67 entrepreneur share their most valuable business lessons of 2015

3. OWN YOURSELF
Carolyn Michelman:
Once you fully OWN
YOURSELF and what you
have to offer is when the
Magic begins to happen!
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4. OWN YOURSELF
Amy Lindner-Lesser:
The biggest lesson I learned
is to take control of my life
and business – to stop being
a victim and take action to
change what needs to be
changed (eg. firing when the
person isn't working out). I am
more than a survivor; I am a
thriver!!!
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5. START ANYWHERE
Theresa Pidcock:
I didn't know what I didn't
know! That's one of the
reasons I'm so thankful for
Uplevel! The tried and true
"start here"...
Takes so much of the drama/
stress/unknown away!
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6. START ANYWHERE
Sheelagh Aherne:
Just get out there and be!
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7. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Julia Jordan:
I don’t need certainty to take that
next step (Big Aha)…to take
action even and especially
imperfect action is a powerful
thing... AND my pace is okay…no
comparisons needed or even
allowed Thank You for all you
have contributed in my business
shifts this year!
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8. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Kristine Helmstetter:
I learned a great lesson this year
that can be summed up by a
Maya Angelou quote “If you do
what you’ve always done, you’ll
get what you’ve always got.” Thus
my 2016 will/must be full of
actions and not just hopes.
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9. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Kate Saraswati:
#1 Lesson I learned is to listen to your gut
and take action. Analysis Paralysis gets you
nowhere. I have a tendency to talk myself
out of doing things because of fear of
making a poor decision. Imperfect
decisions are better than doing than same
thing over and over and expecting a
different result. Changing it up for 2016 !
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10. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Dawn Ingram:
I learned small, strategic action
can lead to big results. That and
imperfection at the right time is
more lucrative than perfection at
the wrong time.
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11. DO IT SCARED
Mariela Mcheik:
The number one lesson was
letting go of fear, and allowing
others to be themselves and
not impose just my ideas!
Every employee brings
something unique to the work
place.💕
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12. DO IT SCARED
Tammy Noble:
Fear gets you no where.
Do Something!
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13. DO IT SCARED
Pam Bauer:
Feel the fear and do it anyway!
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14. DO IT SCARED
Jane Carter:
Do it scared. The confidence
will come later (it does!!).
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15. DO IT SCARED
Ann Ellinger Magee:
Biggest Lesson this year: Be
Brave. Feel the fear and Do it
anyway. Don't wait for the fear to
go away before you step up.
The fear goes away AFTER you
do it.
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16. DO IT SCARED
Paula Christen:
Learning to do it scared and
growing use to the feeling of
being scared but moving
forward.
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17. DO IT SCARED
Kelley Lindsley:
I learned that stepping out of my
box is really not scary once out
of it.
It's just putting my foot past the
line…
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18. DO IT SCARED
Christine Werbenuk:
Waiting is not an option. Do it
scared. Start today.
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19. DO IT SCARED
Wynn Archibald Godbold:
Fear is part of the bullshit story
you tell yourself.
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20. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Glad Doggett:
The biggest lesson I learned
this year from my business is:
Marketing is service.It's the best
way for your ideal clients to find
you so that you can help them
solve their problems and be
successful.
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21. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Leah Ferree Taylor:
#1 biggest lesson for me is that clients
are not going to be calling and
chasing me down unless they know I
am actually ready for business. All the
back end stuff is great and fun to work
on but marketing and connecting with
people to let them know what I am
doing is what is going to bring the $$$
in!
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22. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Tambra Ray:
There have so many great take-away's
as a result of this year and the Uplevel
program, but the one thing I would say
that is interesting and oh-so-beneficial is
for me to remember that marketing is
service. It helps me to remember I'm not
being pushy or "sales-y" ... I am being of
service when I stay in touch with my
peeps and provide valuable content.
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23. TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION
Kelly Beischel:
#1 lesson: My job is to market
my value to the client. If I don't
do that I am not serving the
client or myself.
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24. GET OUT OF THE
STRUGGLE MINDSET
Chrissie B. DiAngelus:
This should not feel like constant
struggle or living in and working
with clients who exist in a constant
state of lack. There is good smart
work out there and ways of
modeling my business that mean I
do the work I love and get paid well.
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25. YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO
Dana Dunham Wagar:
"We are what we
continually do!" *BOOM*
Life. Changing.
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26. VALUE YOUR TIME
Nicole Valentine-
Rimmer:
That my time is valuable
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27. VALUE YOUR WORK
Shelley Ware:
The products have
transformed my life and my
willingness to be open and
share my testimony is why
people trust me to lead them.
Be Me!
