the NBA and Procter &amp; Gamble. “The more you are out in front and interacting with the customer, the more you are judged in human terms—that’s when trust and loyalty are built.”&nbsp;



Personal branding refers to establishing and promoting what you stand for—it's your unique combination of skills, experiences, values, and the way you express them to the world. In today's increasingly digital landscape, a personal brand is no longer just nice to have; it's expected.&nbsp;



Whether you're a professional climbing the corporate ladder, an entrepreneur building a business, or a creative showcasing your portfolio, personal branding helps you stand out in the crowd, communicate your distinct value proposition, and build meaningful relationships that can lead to career advancement, business growth, or creative collaborations. Here’s how to do it.&nbsp;







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-personal-branding-matters-nbsp">Why Personal Branding Matters&nbsp;</h2>



Your unique story can play an important role in building your career. A strong personal brand can significantly impact job opportunities. It can differentiate you from other professionals in your field, establish credibility by demonstrating your expertise and unique qualities and create authentic connections with your target audience. These connections help you to attract like-minded professionals and opportunities that align with your values and goals. It also gives you more confidence and control over how others perceive you. Finally, having a solid personal brand gives you more visibility in a crowded market, helping you stand out and reach a wider audience. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steps-to-building-your-personal-brand-from-scratch-nbsp">Steps to Building Your Personal Brand from Scratch&nbsp;</h2>



Ready to get started on how to build your brand? Here is a simple <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/a-five-step-guide-to-branding-yourself/">step-by-step guide</a> on how to create a strong personal brand.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-define-core-values-and-what-makes-you-unique">1. Define Core Values and What Makes You Unique</h3>



Start by identifying your unique strengths, expertise, talents and what sets you apart from others in your field. Consider what problems you solve, what perspectives you bring and what you want to be known for. Ask yourself questions like:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>What motivates you?</li>



<li>What characteristics others have complimented you on?</li>



<li>What does success look like to you?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



Most importantly, your personal brand should authentically reflect who you genuinely are and what you want to achieve.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-take-cues-from-mentors">2. Take Cues From Mentors</h3>



As you’re establishing your brand and goals, look for successful examples to follow. Research your industry to find these success stories. Schedule some informational interviews with <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/build-your-personal-brand-gary-vaynerchuk/">industry leaders</a> you admire. You can even look at how celebrities and influencers brand themselves. Find ways to replicate what they are doing, but be sure to put your own unique spin on it.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-identify-your-target-audience">3. Identify Your Target Audience</h3>



Determine who you want to reach. It could be potential employers, recruiters, clients, industry peers or a specific community. Understanding their needs, challenges and where they spend time will guide your personal brand strategy, including content and messaging. To do this effectively, create a marketing persona of your ideal customer by answering questions like:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Who will find my content relevant and useful?</li>



<li>Where are they located?</li>



<li>What are their job titles?</li>



<li>What are their goals?</li>



<li>What challenges or pain points do they face?</li>



<li>Where do they spend their time online and in-person?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-develop-your-message-and-visual-identity">4. Develop Your Message and Visual Identity</h3>



Create a clear, compelling narrative about who you are and what you offer. This includes your bio, tagline, and key messages. Establish <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/future-proof-brand-modernize-image/">visual consistency</a> across platforms with professional photos, color schemes, logos, fonts, and other design elements that reflect your personality and niche. It’s also helpful to prepare an elevator pitch to have ready to share wherever you are so you can confidently and quickly know how to market yourself.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-build-a-content-strategy">5. Build a Content Strategy</h3>



A huge part of branding for success involves having a succinct, consistent content strategy. This includes building an effective website and knowing how to brand yourself on social media. Create valuable content that is original and helps your audience solve a problem, which, in turn, helps you build a relationship with them as they see you as an expert they can rely on.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-monitor-and-evolve-your-brand">6. Monitor and Evolve Your Brand</h3>



Pay attention to how others perceive you, gather feedback and be willing to refine your approach. Your personal brand should grow with you as your career and interests develop, while maintaining core elements that people recognize and trust.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-market-yourself-authentically-nbsp">How to Market Yourself Authentically&nbsp;</h2>



When it comes to the how of personal branding, there are two ways to humanize a business, says <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfishman1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Fishman</a>, a marketing consultant and founder of the Consumer Health Summit.



You can position the organization behind a person: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/tony-robbins-how-to-change-your-life">Tony Robbins</a> or Mario Batali are two examples. In these cases, the individual embodies the business and its mission, and his or her name and image are front and center of everything the business tackles.&nbsp;



The other model does not tie the organization’s name to its proprietor, thus freeing it up for future ownership changes. Yet the business is tightly connected to the persona of a leader. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/tony-hsiehs-next-act">Zappos’ Tony Hsieh</a> was an example of this model.&nbsp;



In expressing your personal brand, keep the following advice in mind:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Be real. “The most effective marketing is not slick and polished, but has an authentic, friendly quality,” Fishman says.</li>



<li>Be vulnerable. Find ways to tell stories of your failures—both in business and in your personal life. Admit that you’re sometimes overwhelmed by family life or stumped by a business challenge. “When people are willing to display their quirks and failures, trust is formed,” Fishman says.</li>



<li>Be transparent. “Showcasing true stories is more powerful than impressive credentials,” Fishman says. Client testimonials, case studies and statistics about how many people you helped (and by how much) all have the power to influence. “A first-person story is far more compelling than academic degrees or awards,” Fishman says.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-self-branding-tips-for-a-strong-online-presence-nbsp">Self-Branding Tips for a Strong Online Presence&nbsp;</h2>



In this period of digital prominence, it’s essentially impossible to build a brand successfully without social media, websites and content creation. Use these tools for branding yourself online:&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Your image. “I’m surprised how many people don’t have a personal photo on their website,” Fishman says. A <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/face-facts-zoom-in">headshot</a> “immediately warms up any situation and puts down the roots of a trusting relationship,” he says.</li>



<li>A blog. Yes, you may have paid a copywriter a lot of money to create a brochure, ads and web copy. But a blog post that captures your personality, humor or humility is far more likely to connect with the customer, get shared and be remembered.</li>



<li>Social media. <a href="https://twitter.com/successmagazine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SUCCESSmagazine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/successmagazine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pinterest</a> are all great avenues to reach potential clients and let your personality shine. By sharing articles you feel are important, or recommendations for products you truly believe in, you curate the world through your lens and build authority in your community and industry. Encourage customers to voice their concerns via social media and respond to them publicly, showcasing the type of personal service customers can expect. The way you interact with customers and your staff is the essence of personal brands.</li>



<li>Videos and podcasts. It’s easy and inexpensive to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/online-video-branding">create short video</a> blog posts and podcasts. You can speak your opinions or advice into a camera or interview other experts or customers. In the past few years, video has proved to be the fastest-growing segment of Internet media.</li>



<li>Authorship. Writing books—whether through a traditional publishing house or by self-publishing—is a great way to establish credibility for your subject. If you have a knack for prose or can hire a ghostwriter who does, a book can be a source of rich anecdotes that make customers fall in love with you.</li>



<li>Day-to-day operations. Personal branding is highly focused on what you share with the outside world. But how you conduct yourself and your business on a daily basis is even more critical, Malone says. The way you dress, the way you speak to customers and employees and the attention you pay to the quality of your work are the most powerful ways you communicate what is unique and special about your organization and yourself.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-create-an-effective-personal-brand">Create an Effective Personal Brand</h2>



The value of investing in personal branding is priceless. By showcasing your unique story, values and skill set, you will learn <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/brand-strategy-principles/">how to brand yourself as an expert</a> and reach your career goals. Don’t delay. Now is the best time to take the first steps toward defining or refining your own brand identity.



Photo from iStock.com

Sandi Schwartz

Building a personal brand has never been easier. Use these self-branding tips to stand out in today's competitive market.

The idea of a personal brand in marketing is nothing new. Taylor Swift. Orville Redenbacher. Oprah Winfrey. These are all names that immediately evoke a | SUCCESS

Personal Branding 101: Learn How to Market Yourself &amp; Win Customers With These 6 Tips

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6 Personal Branding Tips to Win Customers in 2026 | SUCCESS

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Emma Johnson is a business journalist, gender-equality activist, and founder of the world's largest community of single moms, WealthySingleMommy.com. Emma and her best-selling book, The Kickass Single Mom, and her organization, Moms for Shared Parenting, have been featured in hundreds of national and international media outlets.

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Emma Johnson

advertising team brainstorming edgy humor campaign

On Monday mornings at the office, everyone is talking about the latest envelope-pushing Saturday Night Live skit. Invariably, the Super Bowl ad that gets the most buzz is the one that shocked and cracked you up.



Humor has always been a powerful force when used to entertain, educate and sell. But humor is especially important now—according to “<a href="https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/oracle-cx-happiness-research-study-2022-06-15/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Happiness Report</a>” co-authored by Oracle and Gretchen Rubin, 45% of respondents “have not <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/you-can-choose-happiness/">felt true happiness</a> for more than two years” and 78% said they would be “willing to pay a premium for true happiness.” Despite just over 90% of respondents having a preference for brands that are funny, however, responding business leaders said “only 20% of their brands’ offline ads (TV, billboards) and 18% of their online ads actively use humor.” Additionally, just “16% of business leaders said that their brands use humor to sell.”



Brands that know what’s good for them will not only use humor. They'll take a risk with messages that test the limits, says Ellis Verdi, president and co-founder of the DeVito/Verdi agency.



“Smaller businesses can’t afford not <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/fighting-above-your-companys-weight-class/">to take a risk</a>—the smaller you are, the more you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-stand-out-in-a-sea-of-the-same/">have to stand out</a>,” Verdi says. “The biggest impact you can have with a small budget is to reveal who you are and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-stand-out-from-the-competition/">what is unique about you</a>.” The essence of edgy advertising humor is that it makes people think, tells the truth and says what people are thinking. “The most powerful messages reveal truth,” Verdi says.



And the edgy part? Is that for every brand? “Unless you get a few letters of complaint, you have not done your job. The biggest waste of advertising money is when you get no reaction,” Verdi says. “Remember, just because someone is complaining doesn’t mean they’re not buying your service.”



<h2>Tips for creating an advertising campaign with edgy humor</h2>



When considering your own edgy advertising humor, reflect on these expert tips:



<ul><li>Push your own boundaries. Does the idea of sharing this message make you nervous? Freak you out a little? It should. “If you’re totally comfortable with it, it is too safe,” Verdi says. “It’s like the stock market: When it makes you nervous, you should buy.”</li><li>Show it to a few people. If they dig it, you’re definitely onto something.</li><li>Remember: Entrepreneurship is risky business. Taking on a risqué ad campaign is no more dicey than starting a business in the first place, Verdi points out. “You have an advantage in that you are close to decision-making and can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/mel-robbins-how-your-instincts-can-help-you-achieve-your-goals/">work from the gut</a>,” he says to small-business owners. “Large corporations often lose that edginess that connects with consumers.”</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-chamberlain-s-advertising-campaign-with-edgy-humor">Chamberlain's Advertising Campaign with Edgy Humor</h2>



Brian Chamberlain, Founder



Brand: <a href="https://www.chamberlainipd.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chamberlain</a>, a Burlington, Ontario, Canada-based architecture, construction and interior design firm.



Campaign: “Sleep with Chamberlain. Everyone else does.”



Result: Business in that division went up 10% over the prior year, with new contracts across Canada; Chamberlain also reconnected with old clients and received lots of positive feedback.



One of our big problems is that we only do so many projects each year, and many of our clients have been major hotel chains. They could go five years between new developments, so it was hard for us to stay connected with them.



The “Sleep with Chamberlain. Everybody else does.” campaign was designed by our in-house public relations head. We had a lot of internal resistance—design and construction are pretty serious businesses. There’s lots of money involved, and we didn’t want to appear frivolous. At that point, we had been in business for 33 years and had never used edgy advertising humor like that.



As soon as we decided to move forward, it proved to be a great concept—it never failed to get a chuckle. There is so much advertising out there, so much competition. This really grabbed people’s attention. They always remarked about the campaign—it was, by definition, remarkable.



It was the biggest advertising win for us in our history, so we planned to use edgy humor in other ways. For example, on every construction site, builders always post an information sign—usually something very straightforward—with notes about their safety standards. We started a new campaign that unabashedly stated, “Safety is Sexy.”



Humor won’t define us. What defines us is our creativity and design quality. We are involved in big projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But that doesn’t mean we can’t also use humor to attract people to our talents.



<h2>Repair.com's Edgy Ad Campaign</h2>



Sean Skelley, Former Senior Vice President



Brand: Repair.com, a former online service that connected consumers with home repair businesses in their area.



Campaign: A series of provocative photo-driven ads, most notably commenting on the revealing backside of a plumber at work.



Result: The edgy humor advertising campaign was key in beating growth goals and attracted complimentary calls.



The repair business is not exactly a glamorous one, and it actually has a lot of negative connotations. It is something that you worry about only when you have a problem. Plus, people associate home repairs with spending a lot of money and waiting a long time for someone to come to their home to fix whatever is broken. The industry has changed considerably from when you’d call retailers directly and they would send a repairman straight to your home.



To break through those assumptions and connect with the customer, we knew we had to use humor. The trick was to tap into what people were already thinking while still communicating our value.



Our agency pitched us dozens of ideas, and I was hesitant about the plumber’s crack campaign. I was worried it would offend people or that newspapers wouldn’t allow it. But to get to the root of our problems breaking into the market, I knew we had to be risky in some way.



Ultimately we went with the buttcrack imagery. On one hand it was simply funny—everyone made jokes about plumbers and their cleavage. It came up in everyday conversation. It was familiar and true. The ad drew the eye but also communicated the value of what we do: “They’re working hard and are unfortunately exposing this. But they are there to fix the problem.” It wasn’t merely a joke.



I’m very glad we went with the ad. It was a critical part of our campaign, which was a resounding success. We had people call after seeing our ads just to say they appreciated thoughtful marketing. A number of people called, even though they didn’t have a pressing repair need, just to learn more about our services—something which was remarkable in our industry.



As a startup, one of our biggest challenges was simply getting the word out about what we did to get people talking about us. This edgy advertising humor conveyed our message, and also got people to notice us.



This article was published in March 2014 and has been updated. Photo by OPOLJA/Shutterstock

Ads that are funny and shocking are the ones we remember most. If you aren't you using edgy advertising humor, here's how to get started.

Ads that are funny and shocking are the ones we remember most. If you aren't you using edgy advertising humor, here's how to get started. | SUCCESS

How To Crack Wise for Edgy Advertising

Edgy Advertising Humor: How to Use It Successfully | SUCCESS

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a diverse group of young people reading and telling stories

“There is a reason humans are so fascinated with stories,” says Nancy Duarte, author of<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470632011/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0470632011&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20"> </a><a href="https://amzn.to/3yWINz0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DataStory: Explain Data and Inspire Action Through Story</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3MMhRr6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Illuminate: Ignite Change Through Speeches, Stories, Ceremonies, and Symbols</a>. “People are interested in transformation, and in a well-told story; they see themselves in that story.” According to Duarte, the classic <a href="https://www.duarte.com/presentation-skills-resources/move-presentation-audience-with-story-techniques-in-presentations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">three-part story structure</a> is:



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Set up the hero—a likable, but flawed, individual—and the challenge they must face.</li>



<li>The hero faces difficulty, which they work to overcome.</li>



<li>The hero emerges, transformed.</li>
</ol>



“When we see <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-ways-to-turn-obstacles-into-opportunities/">people overcoming roadblocks</a>, it gives us hope, and that creates an emotional connection,” Duarte says. Applied to business, this means we want to support entrepreneurs whom we identify as those heroes, or products that help its customers be that hero. If two products are equal in value with the same benefits and outcome, we will choose the product that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-connect-with-a-large-audience-without-sacrificing-authenticity/">we connect to emotionally</a> every time. “But to get there, you have to tell a human story that connects your story to a higher purpose,” Duarte says. “Don’t talk about making stuff just to make stuff. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/brand-storytelling-guide-7-ways-to-make-your-brand-pop/">Tell a story about products</a> that make the soul sing or make the world a better place.”



This simple story structure can be applied powerfully to any facet of your business, says Peter Guber, Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and author of<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307587959/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0307587959&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20"> </a><a href="https://amzn.to/3DgoI9p" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story</a>. Position your employees as the hero of the company story to achieve goals, identify vendors and partners as the hero to bolster synergies, or find ways to insert the customer into the role of hero or heroine.







Guber points to Under Armour, the athletic wear maker that capitalized on an untapped mass market for performance apparel by positioning the customer as the star of their own story. “They asked customers: ‘What do you want to be? A great dancer, a terrific yoga practitioner, a successful golfer? This product will help you be the hero of your own narrative,’” says Guber. “The product became a supporting player in the customer’s vision statement.”



To find and cultivate powerful stories, listen to what your customers and employees are talking about, says Paul Smith, author of<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0814420303/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0814420303&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=sm0fe-20"> </a><a href="https://amzn.to/3goDLEV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell</a>.



