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Key Takeaways
You can't control how people act, but you can control your own response.
It's okay to say "no"
Keep reading for 8 more business strategies.
In 2013, I made a life-changing decision. I decided to "take a break" from my dream job, which
while amazing, was also fast-paced and demanding. I gained invaluable experience,
opportunities, connections and more as a law firm partner, but my personal life suffered.
I was fortunate to have had financial success that enabled a break, and this difficult decision
catapulted me into becoming a full-time entrepreneur. While I miss some things about being a
part of a law firm, I love setting the pace of my own life and that I still help others daily, just in a
different way.
2. No matter how good you are at what you do, some people will still
treat you like you aren't
You might expect that after over two decades as a lawyer and achieving both legal industry
accolades and marketing industry awards, those I talk to and work with would always treat me
with respect. You'd be wrong. No matter how many years of schooling, degrees, years of
experience and awards you have, some people will always try to make you feel small, treat you
as if you do not matter and belittle your skills.
Don't work with those people. Don't employ those people. Don't allow those people to impact
your energy and success.
3. You cannot control your clients, but you can only control how you
respond to them
Most marketing agencies do not refund client money after being paid. I used to feel the same
way — I did the work, you paid me, and I deserved to be paid. Fear of having done a bad job,
fear of not being able to afford to refund that money and fear of that client keep owners myopic.
Success has allowed me the privilege to evolve.
I had a client who was negative and abrasive and refused to collaborate. Even though we
delivered everything they paid for, the firm was still unhappy. So, I fired them and refunded
every cent of their money. While this made my business lose money, the financial price was
worth it.
After ten years, two days still seems pretty quick, but it does not take long to know if a new hire
is the wrong one. The longer you wait to deal with it, the worse things get for the new hire and
the existing team. Cut your losses early, allowing that person to move on and you to start looking
for the right fit.
7. Saying "no" leaves room to say "yes" to opportunities you don't know
about yet
It is scary to say no to paid opportunities early in the life of your business but remember, each
engagement is a partnership, and you should only partner when it can be mutually successful.
Prevent doomed collaborations on the front end.
Gauge compatibility by paying attention to how they speak to and email you, the "story" of how
they came to be in their current position, and more. Every client you choose to work with can
come at the expense of being able to take on another, better opportunity you might not know
about yet.
No one on my team is required to work outside of normal business hours. No one on my team
has their work email on their mobile device. I no longer provide clients with my personal (and
only) cell phone number. Establishing boundaries like these makes work healthier and more
productive.
10. If you can't pay yourself as an owner, you are not doing it right
A surprising number of business owners I consider successful cannot and do not pay themselves
at all. Their businesses do not generate sufficient revenue to allow the owner to make an income.
If you cannot pay yourself (after a reasonable startup time, of course), you are not succeeding.
You should reevaluate your financial position, overall business plan, and whether or not owning
a business is the right choice for you.