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28. VALUE YOUR WORK
Sara J. Marchessault:
It is more important to feel connected
to the services and products you offer
than it is to just do the thing that makes
the most money. If I don't value what I
do, no one else will either. My work as
an entrepreneur starts with me - every
single time. When I "buy it" others will
too.
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29. BE CONSISTENT
Patty Bailey Sheets:
That consistency in
ANYTHING really is the
answer to success in that
area!!
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30. BE CONSISTENT
Dina Kennedy:
To be congruent and consistent!
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31. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Kim Bultsma:
Believe in yourself.
Comparing yourself to
others only sets
you up for failure. I can--and
will--be successful!
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32. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Carolyn Witt:
I can do absolutely anything
and I, more than anyone else,
need to remember that.
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33. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Nell Schroer:
What if it's possible that I have
everything I need, to be
successful right now?" I do,
indeed!
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34. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Jill Kohlenberg:
I've learned to believe in myself
and trust in the consistent action
that I continue to take. A year and
a half after jumping "all in" to my
business, I finally am feeling and
trusting that "there's always more
where that came from"!
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35. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Kmberly Restivo:
#1 Lesson: To trust,value
and share my own voice
and message. Connection is
my path to financial growth.
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36. GET COMFORTABLE
WITH SILENCE
Mary Stiers Miller:
"Don't keep babbling on TRYING to
close a sale, stop talking, let there
be that moment of discomfort &
tension of silence after presenting
an offer." So powerful. That was a
DOOZIE, thank you for that
Christine Kane. Being a comedian,
getting comfortable with silence
really was a challenge. I kind of love
it now.
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37. BE AWARE; BE SEEN
Christy Lewis Dickison:
My #1 lesson is Awareness.
Actively enrolling in my life and
my business has been life altering
(although really scary and new).
Showing up, being seen, and
expanding fully into the present
are some of the bravest things
I've done this year.
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38. YOUR BUSINESS IS A FORM OF
CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Carrie Sanderson:
My #1 lesson is that my business is
like my art - another form of creative
expression, and as such it's possible
to create my business the way I want
it to be that is fun, as well as a "tool"
for growth, using my skills, talents and
abilities to their highest potential, and
which inspires people.
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39. Priscilla Gresens:
Gratitude is the biggest key. Not just
saying thank you, but actually feeling
gratitude for their business. What you give
out you will get in return. The law of
attraction is necessary. So, talk to them
and really be interested in them. Thank
them, even if they don't buy anything.
Then, dont talk behind their backs
because the universe knows and that is
were true gratitude and attraction are.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
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40. GET CLEAR ON WHO YOUR
IDEAL CLIENTS ARE
Daniela LeBlanc:
Be clear and consistent in your
communication. Getting really
clear about who my clients are
really made such a huge
difference, it eliminated so many
mental and emotional roadblocks
I had. Thanks for helping me
Uplevel!
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41. GET CLEAR ON WHO YOUR
IDEAL CLIENTS ARE
Denise Moser:
I have learned to say yes, and
to trust, through anxiety, that I
can deliver as I stretch upward.
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42. GET CLEAR ON WHO YOUR
IDEAL CLIENTS ARE
Whitney Bishop:
Everything I need to deliver
transformative experiences is
right in front of me. It's not "out
there" it's right here. Trusting my
knowledge, experience and
wisdom to create programs and
experiences that serve my
clients.
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43. GET CLEAR ON WHO YOUR
IDEAL CLIENTS ARE
Cheryl Krieger Brown:
I have to first believe in myself
and be confident and clear in
what I have to offer, before I
can expect others to want to
work with me.
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44. SET UP SYSTEMS
Corinne Meharg:
The biggest lesson I got from
(our)/my businesses this year
was that if you set up systems
and operate them from a point
of love and integrity, they
translate to ANY business and
to your life. People watch what
you do and learn from you. You
pay it forward.
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45. SET UP SYSTEMS
Cheryl Legare:
I had a big aha moment that will inform my
actions in 2016. I must recreate my business
to support me and my life but not to
consume me or be my life (as it has been for
so long). What this means for 2016 Is that I
will develop systems that streamline
processes and provide consistency in the
experiences we are providing our clients. It
is going to be amazing!!!
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46. SET UP SYSTEMS
Gloria Najecki:
It's important to have systems
and policies in place for my
clients to follow or they'll just
come up with their own version of
how things are going to go.
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47. SET UP SYSTEMS
Mellissa Knowles de Oliveira:
Systems are sexy...don't wait for
perfect to show up just start,
step, act...
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48. TRUST YOUR GUT
Gina Spriggs:
I've learned to trust my gut.
You would think that would be
automatic in my line of
work,.but NO! I was doing
things that "appeared to make
sense" but didn’t FEEL right,
and it blew up in my face!