Smith says his heart broke a little to learn the story of a Pizza Hut in Springdale, Arkansas. One evening after the store closed, a woman came in and asked the employee for a meatball sandwich. Upon being told the restaurant didn’t offer such a meal, she explained that her husband was in stage four cancer and had lost his appetite—except that he now craved a meatball sandwich. The employee improvised with a meatball from the spaghetti, pizza sauce and garlic bread and charged a reasonable price.



The next day the woman called the store to say her husband had passed away after eating the sandwich and that “there wasn’t much she could do to give him comfort, but that he ate and loved the sub, and it gave her solace to provide what would be her husband’s last meal.”



What saddens Smith is that this story was never shared outside the company. “A fabulous story like that shows what <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-ways-to-thrill-your-customers/">great customer service</a> looks like, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-power-of-storytelling-in-business/">it could be used</a> for all kinds of reputation-building,” he says. “Businesspeople think these emotional stories are inappropriate in the workplace. But if people are talking about it, it means it’s a good story. And if it’s a good story inside the company, it’s a good story outside the company.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-studies">Case Studies</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Trupanion: Making insurance cuddly</h3>



“Insurance is an unemotional product at the end of day. It’s two pieces of paper and a staple,” said Anne Tomsic, who previously served as vice president of communication for pet insurer Trupanion. “In order for our people to share it effectively, we have to be able to bring it to life.”



In the year after Tomsic was hired (she is currently the co-founder and CEO of Preventative Vet), Trupanion produced several real-life video stories. Featured on the company YouTube channel, these videos tell heart-wrenching stories of how the pet insurance helped people pay for lifesaving procedures for their pets.&nbsp;



While certainly compelling to pet owners, showing these videos to veterinarians—gatekeepers of whether pet insurance is accepted or recommended at their practice—garnered the most success for the company. “We [heard] stories from our sales team in the field that veterinarians [said], ‘It’s not my responsibility to promote pet insurance,’” Tomsic said. “But after watching the video, they [asked] for more information and often [changed] their minds.”



In addition to being shown at industry events and trade shows, these customer story videos were emailed to new customers upon buying the insurance. “People [emailed] right back and [said], ‘Wow, we made the right choice,’” Tomsic said.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kona Ice: Story time for franchisees</h3>



Tony Lamb loves telling the story of how he was inspired to start Kona Ice, the gourmet ice cream truck franchise he launched in 2007. As the story goes, Lamb, his wife and four kids had just moved into their new suburban home and were in the backyard when they heard an ice cream truck’s jingle. “Even though my kids had never heard that sound, they instinctively knew what it was,” Lamb said. The family came to the front yard to greet the vendor and encountered a less-than-appetizing sight: “A 1972 Chevy converted van rolls around with smoke bellowing out, and the guy driving is a total derelict smoking a cigarette,” Lamb said, laughing. “My daughter literally screamed in horror before she managed to order her Popsicle.”



Lamb has a gregarious, funny way of telling the story that makes any listener chuckle, and nearly everyone hearing his story can relate. By starting Kona Ice in 2007, Lamb wanted to capitalize on the familiarity of that ice cream truck jingle and to create a new, positive and family-friendly image associated with the ice cream truck experience. This story and information about how-to seminars are posted on the company website, accessible by password, to engage and educate interested and committed Kona Ice truck owners. People relate to Lamb, and that makes his job selling franchises that much easier. “People are always telling me how much they can relate to that story, and they are often surprised to find me to be such an approachable guy,” he said. “In no way do I come off as this mega-guru.”



This low-key approach is consistent with Kona Ice’s franchise model, which requires a $20,000 franchise fee and a fixed rate of royalty fees depending on the number of years you work as a franchisee. “That is the kind of business we like to run, and it works,” Lamb says. The company currently has over 1,000 franchises in 48 states.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Greensations: People trust a tale of failure</h3>



Wayne Perry has parlayed the failure of a past business into the success of a current one. In 2003, with just $350, Perry invented Sinus Buster, which he says was the first hot-pepper nasal spray intended as a headache reliever. The product received shout-outs from Oprah Winfrey, Howard Stern and other media luminaries. When major chains including Walgreens, CVS and Walmart took notice, he signed on with a venture capital firm to expand the company in 2008. But the deal quickly soured as the new owners changed Perry’s invention and shut him out of decision-making. Stock prices fell, Perry says.



That is the bad news. The good news is that the bad news has been an enormous boost to his current company, Greensations, which he launched in 2010. The company produces natural healthcare products like Sinus Plumber pepper and horseradish spray and Wrinkle Butter, a wrinkle cream made using earthworm castings.&nbsp;



And while the natural, USA-made products seem to be a hit with bloggers and customers who try them, it’s often Perry’s backstory of innovation, self-made success, failure and redemption that attracts the attention of trade press and retailers. “We [used] our backstory to gain the trust of retailers who rely on prior sales results,” Perry said. “For a new company, you don’t have a proven sales record, but having a founder who actually built a national brand [got] our foot in the door.”



Perry’s story is broadcast via social media communications and by bloggers who are invited to try and review his products. Consumers love the story, too. After posting a picture of himself and a blurb about Sinus Buster at the bottom of Greensations’ homepage, bounce rates from the site dropped by 50%, Perry said.&nbsp;



This article was published in April 2013 and has been updated. Photo by Rawpixel.com/shutterstock.com

"There is a reason humans are so fascinated with stories," says Nancy Duarte. “People are interested in transformation, and in a well-told story; they see themselves in that story.”

"There is a reason humans are so fascinated with stories," says Nancy Duarte. “People are interested in transformation, and in a well-told story; they see themselves in that story.” | SUCCESS

Once Upon a Time in Marketing: The Power of Storytelling

Once Upon a Time in Marketing: The Power of Storytelling | SUCCESS

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Relationships

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Your parents told you to forgive, and most religions encourage forgiveness. Plus, it’s just a nice thing to do, right?

People who genuinely forgive <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7528379/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tend to be happier</a> and potentially even healthier, science suggests. For example, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6992518/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 2019 study</a> published in Psychology &amp; Health found that forgiving others aided in achieving better sleep, which, in turn, has the <a href="https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/benefits-of-sleep" target="_blank" rel="noopener">potential to improve health</a>. 

So, how do you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-importance-of-self-forgiveness/">go about forgiving</a>—especially if you have tried, but still dwell on past hurts?

Robert Enright, professor of educational psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a leader in forgiveness research, and is co-founder of the International Forgiveness Institute. In one of his books on the subject, <a href="https://amzn.to/3VDkUGe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forgiveness is a Choice</a>, Enright breaks down forgiveness into five steps:
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Admit you’ve been treated unfairly.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Express your anger.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Recognize the wrongdoer is a person who is more than the offense at hand.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Accept that your pain may never go away completely.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Find meaning in the experience and grow from it.</li>
</ol>
But forgiveness is not for everyone, argues psychologist Janis Abrahms Spring, author of<a href="https://amzn.to/3gq99D6" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> How Can I Forgive You?</a>

“Traditionally, we’re taught that forgiveness is good for us, and good people forgive,” Spring says. “But a lot of people gag on the notion that they should forgive when the other person is not sorry or [is] unwilling to make amends. Then, the only option is not forgiving, and that is not healthy either. The hurt person is left dwelling on how he or she was wronged, and that will make you sick.”

When forgiving seems too generous but you recognize you must move on, Spring suggests taking these steps:
<ul>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Let go of your preoccupation with the slight. Move on.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">If you find yourself ruminating over the painful event, pause and say aloud: “Stop!” <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-have-to-take-control-of-your-thoughts/">Redirect your thoughts</a> to something pleasurable.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Don’t make it all about you. “When someone feels wronged, they often feel shame and shattered,” Spring says. But sometimes insensitive behavior stems from the other person’s own hurt, life challenges or a misunderstanding.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Protect yourself from further hurt. “Decide what level of relationship makes sense with this other person so you are no longer in harm’s way,” Spring says. Cutting yourself off entirely is rarely the healthiest option. Instead, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/setting-healthy-boundaries-3-simple-steps-to-establishing-boundaries-that-stick/">establish boundaries</a> that will protect you from repeat offenses.</li>
</ul>
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<h5 class="BODY"><img class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__32168 img__view_mode__default alignright" style="width: 20%; margin: 4px; float: left;" title="How To: Forgive Others (and Yourself)" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/howto_donnajohuffman.jpg" alt="How To: Forgive Others (and Yourself)" />Donna Jo Huffman 
52; Chicago</h5>
I was only 19 years old when my boyfriend of over four years committed suicide. We had been broken up less than a year at the time. He always told me that if we were not together, it would end his life. It took me five years to finally come to terms with the shock, loss and guilt. First I blamed myself for his suicide. Then I blamed him for making me live with guilt. I finally realized I needed to forgive. I came to understand that he struggled with bipolar disorder, and suffered drug and alcohol dependency issues—neither of which I could control—that ultimately contributed to his death. Eventually, I forgave myself for not helping him more, and I forgave my boyfriend for taking his life. Once I was able to do this, I felt so free! Not long after, I <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/this-is-the-secret-to-a-healthy-relationship/">found a healthy relationship</a> and happiness, something that never would have happened if I had not dealt with past hurt.
<h5 class="BODY"><img class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__32169 img__view_mode__default" style="width: 20%; margin: 4px; float: left;" title="How To: Forgive Others (and Yourself)" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/howto_ricklauber.jpg" alt="How To: Forgive Others (and Yourself)" />Rick Lauber
54; Edmonton, Alberta</h5>
My father and I were never emotionally close. I didn’t catch a glimpse of him as a man until later in life when he was stricken with Alzheimer’s disease. He faced his own struggles growing up—he didn’t have a father figure, as his own dad passed away when he was very young. I also learned he had very gentle and kind ways. Dad has since died and I still have regrets for not truly knowing him. I have been able to forgive, accept and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-i-use-my-journal-to-change-my-mindset/">move on in my own life</a> through writing. I have written many articles about caregiving and senior issues, as well as two guidebooks for caregivers. Helping others has been my own way of dealing with never really knowing my father.
<h5 class="BODY"><img class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__32170 img__view_mode__default" style="width: 20%; margin: 4px; float: left;" title="How To: Forgive Others (and Yourself)" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/howto_lindaruescher.jpg" alt="How To: Forgive Others (and Yourself)" />Linda Ruescher
64; Tampa, Florida</h5>
I was on disability for four years because of systemic lupus with organ failure. In 2003 I took a low-stress job at a church to build a music program for young people. I was so happy to get this job. The pastor trusted me to build an amazing program, and I fully expected to stay in this blissful situation until I retired. But that priest left the parish, and the new priest and I did not get along. Before long, he fired me. I was angry and hurt. I fantasized about going to the center and smashing display cases with a baseball bat. In fact, I bought a baseball bat, went to the parking lot of my condo, found a huge old live oak tree and whacked the crap out of it while screaming! Eventually I found a new position in teaching. But it required that I interact almost daily with the priest who fired me. I have no need to forgive. For me, the best approach is detachment and letting go of the past without conditions. This is how I have been able to move on.

This article appears in the <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-april-2016-kendra-scott.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">April 2016 issue</a> of SUCCESS magazine and has been updated. Photo by

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Science shows learning to forgive can make you happier and healthier.

Science shows learning to forgive can make you happier and healthier. | SUCCESS

How to Forgive

How to Forgive | SUCCESS

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Happy young entrepreneur in front of cafe

Brett Surbey

Choosing the right business name matters. Discover our step-by-step guide on naming your business—no matter your niche.

Learn how to come up with a business name today. Read our simple how-to guide filled with actionable advice and tips. | SUCCESS

How to Think of a Business Name (Our Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Think of a Business Name (Our Step-by-Step Guide) | SUCCESS

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The formula for a successful <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/celebrity-brand-partnerships/">strategic partnership</a> may seem easy: 1 + 1 = 3. Indeed, partnerships are a proven way to boost the bottom line. An online survey <a href="https://go.impact.com/rs/280-XQP-994/images/PDFdownload-PC-AW-InvestinPartnerships.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conducted by Forrester Consulting</a> in 2019 found that 49% of respondents saw revenue boosted by partnerships and 77% of respondents saw “partnership development as central to their 2019 sales and marketing strategy.” 



But creating effective alliances is not always so easy. Partnerships gone wrong can lead to frustration, financial losses and even litigation, says David Gage, co-founder of business mediation firm BMC Associates and author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3LwFFxb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Partnership Charter: How To Start Out Right With Your New Business Partnership (or Fix The One You're In)</a>. “People like to quote Don Corleone from The Godfather, when he says, ‘It’s business, not personal,’” Gage says. “But everything with partnership is both personal and business.” It’s important to pay attention to the business matters at hand along with their legal aspects and personalities, he adds.



Consider these steps before creating a strategic alliance with a partner:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Assess all aspects of your business and identify <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-scale-your-business-a-guide-for-new-entrepreneurs/">areas of growth potential</a>.</li>



<li>Figure out what you do best—and where you need help. Partners should complement each other, says Denise Rodriguez-Lopez, a former n American Express OPEN Advisor, who consulted small businesses on partnerships. “The goal is to increase capability—whether through offering new products or services, expanding in capacity or geographically, or cross-promoting,” she says.</li>



<li>Make sure the two entities easily fit together to better serve the customer. “There needs to be obvious synergies,” Rodriguez-Lopez says. “It is not illegal for an information technology firm and a janitorial services company to form a partnership, but how many opportunities will that create?”</li>



<li>Vet the potential partner to make sure they have solid finances and a track record as a reliable and <a href="https://www.redlands.edu/study/schools-and-centers/business/sbblog/2019/may-2019/3-reasons-why-business-ethics-important/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ethical business</a>. “Make it explicit that you want to learn everything you can about them in short order,” Gage says. “Then call up past business partners, employers and employees.”</li>



<li>Does the organization <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-difference-between-vision-mission-strategy-and-core-values/">share your values</a>?</li>



<li>After doing your homework, go with your gut, Rodriguez-Lopez says.</li>



<li>Get it in writing.</li>
</ul>



Strategic partners’ written agreements should cover these points:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Who does what? Be specific.</li>



<li>Who will be the client point-of-contact? “Clients need to know who they will be dealing with,” Rodriguez-Lopez says.</li>



<li>If money will change hands, a system needs to be defined.</li>



<li>Create policy for the event that a new innovation stems from the partnership. Who will own this <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/intellectual_property" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">intellectual property</a>?</li>



<li>Establish a trial period for the arrangement with defined check-in dates.</li>



<li>Create a mediation plan or a strategy to dissolve the partnership in the event the arrangement goes south.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-jennifer-schaus">Jennifer Schaus</h2>



Principal Company: Jennifer Schaus &amp; Associates, a government contract consulting network Strategic partnership philosophy: Align consultants with different specialties to better serve clients and boost everyone’s bottom line. Proof it works: Schaus’s profits grew by 15% from 2011 to 2012 as a result of her partnerships.



When I started as a government contract consultant in 2005, I would accept all kinds of consulting: sales and marketing, certification, business development and contracts. I could do all this work, but I found that my focus and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-best-time-management-strategies/">time management</a> suffered since each government agency worked in a different way, and each kind of consulting required different skills. I realized it made more sense to focus on one aspect of this industry, but I still wanted to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-makes-good-customer-service/">service all of my clients’ needs</a>.



Over the past four years I’ve created an alliance of 16 government contractors with a range of specialties so I can focus on my expertise, which is consulting work for government contract paperwork. When a client comes to me and asks for a service outside my area of focus, I refer them to one of my partners, with whom I have a pre-negotiated referral fee. Sometimes I sign a contract that requires I hire another consultant in addition to the work I provide, and I pay that partner as a 1099 employee. I make a profit on the partner’s services by marking it up. In 2012 I passed along between 35 and 40% of the work that came my way.



My partners are people I meet through networking events or through the contracting community in Washington, which is small enough that you can ask around and vet the quality of their work. We do have written agreements, but these are people I know and trust, people I have lunch with regularly, and our agreements are in the spirit of “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.” Their profiles are featured on my company website. The benefit to me is that I am much happier and I use my energy much more wisely since I am focused on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/13-practical-ways-to-find-joy-in-your-work/">work that I enjoy</a> the most. I better service clients since I don’t have to turn them away. Instead, when they ask for services that I otherwise would not be able to provide, I can say “yes” and make money off them.



I could have created a business in which I had employees and was involved in managing the process, but I never wanted to do that. This allows me to be involved with customers while doing my own thing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mike-kilchenstein">Mike Kilchenstein</h2>



Founder, CEO Company: RAMP Sports, a ski and snowboard manufacturer Strategic partnership philosophy: The seasonal sporting goods company found a product to sell in its off-season. Proof it works: Close to meeting sales goals in the program’s first year.



In the ski business, sales are typically 100% during the winter high season and 0% during the low season. Another major downside in this business is that during the off-season you have to lay off your technical reps who provide product demonstrations and are a critical part of the sales process. This means that many excellent reps often don’t come back the next season, which is a real pain.