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49. DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
Pamela Woodruff:
What makes your heart sing?
Talk about that with others till
you figure out how to do it as a
business. Don't bother with the
ideas you "can" do - do what
you "must" do, what you do
already because you love it.
That's where the treasure is.
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50. CREATE AND WORK
FROM A PLAN
Christy Brennan
Soukhamneut:
Create a plan. Don't bite off too
much. Stick to the plan. Say no
to things that are not in the plan,
but alter the plan if reassessment
shows something isn't working.
Planning is fluid and ongoing not
stagnant and dusty.
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51. DISCOVER YOUR TRUE CALLING
Rose Forbes:
I learned that I was in the wrong
business. By admitting that
coaching couples wasn't bringing
me joy anymore, I discovered that
my calling has always been
teaching (which coaching was too).
Now I plan to teach Cooking, which
has always fueled my creative
juices.
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52. BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU
Nancie Welsh Benson:
The only way I can make this
work is to be authentically me
first, then focus on how I can
help others in a way I really
enjoy working. And to stop
worrying what other people
think of me.
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53. BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU
Kisha M. Coston:
Be Authentic speak from your
passion and stay clear about
your intention.
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54. BE AUTHENTICALLY YOU
Tanya Martello Gauthier:
Work from the heart!
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55. KNOW YOUR WHY
Jennifer Irene:
My "why?" is the foundation of
everything
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56. DON’T DO IT ALONE
Michelle Clauson LaRue:
Don't try to do it alone.
Besides, it's way more fun to
bring other people along for
the ride!
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57. DON’T DO IT ALONE
Cassie premo steele:
This is a soul journey and
getting support is essential to
the process.
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58. OPEN YOURSELF UP TO
THE POSSIBILITIES
Rachel Claret:
When you open yourself up to
possibilities,
amazing things happen.
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59. ASK AND LISTEN
Elizabeth McDonald:
ASK what my clients need.
LISTEN. And then wrap it up
in a beautiful bow of WHY I
want to give it to them. Do this
FIRST and the how will
become apparent.
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60. HAVE YOUR OWN BACK
Reetu Kansal:
Do I have my back? One of the
biggest lessons for me has
been that having my own back
allows me to contribute ever
more to others and them to me!
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61. GET A GREAT COACH
Nicole Collard Siple:
In 2015, I learned that I need a
business mentor and I need a
good one too! Thanks for
showing up Christine, I'm loving
your magic.
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62. COURSE CORRECT WHEN
YOU GET OFF CENTER
Peggy Murphy Carlin:
Do what you love … Live in the
moment … Trust the process ...
And when you find yourself a
little " left of center " take a
breath and know it's not the end
of the world and Course correct.
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63. LEARN TO SAY “NO”
Elisa Kosarin:
My #1 lesson is to follow the
energy. As I get deeper into my
business and start to to tweak
my services, I find myself saying
"no" more often to projects that I
don't enjoy.
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64. CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS
TO CHANGE YOUR OUTCOME
Candace Norton:
The only thing that had been
holding me back was the way I
was thinking. Change your
thoughts, change your outcome.
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65. CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS
TO CHANGE YOUR OUTCOME
Celia Triplett:
Sometimes it's strategy that
needs work, but sometimes,
sometimes it's mindset that is
keeping new business away.
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66. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES
Alexandre L'Eveille:
Bad things will happen. It's how
you learn from them that keeps
you moving forward.
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67. BE PRESENT
Barbara
Burns
Churchill:
Enjoy
the
process.
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68. BE PRESENT
MB
Huwe:
I'm
in
business
with
my
husband,
and
this
year
I've
seen
that
working
coopera<vely
together
requires
us
both
to
prac<ce
high
levels
of
self-­‐awareness,
accountability,
and
forgiveness
-­‐
imperfectly,
regularly,
and
with
commitment.
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69. NOW
IT’S
YOUR
TURN…
Did
you
no<ce
a
common
trend
here?
Share,
in
the
comments
below,
what
your
#1
lesson
was
for
2015,
or
which
of
these
truly
resonated
with
you
and
why.
I
hope
you
take
the
the
<me
to
stop
for
a
bit,
breathe,
sit
with
yourself
and
your
thoughts,
think
about
what
worked
in
2015
and
what
didn’t
and
why
that
may
be.
Then
set
a
clear
inten<on
for
2016.
Here’s
a
great
way
to
do
that…

70. Turn your business
lessons of 2015 into
powerful intention as
you begin the new
year by choosing
ONE word that can
drastically change
your business and
your life in 2016.
Click HERE to grab
your FREE Word of
the Year Discovery
Toolkit.