To bridge this seasonal gap we decided to partner with a paddleboard company, which has its boom in spring and summer. Stand-up paddleboards are experiencing explosive growth, and there is an inherent overlap in the consumer base of these two sports. When I set out to find a paddleboard partner, I was looking for a company that shared my company’s values. These include having a green aspect to the company, as our products are made of bamboo and green resin; we have a recycling program for old skis, buy carbon offset with each purchase and ship products in reusable bags instead of cardboard. We also wanted to work with a company that offered interesting technology—one of our features is skis designed for users of various sizes and abilities. Additionally, we had to find a partner willing to work within our direct-to-customer retail model, which was not easy to do.



At a national outdoor retail show I talked to dozens of paddleboard companies, and C4 Waterman was the best fit. Its technology is different from anything else on the market, with paddleboards that are inflatable and easily transportable while most other paddleboards are made of fiberglass and have to be carried on a car rack. They ascribe to four business values—balance, endurance, strength and tradition—which speaks to the kind of organization it is. C4 also utilizes sustainable practices, including the use of bamboo.



A critical component of our partnership was C4’s willingness to think outside its box. This included selling products directly online, which they had not yet done. We agreed to sell C4’s product for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and cross-promote the two companies’ products by discounting our goods. With each paddleboard purchase, our customers could buy a pair of RAMP skis at a discount price of $149 or a snowboard for $99. That was a huge incentive for a product category that is normally not discounted. Our goal was to have 25% of our sales come from paddleboards, and we were projected to hit 20% in 2012.



In addition to moving more of their product, C4 benefited from exposure through my company’s tech rep demonstrations at the Park City, Utah, reservoirs and through our marketing efforts, which focused on major events such as the Bonnaroo music festival, Dave Matthews concerts and ESPN’s summer X Games.



C4 and I had a written agreement, but we didn’t get attorneys involved in writing it. It was more of a handshake agreement, and we both respected what the other was trying to accomplish. We asked C4 to donate prizes for contests, which is something they normally don’t do. But they immediately agreed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-david-st-james">David St. James</h2>



Director of commercial sales Company: 1-800-GOT-JUNK, junk removal service Strategic partnership philosophy: Create alliances that generate wins for the partner, the company and the customer. Proof it works: Three to 5% of revenue was generated by alliances in 2012, a revenue stream that grows at double to triple the rate of other businesses.



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-pick-a-business-partner/">Strategic partnerships</a> are so critical to our success that we have an eight-person National Accounts and Strategic Alliances department. We currently partner with about 7 commercial businesses. About half the time, we pick up the phone and call companies we think will make good partners, and the other half of the time they approach us. We look to work with companies that are world-class in their category, as 1-800-GOT-JUNK is the biggest company in its category. They should be transparent and open when working with us. We also look for agreements that can benefit everyone in the short and long terms.



But the main criterion is that their customers have an inherent need for junk removal. For example, long-term partners include:



RE/MAX and Century 21, as people selling their homes often need junk removal to better stage their homes, and those relocating usually need to get rid of unused items. Those customers get a discount on our services, the agents passing along the discount are able to offer their clients a broader suite of services and we <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/brand-storytelling-guide-7-ways-to-make-your-brand-pop/">benefit from marketing</a> and advertising. Win-win-win.



Another example is AAA, with whom we partner to host e-waste events at AAA retail locations, where people can drop off their unwanted electronics, which we recycle in a green way. No money changes hands, but both AAA and 1-800-GOT-JUNK gain increased exposure at an event that benefits the environment and the community.



At the onset of a partnership, we create a written agreement that includes a timeline of activities and quarterly check-ins. These tend to be very, very simple plans, and at each check-in we evaluate what is working and what we can improve. We don’t put an end date on these plans; we see it as a friendship for life.



An example of a relationship that succeeded after a tweak was our agreement with the mini-storage company PODS. Initially, we joined forces on some web and national direct marketing campaigns, which produced minimal results. As we are both franchise organizations, we moved the partnerships to a local level—local 1-800-GOT-JUNK franchisees partnered with local PODS franchisees on trade show efforts and joint direct mail campaigns. That proved to be a great symbiotic relationship.



These alliances are very important to our business because they generate a lot of repeat business and a greater frequency of use than with other sources of new business.



This article was published in October 2012 and has been updated. Photo by&nbsp;ChickenStock Images/Shutterstock

Partnerships are a proven way to boost the bottom line. But creating effective alliances is not always so easy. Partnerships gone wrong can lead to frustration, financial losses and even litigation.

Partnerships are a proven way to boost the bottom line. But creating effective alliances is not always so easy. Partnerships gone wrong can lead to frustration, financial losses and even litigation. | SUCCESS

How to Create Strategic Partnerships

How to Create Strategic Partnerships | SUCCESS

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How to Partner with a Rival for a Win-Win

Collaboration is one thing, but <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-reasons-community-over-competition-is-good-for-business/">collaborating with your competition</a>?



“Instead of just going head-to-head as foaming-at-the-mouth competitors, think of ways you can partner,” says Josh Linkner, four-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author and keynote speaker. “There are countless opportunities to partner with people or businesses you previously considered your competition.”



Linkner runs a mastermind group for keynote speakers who support one another with best practices and referrals. “The tips I share with these other speakers could mean I lose engagements to [them],” he says. “But I would rather that we grow together as competitors, elevating one another and our industry, than to lose to others in the marketplace.”



To brainstorm ways to align yourself with competitors, consider these strategies:



<ol><li>Share resources. It can make sense to share technology for greater gains in the market overall. Dell, HP and Emerson agreed to use Intel processors in their respective laptops and tablets. This helped to create an industry standard, improve online security and collectively gain market share against Apple’s iOS. In the early 1990s, KLM and Northwest Airlines were the first in the industry to share routes and create joint-operated flights to fill more seats and boost profitability. The rest of the industry has followed this model.</li><li>Join forces to beat the big guys. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/09/16/how-to-leverage-competitors-to-grow-your-business/?sh=45f0428a4dea" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Small businesses can leverage a partnership</a> to compete with a big competitor. Consider coming together to buy inventory or vendor services in bulk. Blue Moon Fair Trade partners with three other fair-trade retailers to combine trans-Pacific shipments, saving all of them up to 40% in shipping and paperwork expenses.</li><li>Team up to attract the big guys. You can also <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/2-important-rules-for-attracting-wealthy-clients/">attract big clients</a> by collaborating with competitors. Joseph Marshall, president of Signal 88 Security, partnered with similar local competitors to submit a joint proposal to provide security services for the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.</li><li>Improve visibility. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-tips-for-learning-to-sell-beyond-your-comfort-zone/">Think trade shows</a>, which showcase multiple competing brands. The New York International Auto Show features vehicles from dozens of manufacturers—all of which view the event as a worthwhile opportunity to promote their latest models to more media and potential customers than independent efforts could net.</li><li>Elevate best practices. By collaborating with other <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-things-successful-entrepreneurs-have-in-common/">successful entrepreneurs</a> you respect, you establish industry standards and position yourselves as thought leaders. Look to the creation of a trade association or conference, or sponsoring an independent research report on your industry. All of these serve to bring positive media and customer and colleague attention to those leading the efforts.</li><li>Cross-refer. Physicians do this all the time. A specialist will refer patients requiring specific care to a partner who provides that care, and vice versa. Identify a service your clients often need and a similar business specializing in that complementary service or product. Reach out to them with a proposal detailing how you can support each other, but first, establish why your idea is a win-win for both companies. “Focus on articulating the why of your ask to disarm them,” Linkner says. “Don’t just call up and focus on tactics.”</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-julie-kearns">Julie Kearns</h2>



Founder and owner Business: <a href="https://shopjunket.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Junket: Tossed &amp; Found</a>, an online vintage boutique Alliance: Kearns joined forces with other vintage retailers in a single commercial corridor, ultimately attracting city support, media attention and foot traffic. Results: As of 2018, there were 11 retailers within Minnehaha Mile proper.



In 2013, I <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-start-a-business-in-a-day/">opened my retail store</a> in a blighted commercial corridor. There was one other vintage retail store in the area, and it was open two weekends per month. I approached them and asked if they would like to coordinate similar hours. They were open to collaborating.



Soon after, two more resale stores opened in the same district, and they also got on board with our hours. Since the stores are all several blocks apart, we each made an effort to verbally refer our customers to the other retailers. Then, six months later, we all sat down and agreed to formally organize ourselves into a shopping district, which we call Minnehaha Mile.



The antique and resale industry is notoriously catty and competitive. I didn’t want my business to be like that. Resale shops do not inherently compete with each other—we all offer something different. What we sell is not a commodity. There are other vintage stores scattered throughout Minneapolis. But by banding together, the Minnehaha Mile retailers created an actual shopping district and attracted more customers than we could individually.



Through this we applied for and received a $3,000 grant from a city business association, which we used for branding efforts. This drew media attention and visibility, as well as other retailers, to the city. Together we created a map of our district showcasing all the retailers. We meet twice monthly to plan events. For example, we partnered with a local animal shelter, in which we showcased senior—“vintage”—dogs up for adoption, fitting in with our mission to support vintage goods. We’ve also coordinated with upcoming road construction in the middle of our district. A café in the district donates the use of a room so we can meet.



If we had not collaborated in this way, none of us would have gotten anywhere. Joining forces is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/06/30/joining-forces-three-things-to-consider-when-partnering-for-success/?sh=687bb9ce598a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">what made us successful</a>.



<h3 id="h-daniel-digriz">Daniel DiGriz</h3>



Principal Business: <a href="https://madpipe.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MadPipe</a>, a digital marketing strategist in Brooklyn, New York Alliance: MadPipe and Think Work Media cross-refer to each other’s clients and co-created a marketing course aimed at educating potential customers and establishing thought leadership for their industry. Results: Co-created a course for potential clients and identified opportunities for cross-referrals.



Think Work Media head Shayne Spencer and I met in a networking group, and quickly realized that we both wanted to raise the bar for our industry. In the digital marketing business, there are a lot of vendors who call themselves “strategists,” which often means they have control of an organization’s marketing budget and allocate those resources to buy services offered by their own agencies. When that happens, everyone in the industry is considered a competitor. What also often happens is vendors use a lot of jargon to convince businesses to spend lots of money without delivering a lot of value. That is not good for any of us.



The fundamental philosophy of what Shayne and I do is very different. Think Work Media is a marketing agency. That means they do everything, including strategy, web design, social media, email and online advertising marketing. I am only a strategist. Companies pay me for my brain only. I do not sell any additional services, and I sometimes advise clients to in-source marketing functions or to outsource. My advice is objective, much like a fee-only financial adviser who does not sell any investment products.



But Shayne and I realized we share similar values, and both of us want to position ourselves as thought leaders and work together to educate businesses on how to get the most value out of marketing vendors.



We joined forces and offered an eight-week <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/anyone-can-learn-sales-heres-where-to-start/">marketing course for business owners</a>. Priced at $650 and limited to 12 entrepreneurs, we capitalized on each other’s strengths; I led the sections on social media strategy, while Shayne <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-elements-of-a-great-e-commerce-website/">focused on web design</a> and analytics. We hoped to get clients out of the course, but it was not a hard sales pitch. The benefit was that we really were educating the client base to make enlightened purchasing decisions in our industry, which only stands to raise the bar for everyone.



Creating the coursework was invaluable. It forced us to hone our ideas and messaging, and clarify who our real competitors are. Putting down our egos made us realize ways we can collaborate. Shayne brings me in as a strategist on his projects when I would add the most value, and when it makes sense for one of my clients to outsource, I refer them to Think Work Media.



<h2 id="h-melody-healy">Melody Healy</h2>



Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Integration Officer Business: <a href="https://www.vsp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VSP</a>, vision care insurance Alliance: VSP extended its insurance coverage to Pearle Optical. Results: More people have better access to vision care, improving business for both partners.



VSP and Luxottica, the parent company of Pearle, compete across the supply chain—both companies have vision insurance and eyeglass manufacturing. But we view competition differently than even a few years ago. Today our competitor is the marketplace—an increasingly younger customer who wants easier access to vision care options, and the Internet, which provides lots of low-cost eyewear options.



Ultimately both companies share the same mission, which is to help more people to see better. Traditionally, VSP has partnered with local independent doctors. But we found that millennials demand easier access to eye care services and more choices. Employers demanded more eye care options for their employees. We needed to modernize how we did business to meet those demands.



We realized we could grow each other’s share of the business by entering into a partnership. So we extended our insurance coverage to Pearle Vision EyeCare Centers.



Pearle was the obvious partner. It has an established online retail model, and each location is an independently owned franchise. This keeps within VSP’s tradition of representing 30,000 independent eye care professionals, and it promises to drive more customers to Pearle.



The partnership rollout began in November of 2014, and both partners have seen success. Pearle has tracked a number of new patients who had not received vision care before. In one case, a VSP customer was sent immediately to the emergency room when the Pearle Vision eye doctor identified a detached retina. This one instance alone validates the partnership, since it made vision care accessible to more people.



This article was published in April 2015 and has been updated. Photo by @DashaPetrenko/Twenty20

[node:summary] - 6 ways to join forces (and grow) with your competitors

Collaboration is one thing, but collaborating with your competition? To brainstorm ways to align yourself with competitors, consider these strategies: | SUCCESS

How to Partner with a Rival for a Win-Win | SUCCESS

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How To: Break Up with Your Business Partner

Breaking up is never easy. Whether in romance or business, parting ways is nearly always a little messy, even when both parties agree it’s for the best. When your company and livelihood are at stake, how do you keep the process fair, with minimal drama, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/maintaining-friendships-is-hard-heres-why-its-crucial-for-your-well-being/">preserve the friendship</a>?



The first step is to acknowledge that it’s emotional, says Melinda Emerson, consultant and author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3MCRSBT" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months</a>. “Breaking up with your business partner can be harder than breaking up with your man,” Emerson says. “But that doesn’t mean that you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/emotional-intelligence-at-work/">let your emotions guide you</a>. You cannot make business decisions based on emotion.”



Instead, be clear about your objective during the process. For some, that might be preserving the friendship. For others, it might be putting the health of the business first. If the goal is to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-sell-your-business-and-who-can-help/">sell the business at a profit</a>, for example, you cannot afford to be mired in anger with your co-founder. “You can partner with your most bitter enemy if you have to,” Emerson says. “You can’t be so angry you throw the baby out with the bathwater.”



Keep talking. Kathi Elster is co-founder of <a href="http://ksquaredenterprises.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">K Squared Enterprises</a>, which helps with workplace conflict, and co-author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3yEd5qM" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mean Girls at Work</a> and <a href="https://amzn.to/37S0OUJ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Working for You Isn’t Working for Me</a>. When clients call for help in dealing with business partners, “Almost every single time, there has been a communication breakdown, and no one is speaking to each other,” Elster says. In a typical first session with them, she has each person share his or her concerns while the other listens quietly. Participants are seldom able to accurately repeat what they’ve heard because their anger gets in the way.



To avoid this kind of interpersonal standstill, Elster suggests making it a priority to keep communication going. If things are heated, make an appointment to meet outside the office. The change of scenery will add a new, neutral dynamic to the conversation and limit the possibility of arguing in front of employees. “They will take sides, it will divide the company, and they will leave. You don’t want that,” she says.



Put your guns down. Simply lowering your voice—whether in decibels if you are communicating in person or in tone if using email or text—can make communication more civil. Listen to what the other person is saying, admit fault and be humble. “We’re all human, and this is a human relationship—there will always be conflict,” Elster says.



Call in outside help. Keep the accountant’s number on speed dial so that actual numbers rule in <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-strategies-for-working-through-difficult-emotions/">times of emotional upheaval</a>. If things get heated, sit down with an objective third party, whether a business mediator, therapist, business coach, your company’s certified public accountant or the counsel on retainer. Be careful about calling an outside lawyer, however, Emerson says. “Once you call a lawyer, the friendship is over.”&nbsp;



Be reasonable. If you have a business succession plan or other business contract, defer to those agreements. If you don’t, you must be willing to compromise. “The process of ending your partnership will be contentious unless you agree to compromise,” Elster says. Similarly, Emerson urges entrepreneurs to be guided by peace of mind—even if it means you end up with a little less money than you think you deserve. “The goal is to let go and move on as fast as possible,” Emerson says. “You cannot put monetary value on peace of mind.”&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-david-macvean">David MacVean</h2>



CEO Company: <a href="https://securisinvestments.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Security Investment Partners</a>, an investment management firm in San Diego Reason for Breakup: Disagreement over partner’s retirement date Winning Strategy: The partner eventually left with a clean break and joined another firm, keeping the friendship intact.



I worked with my partner since the 1980s at both a big bank and a small business. He is 25 years older, and he was my mentor early in my career. In 2005, I wanted to start my own firm and asked if he’d like to partner.



I made the mistake of assuming that within the next few years he’d be in his early 70s and ready to retire, which was part of my vision of eventually running the business alone. There were two problems with that scenario. One, we never discussed it, and two, when I brought up this plan three years ago, my partner made it clear he wasn’t ready to retire. I was surprised, but we continued on as effective partners for another year.



By then I was insistent that I wanted to run the business alone, and I rented a conference room for a meeting away from our office. I came with a long agenda, including terminal options for a buyout.



Again he made it clear he was not ready to retire and wouldn’t be until he turned 80, which was five years away. I suggested a buyout plan that would be completed by then. He insisted he didn’t want to change anything, although he did agree that, moving forward, I would draw a higher salary for my administrative duties and we wouldn’t share the management of our clients as we had in the past; any new clients would be solely under my management.



Finally, about six months ago, I made it clear I wanted a structured exit strategy, and he still insisted that he didn’t want to retire. Then a month later, he came to me and said that he had joined another firm, and his lawyer would send me an agreement that evening. I was dumbfounded. I was nervous because he sought outside counsel while we had an attorney on retainer. However, when I opened the email that evening I found that, just as he promised, the agreement was a two-page, plain-vanilla agreement that gave me 100% ownership of the company, although he would take the clients he managed. I was so relieved and grateful I called him right away and thanked him.



In the months that followed, we were very supportive of each other in tying up loose ends and finalizing the deal, including co-writing the letter we sent to clients announcing the end of the partnership. We continue to be very good friends and had a great partnership for 10 years.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-betty-brennan">Betty Brennan</h2>



President Company: <a href="https://taylorstudios.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taylor Studios</a>, an exhibit design and manufacturing company in Rantoul, Illinois. Reason for Breakup: After the principals divorced, their business partnership eventually became contentious. Winning Strategy: She gradually bought out her partner, and they agreed on a valuation and committed to being friends.



I started this company in 1991 with my husband, and we were 50-50 partners at the time. Our marriage ended about five years later, but we were still effective business partners and good friends.



Gradually we started to have conflicts over running the company and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-things-ive-learned-from-managing-entry-level-employees/">how to manage employees</a>, set deadlines and price projects. The business was growing quickly, and our roles and responsibilities changed frequently, with little framework for determining who had final say in various situations. Tensions mounted, and we would find ourselves outside the office—away from employees, so they couldn’t hear—yelling at one another in disagreement, even though we could hang out as friends after work.



We ran the company together for 10 years after our divorce. During that time, I gradually took over ownership by buying out portions of the company, with him ceding his shares. There had been so much contention in running the company together that the decision to end the partnership was relatively easy. By 2006 when we completed the buyout, he started another company that suited his interests and style, and Taylor Studios had grown into something that suited me more than it did him.



The last piece related to ending the partnership was agreeing on a valuation price. Neither of us wanted to spend the $10,000 it would have cost to have a professional valuation, so we sought out a couple of software tools that used different valuation methods, and we both had figures in mind that we thought were fair. In the end, all those figures were relatively close, and we agreed on a number in the middle.



The key was that we both wanted to end the partnership as well as preserve the friendship. Today I am in almost daily contact with him and his girlfriend, and we sit for each other’s dogs. Every once in a while, I will call him with questions about clients or past jobs, and we still talk business.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-christina-daves">Christina Daves</h2>



Former Co-Owner Company: Details for the Home, now Details: A Unique Gift Boutique, in Haymarket, Virginia Reason for Breakup: Personal considerations meant each partner needed a different career situation. Winning Strategy: They kept communication open and put the friendship first.



My best friend and neighbor opened a boutique with me in 2002, and for most of the nine years we owned it, it was fabulous. We were great partners in business and friendship—our kids went to the same schools, and we shared carpools. I spent more time with her than my husband.



But after eight or so years, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-prevent-burnout/">I was burned out</a>. Once I was with my son’s hockey team in Detroit and she called because all of our employees had called in sick, but there was no way for me to be there to help. My family life suffered because of the business. Once when my daughter was 8 years old, she asked, “Mom, why have we never baked Christmas cookies?” It was hard to have a retail business <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-balance-work-and-family-without-feeling-like-a-failure/">and also be a parent</a>, and I was starting to resent the business. I could tell my partner resented that I couldn’t always be there when she needed me.



Around this time, my partner was going through a divorce and needed a full-time income. The store was very successful but really generated only one full-time income, which we split.



One day she was discussing her options for supporting herself after her divorce, and I asked her, “Do you think you could survive if you bought me out?” She had been waiting for me to bring it up, and deep down I had been thinking of getting out. I was so afraid of losing our friendship or having to close the store. Both were so important to me. She said, “I can tell you have been unhappy for a long time.”



It was tense for a while, and talking about money is always hard. But we kept the conversation going and made compromises. We relied on our longtime accountant to work out the details, including the valuation and a buyout agreement. I agreed to a five year, no-interest buyout paid monthly. I knew the business’s books and how much she could afford. Again, it was about keeping both the store and the friendship alive. The business is still doing great, and we’re still best friends. She recently had a business challenge, and I was the first person she called for advice.



This article appears in the July 2015 issue of SUCCESS magazine and has been updated. Photo by @Olha_Tsiplyar/Twenty20

Breaking up with a business partner is never easy. When your company and livelihood are at stake, how do you keep the process fair, with minimal drama, and preserve the friendship?

Breaking up with a business partner is never easy. When your company and livelihood are at stake, how do you keep the process fair, with minimal drama, and preserve the friendship? | SUCCESS

How to Break Up with Your Business Partner

How to Break Up with Your Business Partner | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/How-to-Break-up-with-Your-Business-Partner.jpg

You don’t have a website just because everybody else does. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-launch-and-maintain-a-successful-e-commerce-business/">Your business’s online hub</a> should actively help you make money. It’s great to have people coming to visit you, but if they aren’t buying anything, what’s the point?



“When I ask small-business owners, ‘Is your website helping or hurting you?’ a lot don’t know the answer,” says Derek Halpern, founder of SocialTriggers.com and an online sales conversion expert. “That is a problem. People spend $10,000 to get a website up but don’t even know why they have it.”



One aspect of using your website to grow your business is a conversion system—a procedure for turning website visitors into paying customers—even if they don’t sell a product online. “If done well, a website can be your greatest sales tool, 24/7,” Halpern says.



According to Halpern, every business website should have these things:



Basic information: Of course you need to include your business’s name, contact information and an “About” page that makes it perfectly clear what you do and sell. Halpern was recently frustrated by his own dentist’s site, which did not have an office address.



Social proof: To <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-improve-your-client-relationships/">build rapport with new customers</a>, establish that you are trustworthy. Prominently display testimonials from happy customers, praise from experts in your industry, press mentions, social media followings (such as the number of Twitter followers) or awards.



An email sign-up form with a promise of something in return: This can be a discount code, free e-book or video related to your business, access to a free consultation or another giveaway. Not every business should <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/is-direct-selling-the-right-side-hustle-for-you/">sell directly online</a>, but every business website should at least generate sales leads. “Not all first-time visitors will trust you enough to buy from you right away,” Halpern says.



An <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-email-marketing/">email follow-up strategy</a>: Digital marketing expert Nathalie Lussier recommends at least a month’s worth of emails, paced every three to five days. These emails might first include thanks for signing up, then a welcome to your business, followed by relevant case studies, sales letters and promotional information. A weekly or monthly newsletter sent to your entire list is another excellent way to stay in touch with potential customers.



A way to track the effectiveness of your site: Lussier suggests the free tool <a href="http://analytics.google.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Analytics</a> to track the effectiveness of your opt-in efforts. “Keep trying new ways to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/customer-love-how-to-take-your-business-from-good-to-great/">connect with potential customers</a>, and test what works and what doesn’t,” Lussier says.



<h3 id="h-email-opt-in-ideas">Email Opt-In ideas</h3>



When deciding how to tempt potential customers to opt into your newsletter, find a reward “so good they can’t believe it is free,” says Lussier.



Offer something enticing while also<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-become-an-expert-with-a-capital-e"> </a>positioning yourself as an expert in your industry. Look for concrete, actionable information with a tangible benefit. Pop-up invitations to your newsletter have proved to increase opt-ins by 300%, Lussier says, but keep the number of fields the prospective client fills in to the absolute minimum—just a first name and email address if possible.



Here are seven ideas for opt-in success:



• E-guide: A wedding photographer might offer an article titled “What I Learned from Attending 105 Weddings.” Offering insights through this method speaks to your target audience while also showing your vast experience.



• Checklist: People love lists. A travel agent could suggest “Six Things You Must Do Before Traveling to Africa.”



• Insider info: A local pizza chain promises the recipe for its most popular sauce.



• Quiz: Help customers pinpoint their needs. A financial planner’s online tool asks, “Are you saving enough for retirement?”



• Webinar: A public relations consultant might offer access to a free 30-minute seminar on how to attract media attention.



• Resource guide: A dietitian provides a list of where to buy top supplements and nutritional products.



• Buyer’s guide: A real estate agent could give away a lesson on what every parent must ask before buying a home.



&nbsp;Jonathan Kaplan, M.D.



Plastic Surgeon



Business:<a href="https://www.pacificheightsplasticsurgery.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Pacific Heights Plastic Surgery</a> in San Francisco



Tactic: Improved pricing software in order to give potential clients a clearer idea of what they could expect to pay before consultations.



Results: The move increased consultation-to-procedure conversions and helped increase contact information to be used in later marketing efforts.



In many medical practices where patients pay out-of-pocket for elective procedures like plastic surgery and dermatology, the price of the service is a huge consideration. Often the interested patient has to make an appointment for a consultation just to learn the fee. This annoys the patient and takes up valuable time for the practice, because only a small portion of these people become paying patients.



It does not make sense to simply post a menu with static fees on your website: This is not information most physicians want to broadcast, and the pricing can be complex. For example, when two or more procedures are combined, the fee is usually less than if they are priced separately.



I created a program called BuildMyBod.com that offers a dynamic pricing system doctors can integrate on their websites. All procedures are listed, and the potential patient can create a “wish list” of procedures. To receive prices, people must submit their email and other contact information, which the physician can later use for marketing efforts.



In my practice, I have brought in $93,000 in new business thanks to this service. In the first year, 208 people created wish lists, and 36 booked consultations. Of those, a higher percentage followed through by booking procedures than before. That is huge, because each consultation that doesn’t result in a surgery represents 45 minutes of lost time.



This software’s success speaks to the importance of price transparency: People want to know the bottom line as they’re shopping around, whether it’s for a house, a car or a Brazilian butt lift.



<h3 id="h-gregg-weisstein">Gregg Weisstein</h3>



Co-Founder and COO



Business:<a href="https://www.bloomnation.com/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> BloomNation.com</a>, a platform for 2,500 local florists to sell their products online



Tactic: Adding a live chat function to each florist’s website



Results: Conversions increased 11-fold.



BloomNation.com is a marketplace for local florists which offers them website designs that are already highly optimized for conversions. Several years ago we tried something that none of our competitors had: a 24/7 live-chat box in the lower-right corner of the florists’ sites.



Customers really like their questions to be answered quickly, without having to get on the phone to call the florist or open a new browser tab to send an email. The best time to interact with the customers is when they’re already actively shopping.



The live-chat function also fits with our brand: We support artisan small businesses owned by members of the customers’ communities. While the customer chats with a service rep, they see a photo of that rep—a part of the BloomNation.com team—and often interact directly with the florists themselves.



We are constantly engaging in A/B testing to increase conversions. For example, we recently tested whether prices ending in a “9” actually convert better, and we found that it is indeed true. Improvement really is a never-ending process.



<h3 id="h-eddie-huang">Eddie Huang</h3>



Marketing Manager



Business:<a href="https://resumegenius.com/resume-builder"> Resume Genius</a> and<a href="https://resumecompanion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Resume Companion</a>, online résumé builders



Tactic: Testing every part of the sales funnels in an effort to increase conversions



Results: Sales increased 50% in less than one year.



We’re constantly doing A/B testing on all our site’s features: Like a scientific experiment, we show some users one page, and other users see something different. The goal is to obtain the visitor’s trust and improve engagement by finding the perfect colors, images and headlines to show that we can fulfill their needs.



In November 2013 we wanted to improve our bounce rate—the number of visitors who leave the site after viewing just one webpage. So we started A/B testing various homepage features. When we changed the featured image from screenshots of our software to images of a woman, bounce rates improved by 30% within the first six months. These results taught us the ugly truth: There was a difference between what we thought customers wanted and what they actually wanted.



After that we tested every part of our sales funnel. As a result we changed the call-to-action button from red to green, changed the headline to “Make a Résumé in Minutes,” and swapped the text on the call-to-action button from “Start Now” to “Write my Résumé Now.” We also made some changes to the product and checkout pages and added logos from known media outlets. Over eight months, conversion rates increased by 50%.



The lesson is to never try to educate your customers in an effort to change their minds. Instead, look to A/B testing to learn what customers want. Then listen.



This article was published in October 2014 and has been updated. Photo by&nbsp;CrispyPork/Shutterstock

Your business’s online hub should actively help you make money. It’s great to have people coming to visit you, but if they aren’t buying anything, what’s the point?

Your business’s online hub should actively help you make money. It’s great to have people coming to visit you, but if they aren’t buying anything, what’s the point? | SUCCESS

How to Boost Online Sales

How to Boost Online Sales | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/How-to-Boost-Online-Sales.jpg

Your people are your greatest asset. Yet many small-business owners do not have an interview strategy, which can lead to expensive hiring mistakes.



“The impact of a single small-business hire is drastically more important than in a big company,” says David Lewis, CEO of human resources consulting firm OperationsInc. “The difference between 1/25 of a staff being ineffective versus 1/200 is huge.” And the damage of a bad hire in a staff as small as five could be catastrophic.



Many business owners take the hiring process for granted. Interviewing job candidates is a fine skill that can and should be honed, says Claudio Fernández-Aráoz, a keynote speaker, business coach and the author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3NdQ6Xz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It's Not the How or the What but the Who: Succeed by Surrounding Yourself with the Best</a>. “Research shows that the best professional interviewers have an amazingly high predictive accuracy,” he says. “Effective interviewing is not an art or the result of an intuition or a gut feeling. It’s a craft and a discipline that can be learned and should be taught.”



<h2 id="h-here-are-the-essential-elements-of-a-successful-interview">Here are the essential elements of a successful interview:</h2>



<ul><li>Have a plan. Go into the interview with a goal. Are you looking to assess hard skills? Personality fit? Do a favor for the friend who referred their cousin? “Interviewing is time-consuming—and critical,” Lewis says. “Think through what you want to accomplish and what you will ask.”</li><li>Be objective. “The biggest mistake is allowing emotion to compromise the hire,” Lewis says. “If you already have a preconceived notion that the person is a great fit on paper or because physically they look like they came out of central casting, it can become love at first sight.”</li><li>Don’t be overly impressed by flashy résumés. “A typical mistake is to hire the guy who was successful with huge support from great colleagues, great systems, a great brand, great platforms and great clients,” Aráoz says. Instead, ask candidates how they would fit into a small organization. Present pointed questions about how they would handle specific situations central to the position for which you’re interviewing.</li><li>Ask questions specific to the job duties—or ask candidates to prove their skills. “You don’t hire a boiler technician by sitting across the table from them and looking at their résumé,” says Chuck Blakeman, founder of the small-business consulting firm Crankset Group and author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3Pdqs7f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Employees Are Always a Bad Idea</a>. “Instead, take them down to fix a broken boiler.” Need a marketing whiz? Ask them to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-email-marketing/">create a marketing plan</a> and write a news release for a product or project you sold years ago.</li><li>If you’re interviewing for a project manager to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-mental-techniques-to-improve-your-time-management/">work within a tight budget</a> on challenging deadlines, just ask: “Did you ever have to manage a project with a tight budget and a challenging deadline? What was the situation? What was your exact role? What did you do? What were the consequences?”</li><li>Hire for culture. “First you have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-find-the-right-company-culture-for-you/">define your culture</a>—otherwise in a small business the new hire will define it for you,” Blakeman says. Once you are sure the person is a skill fit, focus on personality and chemistry.</li><li>Take your time. The biggest mistake many small-business owners make is rushing through the hiring process, Blakeman says. Consider the time you spend hiring to be an investment in your greatest asset.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-kristin-looney">Kristin Looney</h2>



Co-Owner



Company: <a href="https://www.looneylabs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Looney Labs</a>, a games-maker based in College Park, Maryland



Technique: Schedule team interviews in which a joke is requested.



Results: Looney reports 100% hiring success.



When my husband and I started the company, our biggest mistake was hiring friends. It never worked out. Then six years ago we started working with a recruiter. She knows us really well and is excellent, always finding us a handful of very qualified people to interview.



A candidate’s first interview is with our three-person executive team. We spend a lot of time doing the talking—we’re an unusual company, very small, family-owned and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/15-tips-for-channeling-your-passion-into-execution/">passionate about our product</a>. We want to make sure potential hires understand what is required in the job and decide whether they feel they would be a good fit. If we sense they would fit into our team, we invite them back and send them away with three things: a personality test, one of our games and a plush flower—a fun tchotchke.



The second interview is with our entire eight-person team. By then the personality test results have been shared with our employees, who also know their own scores. That’s a conversation starter, but then each employee is encouraged to find out whether the candidate has the skills and personality needed to work with them. I like to find out if the candidates played the game they took home. The mood is really a casual free-for-all, designed to help the person let their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-key-behaviors-for-bringing-your-whole-self-to-work/">true personality show</a>.



And then, sometime into the hour-long period, my husband, Andrew, tells a joke. We see how the candidate reacts, and he asks the person to share their favorite joke. Some freeze. Some are quick.



No part of the process is a deal-breaker. Everything is designed to make sure they will fit in with us. After that final interview, the executive team takes input from everyone and makes the decision.



Several of our hires told us they really felt a sense of what it was like to work here before they accepted the job. And after the final interview, many candidates let us know that they really, really want to work with us.



Through this process, our hiring success has been 100%. Interviewing well is such a critical function of our business. We can’t afford a bad hire.



<h2 id="h-charles-ogwyn">Charles Ogwyn</h2>



Founder



Company: <a href="https://myinternetmarketingpartner.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Internet Marketing Partner</a>, a web design and marketing firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina



Technique: Interview candidates online through a skills assessment first, then weed out whiners.



Results: The company grew by 240% in the year following implementation.



In 2013 I had to let someone go after only six months on the job. It cost me a lot of time and money, and in hindsight, I realized that I didn’t test the person’s actual skills before hiring. I had hired on a gut feeling. Since then I created a structured system for finding and hiring the right candidates based on objective criteria.



Now, before they even come in to meet me, each potential hire has gone through a three-step vetting process. First I create a detailed job description and post it on various industry forums. Included are instructions to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/should-you-use-chatgpt-for-resumes/">send a résumé</a> to an email address with a specific subject line and to answer three simple questions—one of which is their hourly rate. With a quick glance at the subject line, I can disqualify a huge number of contenders for failure to follow directions. The salary question is also powerful—candidates with <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-true-confidence/">high confidence in their skills</a> are more likely to ask for a high rate and are more likely to deserve it.



I then email the remaining applicants a link to an online questionnaire with questions specific to the position. In 2013 I posted for a programmer, so those questions focused on coding language and identifying issues with a sample design. That batch is then narrowed to about 12 candidates who go through a third round of more granular questions related to the position.



Finally, I invite three candidates in to interview. By then I’m confident each is qualified, and I’m mainly looking for a personality fit. The meeting lasts from 30 to 50 minutes and I plan the questions ahead of time. I spend some time talking about how important our work is to our client's businesses, and therefore their lives. I look for how they respond, whether they present themselves professionally and if they have a good sense of humor about themselves. One question I always ask is: “What did you not like about your previous job?” If someone is a chronic whiner, this question opens a can of worms.



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/know-when-to-trust-your-instinct/">Gut instincts</a> still play a big role in the final hiring decision. But in the past year I have hired four people—bringing my total staff to five—and all have been hugely successful. This has completely changed my company, freeing me to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-skills-of-the-most-successful-salespeople/">focus on sales</a> while more than doubling business in only one year.



<h2 id="h-michael-talve">Michael Talve</h2>



Founder and Managing Director



Company: <a href="https://www.expertinstitute.com/about/our-story/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Expert Institute</a>, an online platform that refers professional firms to experts they need



Technique: Videoconference with potential hires, then invite standouts to a group interview.



Results: Turnover is at zero, growth has been huge and the team is happy.



One of the great perks of being a business owner is that I get to pick who is on my team. I’ve worked at companies in the past where there was a weak link, and that presented others with a major challenge.



When we start the vetting process, we sort through résumés for relevant experience and skills. One in 10 is asked to interview via videoconference. Not only does this save us time, but you can learn a lot about people in their own environment. They are more likely to be relaxed and show their true personalities. You can also tell about their professionalism and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/commit-to-constant-and-never-ending-improvement/">commitment to their work</a>: Once someone met us virtually from a sandwich shop wearing an old T-shirt and using a lousy internet connection. On the other hand, when candidates get dressed up and make sure they are in an attractive, quiet environment, I have a good sense of how they will <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-improve-your-client-relationships/">interact with clients</a>.



About one in 10 of the video interviews lead to an in-person sit-down where they meet with our entire team. I want to learn what the candidate’s personality is and their <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8248600/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">passions or work ethic</a>. Members of the team are encouraged to ask about hobbies, travel and working style.



I look for people invested in their careers who have something to prove—that sums up our whole team. I also want to see that they are genuinely caring and often ask, “Why do you work so hard?” I don’t want to hear that they just want to buy crap for themselves, but rather to make a good life for their families or give back to the community.



Finally, I get feedback from the whole team, and either I or the direct manager makes the final decision. Any doubts from the team are noted in a log and reviewed 100 days after the hire. The whole process takes about 50 hours. But the investment is worthwhile. Thanks to this system, we’ve had no turnover in the past two years and our revenue has more than doubled annually. Plus we’re having tons of fun.



This article was published in June 2014 and has been updated. Photo by&nbsp;@Irrmago/Twenty20

Your people are your greatest asset. Yet many small-business owners do not have an interview strategy, which can lead to expensive hiring mistakes.

Your people are your greatest asset. Yet many small-business owners do not have an interview strategy, which can lead to expensive hiring mistakes. | SUCCESS

How to Hire Well

How to Hire Well | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/How-to-Hire-Well.jpg

A business coach works with a client on business development goals

Young,Indian,Female,Mentor,Coach,Worker,Talking,To,Male,Coworker

Hiring a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/ai-gives-back-time-coaching-app/">business coach</a> used to be a luxury reserved for corporate executives. Today, it’s a common—and often game-changing—step for entrepreneurs, small-business owners and professionals looking to grow with intention. Working on how to find a business coach that fits can be highly beneficial. It can help you refine your strategy, strengthen your mindset and stay accountable as you scale.



But figuring out how to find the business coach that’s right for you can feel overwhelming. <a href="https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/business-coaching/1533/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Coaching is a billion-dollar industry</a> filled with different titles, specializations and philosophies. From executive business coaches to creative or spiritual ones, the choices can blur together fast. Additionally, with price tags ranging from $100 to several thousand dollars per hour, you want to get it right.



More than just credentials or experience, what often makes the biggest difference is chemistry. The most effective coaching relationships are built on trust, alignment and a sense of personal connection.



In this guide, we’ll break down what to look for in a <a href="https://coaching.success.com/what-is-a-business-coach/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">professional business coach</a>, how to assess compatibility and credentials and what you can expect from the relationship. Whether you’re hiring a business coach for the first time or refining your coaching support, this article can help.&nbsp; Get tips to navigate the process with confidence and find a coach who fits your vision, values and goals.



Download our FREE <a href="https://offer.success.com/ebook/goal-setting/">goal-setting e-book</a> to help achieve your most ambitious goals!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-benefits-of-hiring-a-business-coach">Benefits of Hiring a Business Coach</h2>



Whether you’re a solo founder navigating your first launch or a seasoned executive scaling a team, business coaching services can benefit you.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-powerful-return-on-investment-nbsp">A Powerful Return on Investment&nbsp;</h3>



Business coaching has historically had a high median return on investment. But for many entrepreneurs, the value isn’t only in revenue growth—it’s in clarity, confidence and consistent progress.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personalized-guidance-to-build-your-business-amp-reach-goals-nbsp">Personalized Guidance to Build Your Business &amp; Reach Goals&nbsp;</h3>



A good business coach doesn’t just help you make better decisions—<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-even-the-most-successful-people-can-benefit-from-a-business-coach/">they help you become a better decision-maker</a>. They offer personalized guidance, strategic accountability and expert perspective that can be hard to get anywhere else.



Justin Moore, co-founder of <a href="https://eitrlounge.com/tulsa-mens-haircuts-about-us-tulsa-mens-haircuts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elephant in the Room Men’s Grooming Lounge</a> in Tulsa, Oklahoma, saw firsthand what happens when the right coach joins early. Six months before opening his first location, he hired Clay Clark, a coach known for his local expertise. “Clay got Elephant in the Room off to a great start,” Moore says. “[He] helped me create a product and marketing that would target niche clientele.” Clark suggested the business run on a membership model for recurring revenue, and even came up with the business’s name. Within three months of opening a second location, it was fully booked. Today, the company has five locations.



For Leanne Ely, founder of <a href="http://savingdinner.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SavingDinner.com</a>, business coaching meant moving from survival to growth. After discovering coach Carrie Wilkerson during a rough year in business, she took a leap of faith and wrote a $10,000 check. “With just one change, she more than made up for it,” Ely says. “She had me double my prices and run a blowout sale on my old fees. I had not raised my rates since launching.” Within a year, Ely had doubled her revenue. A few years later, she worked with coach Cameron Herold to build systems, set measurable goals and step into her role as CEO.



Our FREE <a href="https://offer.success.com/ebook/goal-setting/">goal-setting e-book</a> offers a step-by-step process to set goals the right way!



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gain-momentum-for-your-business">Gain Momentum for Your Business</h3>



Stories like these highlight one of the most important benefits of hiring a business coach: momentum. The right coach won’t simply offer advice; they can help you move faster and more effectively toward your goals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-find-a-business-coach-that-fits-your-needs">How to Find a Business Coach That Fits Your Needs</h2>



Before you hire a business coach, take time to get clear on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/coaching-vs-mentoring/">what kind of support you actually need</a>.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-identify-your-unique-needs-nbsp">Identify Your Unique Needs&nbsp;</h3>



Are you looking for help with strategy, systems, hiring or scaling? Do you want a creative business coach to help you with brand positioning or a professional business coach to strengthen your operations? Maybe mindset is the missing link, in which case a spiritual business coach or integrative coach may be the right fit.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-look-for-alignment-on-areas-where-you-need-support">Look for Alignment on Areas Where You Need Support</h3>



Christos Kritikos, startup product executive and founder of <a href="https://emerginghumanity.com/index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emerging Humanity</a>, advises early-stage founders to start with clarity. “Finding the right business coach is a bit like dating—chemistry matters, but so does alignment,” he says. “I always tell founders to first get clear on what they actually need: Is it strategy, accountability or mindset? Or maybe a mix of all? Once you know that, look for someone with real-world experience in that area, not just theoretical knowledge. Talk to a few coaches, ask tough questions and notice who truly listens.”



Kritikos adds that the best coach will “ask the right questions that challenge your thinking and stretch your vision. And if all they do is cheerlead or push their own agenda, walk away.”



<a href="https://amanda-walker.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amanda Walker</a>, certified master coach and creator of the Best Damn Coach program and podcast, agrees. “Be sure to know the exact areas of support you are in need of and ask them if they can directly support you in creating those solutions.”&nbsp;



She adds an important reminder: “‘Business coach’ can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-consider-if-the-coaching-approach-fits-your-needs">Consider if the Coaching Approach Fits Your Needs</h3>



Once you’ve narrowed your focus, evaluate the coaching style, structure and values of your top candidates. Do they offer accountability? Personalized sessions? Group support? Are they more strategy-driven or mindset-oriented?&nbsp;



Don’t settle for buzzwords—ask for case studies, client testimonials and sample frameworks. Finding the right business coach means finding someone who sees where you’re going and can help you get there, step by step.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-choose-a-business-coach-based-on-credentials-and-compatibility">How to Choose a Business Coach Based on Credentials and Compatibility</h2>



Once you’ve clarified what kind of coaching you need, it’s time to evaluate specific candidates. Choosing a business coach is about more than their resume—it’s about alignment in values, style and strategy.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-beyond-credentials-nbsp">Go Beyond Credentials&nbsp;</h3>



Several well-known organizations, like the <a href="https://coachingfederation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ICF</a>, offer accreditations and training standards. While credentials and certifications can offer peace of mind, how the coach works with clients and whether that matches your preferences is essential.&nbsp;



Coaching also remains an unregulated field, so it’s essential to go beyond credentials. Ask: What kind of results have they helped clients achieve? Do they specialize in your industry or challenge? How do they define success?



Ultimately, learning how to hire a business coach means looking beyond credentials. It’s about finding someone who will walk alongside you, challenge your assumptions and help you become a stronger version of yourself, inside and out.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ask-about-real-world-experience-nbsp">Ask About Real-World Experience&nbsp;</h3>



Real-life experience is also an important aspect to look at when deciding on a business coach. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about a coach’s background or experience to find the right fit.&nbsp;



<a href="https://stacytuschl.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stacy Tuschl</a>, CEO of Well-Oiled Operations and a Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year, emphasizes that lived experience should guide your decision. “When you are choosing a business coach, it is imperative to choose someone who actually owns a business,” she says.&nbsp;



She adds: “Credibility is crucial. You want to know that they understand firsthand what your challenges and needs are. That coach will be able to teach from experience, rather than theory alone.”



Rhett Power, executive coach and co-founder of <a href="https://accountabilityinc.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Accountability Inc.</a>, has worked with leaders at organizations like the U.S. Department of State, United Airlines and McDonald’s. He believes experience is a nonnegotiable: “Look for someone who has built something, not just studied it. A coach who’s navigated the trenches of hiring, firing, scaling, failing and starting again will bring real-world wisdom, not just theory.”



Power also stresses the importance of values alignment and honest feedback, emphasizing that the right coach will “hold you accountable, stretch your perspective and help you see around corners.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-assess-genuine-compatibility-nbsp">Assess Genuine Compatibility&nbsp;</h3>



Compatibility with a business coach is also essential. Having good chemistry is especially important when working on deeper mindset or alignment challenges.&nbsp;



Matalya Onuoha, founder of <a href="https://rewritecoaching.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rewrite Coaching</a> with multiple coaching certifications, says alignment should be the first thing you look for. “Go beyond impressive results or glowing testimonials. The most effective coaching relationship is built on genuine compatibility between your vision, values and the coach’s methodology.”



Onuoha encourages entrepreneurs to observe how they feel during early calls. She challenges you to ask, “Do they create space for your strengths and individuality, or do they push a one-size-fits-all system?”&nbsp;



To increase your chances of finding the right business coach, consider scheduling multiple discovery calls or chemistry sessions. Don’t hesitate to ask detailed questions about their process, track record and ideal clients. You want someone who can guide your growth professionally and personally and who brings out the best in how you lead.



Get paired with a <a href="https://coaching.success.com/">SUCCESS-certified coach</a> today to get to the next level!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-how-much-a-business-coach-costs">Understanding How Much a Business Coach Costs</h2>



One of the most common questions entrepreneurs ask is: How much does a business coach cost? The answer varies based on the coach’s experience, niche and structure. It can range from $100 per hour for junior coaches to several thousand for elite consultants. Some coaches offer monthly retainers or package rates; others charge by the session.



As an executive coach to high-performing founders and leaders worldwide, Power encourages clients to look beyond price tags: “Ask about their track record. Talk to their past clients. And most importantly, trust your gut, because chemistry matters.”



Walker emphasizes the importance of specificity when it comes to hiring a business coach and adds that connection should never be overlooked, saying, “How you feel with a coach matters. Be sure to invest time in being in their world to make sure you jive with their teaching style and personality and don’t feel any internal red flags.”



As you evaluate coaching services, consider your preferred style. Think about whether you're looking for an executive business coach to guide high-level strategy or a creative business coach to help you scale with soul.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-expect-from-working-with-a-professional-business-coach">What to Expect From Working With a Professional Business Coach</h2>



Once you’ve figured out how to find a business coach and made your choice, it helps to know what the working relationship will actually look like. Most business coaching services involve a combination of regular meetings (virtual or in-person), strategic planning, progress tracking and accountability check-ins. But the structure often depends on your goals and your coach’s methodology.



It’s also important for business owners to think about how the coach’s system works for them individually. Onuoha says, “Real transformation happens when you’re supported in aligning with your natural gifts, not contorting yourself to fit someone else’s formula.”



A professional business coach isn’t there to mold you into someone new. They’re there to help you grow into your own leadership style with confidence. Onuoha adds, “When you work with a coach who helps you build a business aligned with who you truly are, success isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.”



While the coaching process may vary, expect to be held accountable, pushed outside your comfort zone and encouraged to reflect on both inner and outer obstacles. Whether you work with a mindset coach, a spiritual business coach or an expert in systems and scaling, the relationship should evolve to support your changing goals.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hiring-a-business-coach-to-accelerate-your-growth">Hiring a Business Coach to Accelerate Your Growth</h2>



Hiring a business coach is about finding a trusted partner who can help you think bigger, act smarter and stay aligned with what matters most. Whether you’re navigating growing pains, rethinking your strategy or simply craving accountability, the right business coach offers both perspective and structure.



As Power says, “The best coaches don’t just make you feel good, they make you better.” A strong coaching relationship will stretch your thinking, sharpen your leadership and empower you to move forward with your goals and vision.



Finding the right fit matters. From understanding your goals and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/level-up-financial-coach/">financial objectives</a> to vetting credentials, getting clear on how to find a business coach who matches your needs will save you time, money and frustration down the road. Take the time to reflect on what you truly want and be intentional about choosing someone who’s walked the path and can help you carve your own.



When aligned properly, the right coach won’t stop at helping you grow your business; they’ll help you become the leader it needs.



This article was published in June 2014 and has been updated. Photo by fizkes/Shutterstock.

Jennifer Johnson

Learn how to find a business coach who fits your goals, values and working style. Plus, get tips on cost, credentials and what to expect.

Learn how to find a business coach who fits your goals, values and working style. Plus, get tips on cost, credentials and what to expect. | SUCCESS

How to Find a Business Coach: A Complete Guide for Entrepreneurs

How to Find a Business Coach | SUCCESS

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The phrase “it’s cheaper to keep ’em,” doesn’t apply just to spouses but to clients as well. Consider Bain &amp; Co. research that found increasing customer retention rates by 5% boosted profits 25 to 95 percent. This is hardly surprising news, but what exactly can you do to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/13-key-traits-of-strong-professional-relationships/">nurture your relationships</a> with clients so they stick around for the long haul?



<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-5-very-best-ways-to-thrill-your-customers">Perfecting the customer experience</a> is one way. Nicholas J. Webb, a speaker, holder of more than 42 patents and longtime management consultant, has conducted extensive research on this topic. In fact, he says perfecting the relationship with your customers is the essence of business today.



“The future of innovation is not inventing a shiny new thing, but giving the customer a new experience,” he says, pointing to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/2015-success-achiever-of-the-year-travis-kalanick">the co-founder of Uber</a> as a prime example. The tech company did not reinvent taxis, but rather how the client engages with ride-booking services.



To create deep and lasting client connections, Webb suggests this recipe:



<h2 id="h-1-understand-your-client">1. Understand your client.</h2>



Forget demographics. Instead of focusing on income, race, gender and age, drill down into customers’ loves, hates, habits and goals—all before you even think about selling to them. This involves having<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-speak-well-and-listen-better"> meaningful, one-on-one conversations</a>; asking about their past experiences with other professionals in your field; and learning about their definitions of success. From this data you can construct what Webb calls “nodes,” or customer profiles based on<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-understand-peoples-personality-types"> personality types</a> and goals.



<h2 id="h-2-create-a-customer-experience-for-each-node">2. Create a customer experience for each node.</h2>



Webb says most businesses can break down the customer experience into five touch points:



• Pre-touch: Your marketing, social media, blog and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/referrals-over-customers-and-other-key-insights-all-bootstrapping-entrepreneurs-should-know/">word-of-mouth referrals</a> all set the stage for the customer’s experience and expectations.



• First touch: The initial interaction with your product, team or location. “Eighty percent of your client’s permanent impression of you comes from that first touch,” Webb says.



• Core experience: “You must be a constant, active observer—always looking for clues where you could potentially miss the mark with your client,” he says, noting that the vast majority of unhappy customer experiences occur during this period, when familiarity can breed laziness, if not contempt.



• Report out: Create systems that measure and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-email-marketing/">prove your value</a> to them. Share these results in regular reports.



• Send-off: Leave them with something unexpected. At the end of routine meetings with clients, Webb might announce that they can expect a customized white paper to share with the rest of their team, or an instructional video of him elaborating on one of the meeting’s points.



<h2 id="h-3-lie">3. Lie.</h2>



Webb jokes that he commits fraud at each touch point. “At every touch point, I tell a lie,” he says. “I tell them they will get a lot less than I know I’ll deliver. I always exceed the baseline level of client expectation.”



Camille Allen, Broker and retail business consultant Business: The Property Firm Where: Durham, N.C.



I started my career in national corporate sales—a young black woman often attending golf outings with old, white, male Fortune 500 CEOs. I quickly learned <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/connecting-with-people/">how to connect with people</a> who are different from me by listening first, then asking questions. It’s that old adage: People don’t care what you know until they know you care.



Today I create true partnerships with my clients, with whom I will spend a minimum of 90 days. I get to know my clients personally so I can best serve them. For example, I’m helping secure three locations for a client’s growing family business. We’ve been working together for five months, and I touch base with him up to 15 times a week. We talk both about our families and our<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals"> goals</a> and challenges as fellow business owners with corporate backgrounds.



But I also draw a line. I make it clear to clients that we don’t work together on weekends, and I don’t respond to texts or phone calls after 7 p.m.



Geoff Hoesch, Principal Business: Dragonfly SEO, a digital marketing firm Where: Baltimore



For four years we’ve worked with the web design firm Ignition72. During that time my firm dramatically improved Ignition72’s <a href="https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo">search engine ranking</a>. I’d take them out for lunch, and they would invite me to their Christmas parties. It soon turned into a symbiotic relationship—I helped them with their digital marketing, weighing in as a consultant. In turn, they served as business mentors to me; the senior partner is much older and more experienced than I am.



Ignition72 helped me realize that one of my company’s major issues was cash flow and made recommendations to decrease due dates on invoices and to bill up-front. With a more consistent cash flow, I’ve been able to establish better income security for the company, which has helped me <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">grow</a>.



A year ago, Ignition72 leaders invited me to share their office space, and the relationship has deepened into a professional friendship that continues to expand.



Devon Wright, Co-founder Business: Turnstyle Solutions, a geo-enabled marketing and analytics platform that helps retailers use Wi-Fi to connect with customers Where: Toronto



Our staff of 30 is dedicated to keeping customers happy. From the moment we make contact with a potential customer, every employee is encouraged to interact with them. It’s all part of finding common ground with these fellow entrepreneurs who are probably doing multiple tasks in their companies, too.All new customers go through a detailed onboarding process to make sure they really understand the company, feel connected to our office and are excited about the product. Throughout the relationship, we encourage<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-react-to-negative-feedback-at-work"> feedback</a> and ideas for new products and features—and if those come to fruition, the clients are kept in the loop. That shows we listen, and also that they are part of our team. We <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/measure-your-progress-to-achieve-your-goals/">measure everything</a> we do. We’re constantly striving to improve.



This article appears in the<a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-march-2016-jimmie-johnson.html"> March 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a> and has been updated. Photo by

Perfecting the relationship with your customers is the essence of business today.

Perfecting the relationship with your customers is the essence of business today. | SUCCESS

How to Improve Your Client Relationships

How to Improve Your Client Relationships | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/How-to-Improve-Your-Client-Relationships.jpg

One of the most painful experiences in life is moving toward a goal or dream, only to face those whom you love most, rejecting your ideas and even you.



If your decisions about a career move, relocation, lifestyle or relationship mean your loved ones refuse to support you, even threaten to leave your life, the road ahead of you can be a long one. Your relationship might require extra care and patience. Or you might require a long time to heal from the loss of that relationship. If this sounds familiar, here are some steps to consider:



<h2 id="h-1-listen">1. Listen.&nbsp;</h2>



It is hard not to take rejection of your ideas personally, especially those that you are most passionate about.<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/9-tips-to-become-a-better-listener"> Listen to your loved ones</a>’ reasoning. Key into the parts about how much they love you and worry about you. Perhaps you will hear in their message fear of losing you, their own insecurity or their own regrets about risks they did not take.



One of the most painful experiences in life is moving toward a goal or dream, only to face those whom you love most, rejecting your ideas and even you.



<h2 id="h-2-be-patient">2. Be patient.&nbsp;</h2>



They might come around. A fracture in the relationship can, and often does, heal. Perhaps you will eventually change your course, or they will change theirs, and life will reconnect you in unexpected ways.



<h2 id="h-3-accept">3. Accept.&nbsp;</h2>



Change and growth require <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/7-signs-its-time-to-let-go-of-a-friend">letting go of relationships</a>, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-change-your-habits/">habits</a> and practices that no longer serve you. Sometimes that means loving connections leave your life or are minimized. It is painful and necessary.



<h2 id="h-4-never-compromise-yourself">4. Never compromise yourself.</h2>



Never compromise yourself for the approval of those who want you to be smaller than you are. Godspeed.



<img alt="Bruce Cameron" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/9LvA-lbO1EaQF2XJrGOLreTsWaUnQHObigOjlKIvCCOPOWFsd0cn00tczsj1jjsIuhWxazYNLwWIb5K3Fs4JafZjxayljEC2uy5WFFF7O17iOdpLxn389ROxTxfIiFehnw2OzhUg" width="238" height="277">



<h2 id="h-bruce-cameron">Bruce Cameron</h2>



54; executive coach and federal prison consultant; Dallas



I had a long career with the Department of Justice but longed to own my own business and make my own decisions. After I retired, my wife and family wanted me to take a predictable, boring agency job. It was a tough time for my wife and me. She had enjoyed the safety and security of my staff career for 25 years. For me to step out on my own with a very tiny safety net was scary for her. I also think she doubted my abilities to swiftly build and sustain my practice. All the other doubters were really upset, although I was patient with my wife. I explained that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-how-to-bounce-back-from-failure">if I failed</a>, I could always go back to boring agency work like many of my fellow retirees—to do that would have been an existential death. As I built my business, I gave her feedback along the way. I felt alone. I managed to find some C-suite executives who supported and encouraged me, which gave me confidence I was not getting from loved ones. I managed not to become bitter and to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-6-tips-for-overcoming-self-doubt">push through all doubts</a>, to emerge as a major player in my sector. My wife and I made it.



<h2 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-"><img width="238" height="283" alt="Ramon Khan" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vNs3fpmZgBs7lLs64XcPQLZ3Uhz5GxofuiW0qVy_G__wuSqVxt5TmnwZ5L3195WvCdwNobhvkWnvxZmI1XbEW47_fXCpqXdUVmSNbokURBG1sBk3WNDyFq4MztWgaQvrPvZz_cPJ"></h2>



<h2 class="has-text-align-left" id="h-ramon-khan">Ramon Khan</h2>



30; digital marketing director; Houston



Four years ago, my wife and I announced to our loved ones that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK396513/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">we had become vegan</a>—this after being a huge meat eater, followed by three years of vegetarianism. The pushback was all around. My sister was extremely upset that we would not all be eating traditional holiday meals; my in-laws made fun of us and insulted us straight to our faces; friends pushed the issue like they were getting paid to do it; and our parents on both sides were extremely concerned about our kids—to the point of feeding them animal products behind our backs. All of this obviously strained all of our relationships, and it was a very long and hard transition period for all of us. Over two years, people realized that what we were doing was better for us, and they really started to notice our passion for being plant-based. Since then, our family members started to embrace our lifestyle, accommodating meals at special events, buying us plant-based products and even <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-healthy-habits-you-already-know-but-arent-doing">making healthier changes</a> in their own lives. In the end, all of the relationships survived and are doing well.



<h2 class="has-text-align-center" id="h-"><img width="238" height="279" alt="Patrick Sweeney" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fg8wOPm3Bc5ICqbKLBveHDncwxOtFuzrZQ93PE0Ih6KAr2_H-1BODb9Uq5mbGpnyXScNoSAo0wSTSxoQV0FtQebddEbfQ6_cw1VjnQ0k3UFwWnJh-Iljb-QDu-53-9Am2qj-jK4g"></h2>



<h2 id="h-patrick-sweeney">Patrick Sweeney</h2>



46; serial entrepreneur and investor; Boston and Chamonix, France



I had two<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-ways-successful-people-make-smart-decisions"> major decision moments</a> in my life that my parents didn’t support. I was the first in my family to <a href="https://www.northeastern.edu/bachelors-completion/news/is-a-bachelors-degree-worth-it/#:~:text=College%20graduates%20see%2057%20percent,where%20you%20choose%20to%20work." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">graduate college</a> and get a “real job” as an associate for a group of entrepreneurs my first year out of school. By then I’d hit my family’s upper limit of their idea of success. Then I got a tryout for the U.S. Olympic rowing team—a sport I picked up in college—and became a national champion. When I made the team, I quit my job. For the first 18 months, my parents wouldn’t talk to me because they thought I was throwing my life away. They were <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-to-handle-fear-and-failure-like-a-boss">afraid of my failure</a>. I finished second in the 1996 Olympic trials, raced the World Cup all over the globe and met my wife. My parents finally came around when I started winning and didn’t believe life could get better than that. I was still filled with a lot of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-you-shouldnt-fear-rejection/">fear of being rejected</a> by my family and friends, but I had more fear of missed opportunities. After the Olympics, I earned my MBA and got another dream job working in data center technology. I was earning more than $100,000 a year (way more than my parents’ combined income) when I decided to leave it all to start my own company. It was déjà vu all over again, and they thought I was crazy. I raised more than $30 million and eventually built and sold three international technology companies.



 This article originally appeared in the<a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-september-2017-elon-musk.html"> September 2017 issue of </a><a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-september-2017-elon-musk.html">SUCCESS</a><a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-september-2017-elon-musk.html"> magazine</a> and has been updated. Photo by @Miverano/Twenty20

One of the most painful experiences in life is moving toward a goal or dream, only to face those whom you love most, rejecting your ideas and even you.

One of the most painful experiences in life is moving toward a goal or dream, only to face those whom you love most, rejecting your ideas and even you. | SUCCESS

How to Handle Haters: Advice from 3 Resilient Entrepreneurs

How to Handle Haters: Advice from 3 Resilient Entrepreneurs | SUCCESS

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How to Get It All Done as a Single Mom Solopreneur

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Archives

Entrepreneurship | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

More than 10 years ago I became a single mom of two babies. At the time, I was dependent on my husband’s corporate salary and benefits because I’d chosen to down-ramp my six-figure freelance writing business into one that prioritized the kids. It emulated what I blindly assumed was the best family model: one parent home with the children by way of sacrifice, including mothers who thrived on the hustle of self-employment (that would be me).



After all, solopreneurship is too risky to raise a family on, right? What about health insurance!?



When I divorced, well-meaning friends and relatives redoubled those fear-laden pressures and asked what kind of job I was looking for.



I had no intention of getting a job. I was an entrepreneur, and I no longer had any excuse not to go big.



Fast-forward a few years, and I was completely financially independent of my kids’ dad. This was thanks to a revived writing business which I pivoted into Wealthy Single Mommy, a personal blog that has grown into a digital marketing platform now reaching millions of people each year by way of books, a podcast, frequent media appearances and a team of contract employees.



Not only is my solopreneur journey one of financial prosperity, it is a source of deep joy and purpose. My work is focused on helping other single mothers become financially independent, parent with confidence and joy, and co-parent with equality. The beautiful letters I receive from women daily confirm that staying this course of solopreneurship was the only path for me, single motherhood, or otherwise.



In fact, looking back on my decade journey of being a single mom, I see that solopreneurship has been so essential to success in every vertical of my life:



> Financially, working for myself while cultivating multiple income streams via multiple clients has given me far more financial security than possible from a single corporate employer. Plus, there are no corporate positions I know of that pay what I currently take home from my business. Trust me: Affording health insurance is not a challenge. When your kids are solely your financial responsibility, this matters.



> As a parent, self-employment helps me manage my family and work lives, and model for my son and daughter what is possible in a career. 



Self-employment is rightfully the goal of many moms. One of the key reasons parents are attracted to solopreneurship, of course, is the control it gives us over our time—humans’ most precious commodity. As a single mom with many responsibilities, and very little time, this control is priceless. 



As I type in the midst of a COVID-19 at-home order, I am sitting on the porch with a laptop on my lap, working and earning while intermittently helping my kids with their writing and social studies homeschool work. During non-endtimes, being my own boss makes it infinitely easier to schedule pediatrician appointments around client meetings (or, the other way around), and give myself as much vacation time as I decide I can afford, as opposed to haggling with a boss.



The benefits of this control make life easier in the day-to-day. My bigger hope is they will carry forward as my children make their own decisions about career, business and contributing to the world. Because I do love my work, and have the power to control my time and tasks, I hope my children can absorb by osmosis that such a professional life is not only possible, but to be expected.



> As a business person, single-mom solopreneurship gives me the flexibility to make decisions for my organization without having to fight through the complexities of a romantic relationship. Often I hear from women who feel their businesses are held back by the dynamics of their marriages. For example, a husband doesn’t agree with the strategy for growing her business, and so he does not agree to invest family money into the venture. Or she avoids pursuing her goals because doing so would require the hard work of negotiation or arguments with her partner. All healthy relationships require compromise, but as an unpartnered entrepreneur, I haven’t had to make those kinds of compromises.



On the other side of this equation, single-mom entrepreneurship holds me to a higher standard than if I were married, and my business is better for it. Without another income to depend on, I am forced to face the consequences of professional failures and setbacks that my partnered colleagues are not.



> As a woman, the joys and independence of professional life were an asset in dating, including in getting to know my boyfriend of four years. Interesting, successful men passionate about their lives like to talk to interesting, successful, passionate women. They also like to date us, and be in relationships with us. This is what my handsome boyfriend Mitch said:



“Strong, smart, self-reliant women are very sexy. Plus, your business instincts are impressive and make me even more proud to know you.”



Being financially secure—despite what your bitter aunt may have told you—is a big benefit to women dating in 2020. I’ve found that men appreciate women who can pay their own way, and give no indication of seeking out men for financial security. “Being real grown-ups for each other gets all of that dependency stuff out of the way and frees us up for something a lot more meaningful,” Mitch says. After all, don’t we all really just want to be loved, deeply, for who we are?



Before I carry on further about all the wonders of single-mom solopreneurship, I need to recognize that the struggle of launching, growing and scaling a business is hard work. And if you don’t have a loving partner, but do have children, it can seem like the risks are too daunting to face.



However, I implore you to look at the realities of the economy, this economy. Ask yourself:



Even if I still have a salaried job, how secure is it? 



Am I joyful about my professional life? Or am I longing to launch my own venture?



What messages about career and work and earning do I model for my children? Is it one of optimism and power, or victimhood and regret?



<h2>Get over working-mom guilt.</h2>



The gender pay gap is not the result of a cabal of rich white men arbitrarily deciding that women are to be paid 80 cents on the male dollar. Today, young women outnumber men on college campuses, and enter the workforce in equal numbers and with equitable pay.



But by the time women are eligible for middle- and senior-management positions, we are a small minority. Why?



Women drop out and scale back on our careers to care for children. Very often, this decision is influenced by lack of affordable childcare, or a dearth of family-friendly workplace policies. However, mom guilt is at play, and it is at the root of gender inequality. Just as I did, large portions of U.S. moms make decisions to de-prioritize career based on false assumptions about what is good for their kids. 



In 2012, a full 35 percent of adults agreed that children were harmed when mothers worked outside the home, according to Pew Research. While those opinions are changing for the better, still 59 percent of Americans say ideally children benefit when one parent stays home. When I was a married mom, I bought into this idea, too. 



Turns out, I was wrong. Research by Harvard’s Kathleen McGinn found, after studying 30,000 families in 20 countries, that both girls with working mothers fared better than those with stay-at-home moms in terms of academic and professional achievement. And the sons of working moms achieved just as much outside the home, but were more caring for younger and elderly members of the household than their at-home peers.



In other words: When moms work outside the home for pay, gender equality is achieved at home and in the public sphere. 



Plus, the more women work for pay, the more we inform the next generation about what the new norms are, thus reducing the working-mom guilt for our daughters. As we succeed professionally, moms show our sons what it means to be a truly equal romantic partner. 



In other words: Your career is a form of activism. Manage that for optimum impact. 



<h2>Hire plenty of childcare without apology.</h2>



I often hear from moms who are overwhelmed trying to start and grow businesses while sticking to their other commitment as at-home moms. These broads are exhausted, scattered and feel like they do neither of their main jobs well.



I give you permission to hire as much childcare, of the highest quality you can afford, and never look back. During working hours, focus intently on your business. Enjoy the evening commute (mine was a 10-minute walk) to the childcare center or school to decompress and transition into mommy mode, focusing on family, guilt- and distraction-free. 



While the bewildering cost of childcare can understandably cause you to consider a part-time schedule, or schlep across town to another center to save a few dollars, consider this as time and money invested in the short-term, for a much bigger long-term vision.



It is impossible to start and grow a business without risk of investing time and opportunities that you may never recoup. If you wanted a guaranteed return on your time, you would have a corporate job.



<h2>Share parenting equally.</h2>



The most obvious childcare provider is one that is also 100 percent free: your kid’s other parent.



Unfortunately, single moms more often than not are responsible for their children the majority of the time, with weekend visits for dad. Not only does this model edge dads out of their kids’ lives, it is sexist, slotting women into dated caregiving roles.



But thankfully there are now at least 60-peer-reviewed studies that conclude that equally shared parenting in divorced and separated families is best for children.



Barring extreme exceptions, I urge you to set aside anger and fear, and work on an equal co-parenting arrangement with your kids’ dad. Doing so models love and forgiveness, obliterates sexist gender stereotypes, and unburdens you from the sole, unfair responsibility for caring for your kids.



<h2>Set big goals, and take necessary risks to reach them.</h2>



Single moms can play small. I understand why. The stakes are high as moms are disproportionately responsible for the logistical, emotional and financial care of their children. And women overall are less comfortable with risk than men, studies show.



Just as with the stock market, high risk tends to net high returns over time. So, too, does measured risk in entrepreneurship statistically net profits. Just because you are an unmarried mother does not mean you cannot or do not deserve to reap those benefits. In fact, with fewer financial resources than others (single moms are more likely to have lower earning and less wealth than other populations), I argue that you have a bigger responsibility to take more risk in order to buoy yourself and your family against cyclical downturns and unforeseen setbacks.



<h2>Shore up your support system.</h2>



The power of peer pressure—good and bad—is well documented. Adults who are overweight are more likely to have friends who are overweight. Same with debt, smoking and divorce.



Likewise, if you are surrounded by ambitious, big-thinking entrepreneurs, you increase your chances of benefiting from these peers by way of introductions, ideas and inspiration.



Your closest confidants today may be wonderful life-long friends and family members who love you dearly, but that does not make them the right support system for your business. Choose carefully with whom you share your goals and seek advice and support.



<h2>Be careful about making excuses.</h2>



As a single mom, I hope you join me on my mission to destigmatize families that do not look like the “normal” two-parent, married heterosexual couple in a first marriage. That is why I ask you to be very careful to use your single-mom status as a crutch when you face inevitable challenges. Instead, focus on all the gifts that your single motherhood gives you when it comes to business:



• You don’t have to spend time and toxic energy on an unhappy relationship. 



• You don’t need to ask permission to invest time or money in your business (or anything else for that matter).



• Statistically, you do less housework than when you were married. A fascinating body of research finds that married breadwinning women “overcorrect” for their professional prowess by doing more than their share of house and childcare at home, and single moms do the least amount of housework out of all demographics of women studied. You have none of these worries now!



In dark moments when facing disappointment, quell the urge to say to yourself or others: “Well, that was a bust because I am a single mom.”



Pay it forward.



No matter the stage of your business, always maintain that sense of gratitude and purpose to make the world better. Commit to policies that support working families, meaningful diversity, and the values that inspired you to start your business in the first place.



And never lose sight of the fact, on your winding single-mom solopreneurship journey, that the value is not only reaped by a high income, or a lucrative exit. It also comes from modeling for your children and for other women watching. It comes in the form of inspiration by you and for you, and in changing the narrative about yourself, and what you believed you could achieve as a single mom in business. 



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 <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-sept-oct-2020.html" target="_blank">This article originally appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</a> Photo by @kirsty/Twenty20.com

Raising children on your own is tough enough—why work on someone else's schedule? Our expert offers some suggestions.

Raising children on your own is tough enough—why work on someone else's schedule? Our expert offers some suggestions. | SUCCESS

How to Get It All Done as a Single Mom Solopreneur | SUCCESS

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Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Whether it’s career burnout, general aimlessness or a craving for a new path, most people will hear a call for a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-signs-you-need-to-change-your-life/">positive life change</a> at some point in their lives.

This isn’t about the National Institutes of Health report that 16 million U.S. adults suffer from at least one major depressive episode each year, but rather about a healthy need to jar oneself out of a rut. What to do?
<blockquote>Related:&nbsp;<a class="row-title" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-clever-tricks-to-trigger-positive-emotions/" aria-label="“10 Clever Tricks to Trigger Positive Emotions” (Edit)">10 Clever Tricks to Trigger Positive Emotions</a></blockquote>
The case studies that follow offer excellent anecdotes that work. The key is to focus on the roots of your doldrums, recognize your power to get on the other side, and map out concrete action steps for moving through this phase and on to your greatness. If you find yourself in a rut, try these tactics to move forward.

1. Identify the forces in your life that make you truly happy. Science finds that connection to loved ones, health (exercise specifically), and giving back are all closely connected to happiness. Create goals that include these themes.

2. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/change-humankinds-greatest-asset/">Focus on change.</a> Write down the steps that you will take to move out of your rut. These might be specific things related to the results you want—for example, signing up for a class that introduces you to new people and experiences—but change can be found everywhere. Take a different route to work. Drink your coffee after breakfast instead of before. If you always tackle the elliptical machine at the gym, take on the treadmill. Buy an outfit that is outside of your comfort zone, or travel to new lands. Tackle a new skill that challenges your self-identity. Think of yourself as an introvert? Sign up for improv classes. Convinced you’re not athletically inclined? Enroll in tennis lessons. Are you a confident loudmouth? <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-happened-when-i-took-a-vow-of-silence/">Go on a silent retreat.</a>

3. Get a goal buddy. This might mean asking a close friend, perhaps someone who also wants to make life alterations, or telling your entire network about your plans. Fear of public humiliation can be a powerful, positive force for adherence.

4. Be open. You might start this journey with a clear idea of your desired outcomes. But if you do hard internal work and open yourself to the possibilities of positive change, even more amazing evolutions will be revealed. Stay nimble, and say yes.

&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;">The key is to focus on the roots of your doldrums, recognize your power to get on the other side, and map out concrete action steps for moving through this phase and on to your greatness.</h3>
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<h2><img class="size-full wp-image-33046 alignleft" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Anis_gray.png" alt="" width="240" height="277">Anis Qizilbash</h2>
44; motivational speaker, founder of Mindful Sales Training and author of the upcoming book, Mindful Selling; London

I was in a yearlong funk after starting my first business. My confidence was at rock bottom. I couldn’t put myself out there, and my business was failing. I climbed out of the funk after hiking with my wife in Wales, where we tackled a steep ridge. I have a longtime fear of heights, so facing and overcoming a physical fear by walking down the ridge filled me with tremendous confidence. This resulted in me closing down the failing business and starting a new business that thrives.
<h2><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-33047 alignleft" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Eric_gray.png" alt="" width="240" height="277">Eric Gorges</h2>
47; host of A Craftsman’s Legacy on PBS and Create TV, owner of Voodoo Choppers custom motorcycle shop; Detroit

In my 20s, I started having debilitating panic attacks that began while scuba diving, and within a few months it progressed to agoraphobia. A friend asked me: If money wasn’t an issue, and I could do anything, what would it be? I loved bikes, loved working with my hands and needed a job. I found someone to apprentice with to learn metal shaping and eventually was able to open my own custom motorcycle shop. Metal shaping went <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-steps-to-turn-your-passion-into-your-profession/">from a hobby to a successful business</a>, and working with my hands helped heal me. I still suffer panic attacks occasionally, but reinventing my life to pursue my passion has given me a way to work through them.
<h2><img class="size-full wp-image-33048 alignleft" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Clarence_gray.png" alt="" width="240" height="277">Clarence McFerren</h2>
36; author, athlete and academic; Memphis, Tennessee

I was in a funk after my former spouse unexpectedly left me by leaving a letter on the kitchen counter with my credit card and keys to the house. During the two-year divorce process that followed, I lost my job, became overly occupied with therapy and psychologist and psychiatrist appointments—all of which had a negative impact on my life, socially, emotionally and financially. To recover, I learned to love myself and live for me first by doing things that I enjoy or always wanted to try, such as writing and publishing a children’s book, kickboxing, competing in bodybuilding competitions, adopting a vegan diet, traveling abroad and removing myself from negative entities. After getting out of that funk, I’ve been able to get back on track building my success, land a new job and spend time with like-minded, business-oriented, creative, healthy individuals who help me to stay grounded.
<blockquote>Related:&nbsp;<a class="row-title" href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-tips-to-change-your-life-for-the-better/" aria-label="“10 Tips to Change Your Life for the Better” (Edit)">10 Tips to Change Your Life for the Better</a></blockquote>
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This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://store.success.com/shop-all/success-magazine-fall-2018-jeff-bezos.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fall 2018 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

Is it time to make a change? Try these 4 tactics to get out of a funk.

Is it time to make a change? Try these 4 tactics to get out of a funk. | SUCCESS

How to Get Out of a Funk

How to Get Out of a Funk | SUCCESS

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Regrets. We’ve all had a few. In researching how to get over regret, we found three excellent examples of people who did so in such thoughtful, meaningful ways. And there are some general tactics, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-forgive-yourself-for-your-mistakes">should you find yourself mired in remorse</a>:

<h3>• Own up to it.</h3>

Accept your responsibility in the negative experience.

<h3>• Move on.</h3>

Let go of what you cannot and could not control.

<h3>• Apologize.</h3>

<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-ways-to-strengthen-your-integrity">If you hurt another person</a>—whether intentionally or inadvertently—apologize, mend bridges, or otherwise express how you feel. Then let it go.

<h3>• Free yourself.</h3>

Decide that you deserve to be free from the negative feelings surrounding the episode.

<h3>• Learn from it.</h3>

Seek to identify the lessons inherent in the experience.

<h3>• Say thanks.</h3>

Express gratitude for the experience, as it can and will bring insight, if you allow it.

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-break-the-pattern-of-dwelling-on-past-mistakes">How to Break the Pattern of Dwelling on Past Mistakes </a>

&nbsp;

<h2><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39483 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/keish_grey.png" style="float: left; width: 30%; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Keisha Blair</h2>

40; co-founder of Aspire-Canada, an online platform for young professionals; Ottawa, Ontario

When I was 31, my husband passed away suddenly. I was overwhelmed with grief and regret for not forcing him to go to the doctor sooner, not having spent enough time with him, and for not saying “I love you” much more than I did. Professionally I found it hard to focus at work because of the sudden tragedy, and because I was now a single mom with two young kids and responsibilities to shoulder on my own. All of my new relationships seemed second-rate compared to my old life. I was treating my present like an Option B.

I took a yearlong sabbatical and lived in Jamaica. I hiked, cooked healthy meals, meditated, prayed and wrote. Finally I accepted there was nothing I could have done to change the outcome. I realized I would have to accept it, as it would enslave me and keep me captive forever if I didn’t move on. The results have been incredible. I am healthier physically, spiritually and emotionally. My businesses are now mission-driven and thriving. This journey has allowed me to embrace my new life and to see my experience as a hidden gift that’s made me a better person.

<h2><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39484 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/alj_7862-danyell_grey.png" style="width: 30%; float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Danyell Taylor</h2>

36; principal of a creative communications firm; Dallas

For years I was hung up on the fact I dropped out of my master’s program at Howard University with only two classes left. In 2008 the job market was poor, and I could secure only internships in my field. I constantly obsessed over the idea that being a graduate school dropout was the reason my career stalled. I complained a lot to my family and friends. Although I tried to journal my feelings, there were days I totally gave up on my chosen career field.

Starting in 2009, I went back to school. I began calling the chair of my graduate program with frequency to tell her I would graduate, and I called on two important people to keep me accountable. I began visualizing myself graduating, living, loving and working in Washington, D.C. I graduated in Spring 2011. I was determined to succeed. I landed a job at a public relations firm, then later an advocacy organization. My life has improved because I see how I loved myself back from the brink and others deeply believed in my ability to live the life I deserved. I had to see the hiatus in my graduate program as an opportunity to grow up more, give more and come back into myself stronger.

<h2><img alt="" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39485 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/snp_y1_055_large-min_grey.png" style="width: 30%; float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Meiyoko Taylor</h2>

37; author and personal-development coach; Cherry Hill, New Jersey

I was so focused on trying to understand why I lost myself for seven years in a relationship that I knew in my heart wouldn’t work. The realization that I had buried my passions, aspirations and goals was hard to swallow. I spent day after day thinking of ways I could have been more attentive to what I desired for my life and things I would have done differently to avoid wasting so much precious time.

Depressed, I would deliberately avoid important phone calls or sabotage big interviews because I felt I didn’t deserve to be successful. Due to my own misery, I was negative, defensive and argumentative, and people who loved to be in my company eventually began to separate themselves altogether. I was nearly 100 pounds overweight and had a host of digestive conditions because of the stress. I hit rock bottom.

One day I looked in the mirror and had a conversation with my inner self. I promised that I would never again allow myself to bury my dreams because of a person or circumstance. I gave my life to prayer, meditation and self-discovery. The more I began to focus on bringing more positive people, thoughts and actions into my life, the more everything began to change around me. My emotional eating habits were erased when I cared enough about myself to take notice of my physical health. My mental and physical energy were at an all-time high. I felt absolutely wonderful. There was no room for regret because my new mindset opened me up to a future of unlimited possibilities. Since then I have used that experience to help others transform their lives and journey down a path toward success.

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/top-of-mind-how-do-you-move-on-from-something">How Do You Move on From Something? </a>

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This article originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of SUCCESS magazine.

Try these tactics for moving on and getting over.

Try these tactics for moving on and getting over. | SUCCESS

How to Overcome Regret

How to Overcome Regret | SUCCESS

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Last month in this column, we shared <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-set-solid-resolutions">how to effectively craft&nbsp;New Year’s resolutions</a>&nbsp;that will stick for the duration of 2018. Proper goal-setting is a key to achieving what you want. But then the question becomes: How do you keep at those self-promises for the entire year?

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/how-to-set-solid-resolutions">How to Set Solid Resolutions</a>

We solicited reader input, three of which are highlighted in the case studies to the right. We also received a number of other strategies that are excellent ways to keep those <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/the-success-guide-to-crushing-your-new-years-resolutions">New Year’s resolutions</a>.

<h3 class="BODY">Create habits.</h3>

New York City-based search engine optimization consultant Edward Strum advises focusing intensely on a single resolution. “Make it a cornerstone habit that a bunch of&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/12-simple-habits-that-set-ultra-successful-people-apart">good habits</a>&nbsp;and practices can develop from,” he says.

<h3 class="BODY">Stay true.</h3>

Melody Godfred, founder of the Los Angeles-based&nbsp;<a href="https://fredandfar.com/pages/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fred + Far</a>&nbsp;self-love movement, advises focusing on the “old you, for the new year.” That means finding ways to remember your true self during your best time—before depression,&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/7-breakthrough-steps-to-shed-negative-habits">unhealthy habits</a>, financial struggle or other situations set in.

<h3 class="BODY">Seek joy first.</h3>

A few years ago, Christina Moreland, Houston author of&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/2Aj1taE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Secrets of the Super Mom: How to Be a Super Mom Without Losing Your Super Self!</a>&nbsp;started the new year by asking herself,&nbsp;What brings you joy?&nbsp;She then created a New Year’s strategy to amplify the things that brought her joy. For example, feeling healthy and strong is joyful for Moreland, so she committed to working out three times per week.

<h3 class="BODY">Get motivated with incentives.</h3>

Paul Koger, a proprietary trader in New York City, uses money to motivate him to stay on track. He pays a friend $50 for every week that he fails to jog three times, and he documents his runs on their shared&nbsp;<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sports-tracker-for-all-sports/id426684873?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Tracker app</a>.

<h3 class="BODY">Stick to your core values.</h3>

Melissa Slawsky, CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brainiacbundles.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brainiac Bundles</a>, says that staying on track requires that the resolutions be aligned with her core values—such as creativity, innovation and freedom—and do not even hint at what she calls “ego candy,” like outward appearances or flashy possessions.

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/ask-yourself-these-4-questions-to-make-2018-your-best-year-yet">Ask Yourself These 4 Questions to Make 2018 Your Best Year Yet</a>

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<h3 class="LRG-PULL-QUOTE rtecenter">Staying on track requires that the resolutions be aligned with your core values.</h3>

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<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="eduardo lopez" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39239 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/eduardo_lopez_headshot_grey.png" style="width: 166.344px; margin: 4px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Eduardo Lopez</h2>

28; U.S. director of development and outreach at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bigstop.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BIGStop.org</a>; Atlanta

I don’t do goals; I do themes. A couple of years ago, I noticed the hardest part about&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-stay-strong-when-your-resolutions-falter">keeping New Year’s resolutions</a>&nbsp;was that my goals were so different at the beginning of the year compared to where I was in the middle. To fix this, I started naming each year “The Year of ____.” I fill the blank with a theme that will help me navigate the way I approach my goals as opposed to&nbsp;which&nbsp;goal I approach. Last year was The Year of the Upgrade, which included a new TV, upgrading my wardrobe, and I even got a new job and a puppy. This year is The Year of the Build, so I’m building a scalable foundation for every area of my life.

<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="carli shipley" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39240 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/carli_shipley_grey.png" style="width: 166.344px; margin: 4px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Carli Shipley</h2>

27; social media and community manager of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yogafit.com/about-yogafit/yogafit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YogaFit.com</a>; Fort Benning, Georgia

After writing down my goals, I add very specific steps to make the resolution a reality. Last year my goals were to&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/how-i-stay-motivated-to-exercise">get more active</a>&nbsp;and meet new people. The written outline included the steps: Participate in one race a month, and join groups and clubs for runners, bikers and stand-up paddleboard enthusiasts. By the end of the year, I had participated in a dozen running, paddleboarding, canoeing, swimming and other races. I was in the best shape of my life and now count so many lifelong friends to thank for joining me on this fun journey.

<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="murray grey" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39241 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/murray_1_grey.png" style="width: 166.344px; margin: 4px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Murray Suid</h2>

75; co-editor at&nbsp;<a href="https://mobilemoviemaking.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MobileMovieMaking magazine</a>; San Francisco Bay Area

The best way to make sure I follow through on any resolution is to tell my friends about it. Right now, for example, I’ve let everyone I care about know that I’m finishing a how-to book on making mobile movies. I always include a deadline. Not surprising, when I’m chatting with friends, they’ll ask, “How’s the book project going?” Their interest&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/13-life-rules-to-keep-you-motivated">motivates me</a>&nbsp;to push ahead. I don’t want the humiliation of having to explain why the book didn’t get done on time. I’ve used this strategy for many projects over the years. Although it’s not 100 percent effective, it really helps.

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/5-steps-to-set-and-achieve-bold-goals">5 Steps to Set and Achieve Bold Goals</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-february-2018-gabby-bernstein.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">February 2018 issue of&nbsp;SUCCESS&nbsp;magazine</a>.

How to Follow Through on Your New Year’s Resolutions

How to Follow Through on Your New Year’s Resolutions | SUCCESS

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New Year’s resolutions are ubiquitous and, more often than not, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-stay-strong-when-your-resolutions-falter">colossal failures</a>. Researchers say less than 50&nbsp;percent of resolutions are abandoned after only three&nbsp;months. Ultimately, fewer than 20 percent of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-new-years-resolutions-you-should-make-and-keep-to-guarantee-your-success">New Year’s resolutions</a> are successful.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/do-these-5-things-to-actually-stick-to-your-goals">Do These 5 Things to (Actually) Stick to Your Goals</a>

The key to staying on track to lose weight, spend more time with family or reach <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/5-money-mistakes-that-are-ruining-your-credit">personal finance goals</a> is in the setup as much as the execution. Next month in How To, we’ll discuss ways you can stay on track through the whole year, but the first step—goal-setting—is most important. The case studies that follow offer real-life resolution wins and bombs, but here are some guidelines for reaching your goals this year and onward.

<ul>
	<li class="BODY">Be realistic. If you have struggled with your weight for a lifetime, expecting yourself to lose your belly fat by swimsuit season might be too big a mountain to climb.</li>
	<li class="BODY">Inspire yourself. Create a goal that makes you excited. For example, if you really want to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/7-ways-to-save-money-by-simplifying-your-life">get your spending under control</a>, set a savings goal for an experience that you cannot wait to do. For example, “Pay off my credit card and save $3,000 so I can join my best friends on a trip to Cuba this winter.”</li>
	<li class="BODY">Identify and trust the process. If your goal is weight loss, the goal might not be a specific weight, but hiring a nutritionist, exercising two days weekly, and cutting sugar out of your diet.</li>
	<li class="BODY">Celebrate the wins. In addition to big goals, identify smaller landmarks to recognize, and bake in how you will celebrate. Growing your business to a certain sales figure might be met with the reward of a new laptop, or great tickets to a sporting event. Keep the good vibes going all year long.</li>
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<h3 class="COLUMNS-DEPT_COL-DEPT-PullQuote rtecenter">The key to staying on track to lose weight, spend more time with family or reach personal finance goals is in the setup as much as the execution.</h3>

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<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="SarahShaw" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39103 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/sarah_shaw_1gray.png" style="width: 15%; margin: 4px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Sarah Shaw</h2>

53; product launch consultant, founder of Sarah Shaw Consulting and podcast host; Durango, Colorado

For years I did New Year’s resolutions all wrong. I’d over-commit myself, have lofty ideas about what to tackle in my personal and professional lives, and essentially over-promise and under-deliver. Everyone would be let down in my various projects, including me. Then I learned to make the ultimate commitment to each goal and not only write down that objective, but about 50 micro-steps it would take to get there. Each goal would end up taking pages and pages of notebook space. If the goal requires <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-money-habits-that-are-leaving-you-broke">saving money</a>, I set up a separate bank account and a system for putting away a certain sum. Last year I set the goal of creating an online course, which I couldn’t do on my own and I had no experience with. So I created a long to-do list that included finding a partner to help me, and all the tiny steps required to create, launch and run the program. It worked: The program launched and is now profitable.

<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="LauraAllen " class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39104 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/laura_allen_gray.png" style="width: 15%; margin: 4px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Laura Allen</h2>

46; founder of ThePitchGirl.com and public relations coach; New York City

My biggest problem was being too vague. In the past, I’d set goals like, “<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/how-to-make-more-money">make more money.</a>” That got me nowhere. The key has been for me to create very specific goals. For example, in my business, last year I&nbsp;wanted to grow my bottom line, so I set a very specific income goal. I calculated that I needed 10 new clients to get there, and I could work against that metric. But it needed to be even more specific so that I could visualize what I wanted my life to look like and then make it happen. This also included being&nbsp;super-specific about who my ideal client is. In the past two years, I have been <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/9-ways-to-achieve-your-biggest-goals-quickly">exceeding my goals</a>, and I have never been happier with the work I do each day.

<img alt="SusanPierceThompson" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__39107 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/susanpiercethompson.png" style="width: 15%; margin: 8px; float: left;" typeof="foaf:Image" />

<h2 class="BODY">Susan Peirce Thompson</h2>

43; adjunct associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester and founder and CEO of Bright Line Eating; Rochester, New York

In the past, I was very ambitious come Jan. 1 and would create what I call brittle resolutions—meaning that if I fell off track because life got in the way, the whole goal was blown. For example, a few years ago I&nbsp;created a big calendar on the wall to track my New Year’s resolutions: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/why-exercise-makes-us-happy">Exercise</a> Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, blog every single Wednesday, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/i-actually-tried-meditation-for-30-days-this-is-what-happened">meditate</a> 30 minutes every single day. I was actually perfect in accomplishing my goals until the fall, when I had a major business challenge, and everything in my life was put on hold, including those fitness goals.

Now I create flexible frameworks. Instead of specific daily goals, I set out to exercise 14 times per month. That way, if I get sick or have to travel and miss a few days of working out, I am more incentivized to exercise to meet my goal and not give up like I would have under my brittle regimen.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-expert-tips-to-simplify-your-goals">5 Expert Tips to Simplify Your Goals</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-january-2018-chip-and-joanna-gaines.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January 2018 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.
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Great goal setting is the first step to success this new year. &nbsp;

Great goal setting is the first step to success this new year. &nbsp; | SUCCESS

How to Set Solid Resolutions

How to Set Solid Resolutions | SUCCESS

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Listen. That is the best business advice I’ve heard and heeded in my lifetime. Listen to the spark that lights inside of you. Follow that spark and nurture it. Listen to your market, whether your market is clients, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/7-ways-to-be-the-best-mentor-ever">people you mentor</a>, those you serve through volunteer work or members of your community. Your market will tell you what works and what doesn’t. Your spark, you will find, aligns with what your market tells you. Effectively serving your market will fan that spark, which makes you more effective and more powerful, which only feels amazing. It’s a feedback loop that is one part tactical, one part magical.
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I often meet <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/feeling-stuck-heres-how-to-break-free">people who are stuck</a>, unsure how to find a job or hobby or service project that really lights their spark. Here is my advice to them and you:

<h3 class="BODY">Act.</h3>

Don’t take time off to think about your life path, or stay put until lightning strikes. Get out there. Try new things. Be active. Meet and spend time with new people. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/the-real-reason-traveling-makes-you-happy">Travel</a>. Explore. Work—work really hard. As famed chef Julia Child said, “You must have discipline to have fun.”

<h3 class="BODY">Serve.</h3>

All of the science is with me on this: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/what-you-can-learn-from-the-happiest-people-in-the-world">Humans are happiest</a> when they serve others. At every juncture of your passion-finding, ask: How are my time, energy, focus, skills and talents best used for a greater good?

<h3 class="BODY">Have fun. </h3>

See Julia Child’s quote above. Never feel guilty for spending time on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/15-inspiring-quotes-to-help-you-find-joy">something that gives you joy</a>.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/3-ways-to-discover-your-true-passion">3 Ways to Discover Your True Passion</a>

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<h3 class="LRG-PULL-QUOTE rtecenter">Listen to the spark that lights inside you. Follow that spark and nurture it.</h3>

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<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="Matt Schulz" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__38704 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/matt-schulz_gray.png" style="float: left; width: 25%; margin: 4px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Matt Schulz</h2>

44; founder of TalkingInClass.org; Austin, Texas

I have long been aware of the dire credit and debt problems Americans face, thanks to working in personal-finance media for a decade. But when I spoke with my son’s fifth-grade class about credit, it really ignited my passion for making a difference in financial literacy. I was blown away by these 10-year-olds’ interest in the topic and the thoughtful questions they asked. I realized that with my connections to the personal finance community, I have a powerful Rolodex of influential, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/19-wise-money-quotes">money-savvy people</a> who could have similar experiences to mine in classrooms in their community and have a real impact on the future lives of kids who rarely get the basic tools they need to make smart financial decisions. That inspired me to launch <a href="https://www.talkinginclass.org/about-us/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TalkingInClass.org</a>, an organization dedicated to recruiting personal-finance experts to volunteer in classrooms across the U.S., to make a real difference in childhood financial literacy. When I recruit my colleagues for this effort, I see the same passion I felt when I spoke to that first class.

<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="jodi ashbrook" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__38705 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/jodi_ashbrook_gray.png" style="float: left; width: 25%; margin: 4px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Jodi Ashbrook</h2>

35; speaker, author, traveling yoga instructor, entrepreneur and life coach; Hamilton, Ohio

At 24, my life had become a string of negative thought patterns and why-am-I-even-here? moments. I tried to find comfort in food, which led to an 80-pound weight gain. I found myself disconnected from all of my relationships and in <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/got-debt-take-these-5-steps-to-get-it-under-control">debt up to my ears</a>. A few months after a suicide attempt, I faced death again from two blood clots in my lungs. I made a commitment to no longer live my life in fear, to say yes to risks and opportunities, and to follow my passion—no matter how scared I might be. Through teaching yoga and my coaching practice, I found that helping others, as opposed to focusing on my own problems, gives me the greatest joy. Since then, I launched my first business, became a yoga instructor and studio owner, and began living a mobile life committed to wellness advocacy and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/13-transformative-quotes-to-inspire-your-personal-growth">personal growth</a>. Today I am free.

<h2 class="BODY"><img alt="meredith cohen" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__38706 img__view_mode__full" src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/sites/default/files/meredith_cohen_gray.png" style="float: left; width: 25%; margin: 4px;" typeof="foaf:Image" />Meredith Cohen</h2>

35; occupational therapist; Plymouth, Massachusetts

After college, I worked in one of the nation’s largest advertising agencies as a senior media planner until my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I knew there wasn’t much medicine could do to stop the disease, but we could improve his quality of life. This led me to research and find strong evidence between Tai Chi, yoga, boxing and improved sense of balance, strength and confidence for those living with Parkinson’s. I also looked at my quality of life and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/6-essential-habits-for-getting-the-career-you-want">satisfaction with my career</a>. This was the catalyst that called me to do something more meaningful with my professional life. I contacted a friend at Massachusetts General Hospital who set me up to shadow nurses and physical and occupational therapists, and I immediately fell in love with the art of occupational therapy. I gave my two weeks’ notice at the advertising agency and started the arduous process of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-lessons-on-how-to-make-a-successful-career-change">beginning a new career</a>. In the past several years as an occupational therapist, I’ve received multiple awards, become an advanced clinician and created multiple programs specifically for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. It was a scary process, but each day when I help make someone’s life better, I know it was all worth it.

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-ways-to-find-passion-and-purpose-in-your-life">4 Ways to Find Passion and Purpose in Your Life</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/success-magazine-december-2017-jennifer-hyman.html?_ga=2.69250640.1967426781.1510585103-1193436915.1465829578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">December 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.

Listen to the spark that lights inside you.

Listen to the spark that lights inside you. | SUCCESS

How to Find the Thing That Gives You Joy

How to Find the Thing That Gives You Joy | SUCCESS

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Success

Success Archives

Success | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

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Can you be a titan of whatever your given passion and enjoy an equally successful romantic partnership—not to mention life?

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-8-traits-of-healthy-relationships">8 Traits of Healthy Relationships</a>

Chris Donaghue, Ph.D., a therapist with a practice in Los Angeles, and co-host of CBS’s <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/loveline-with-amber-rose/id1149119909?mt=2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loveline with Amber Rose Podcast</a>, has many high-profile and successful clients. He thinks it is possible to have it all.

But it requires both parties to recognize that the relationship takes just as much work as their careers—and an enormous amount of <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/why-successful-leaders-need-to-learn-humility">humility</a>.

“Business values are not same as healthy relational values, and they are often in complete opposition,” Donaghue says. “Business often requires no emotionality and is all about being rational, productive and answering, ‘What is this going do for me?’ ” he says. “Personal relationships are the opposite: They are going to do nothing for you! Just being is your only goal, and you often can’t schedule for it. The person who built an empire must unlearn much of what made them so successful if they want their relationship to work.”

Related: <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-important-truths-of-lasting-relationships">4 Important Truths of Lasting Relationships</a>

Professional leaders who also thrive in their personal lives are those who learn to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/secret-to-a-happy-marriage-put-your-spouse-first">value their partners as an equal</a>—regardless of their social capital, whether financial wealth, connections or physical beauty. “Highly successful people are used to being the most important person in the room, but that doesn’t work at home,” Donaghue says.

Often keeping the relationship alive and healthy might require drastic changes, including in one’s social circle, and ceasing reliance on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-ways-to-avoid-social-media-envy">social media approval</a>. “We are highly influenced by people we surround ourselves with, and an obsession with your social media following that prioritizes cars and vacations and big houses, makes you disconnected from what is important. It is important to have peers who focus on something meaningful in their lives.”

Ironically, Donaghue says that he teaches his highly successful clients how to apply the interpersonal relationship tool to their businesses. “I teach the billionaires who sit in my office that if you listen to your clients’ stories about their grandchildren, and you make them feel human, they are far more likely to buy from&nbsp;you.”

Related:&nbsp;<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/dr-henry-cloud-the-most-important-part-of-success-is-connection">The Most Important Part of Success Is Connection</a>

&nbsp;

This article originally appeared in the <a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-september-2017-elon-musk.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">September 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.
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It requires both parties to recognize that the relationship takes just as much work as their careers—and an enormous amount of humility.

It requires both parties to recognize that the relationship takes just as much work as their careers—and an enormous amount of humility. | SUCCESS

Can You Really Be Successful at Both Business and Relationships?

Can You Really Be Successful at Both Business and Relationships? | SUCCESS

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