Share your Successes!

Just for the record... I'M JEALOUS!

Congratulations all!

-Andrey

I know it sounds corny, and I know that even using the word "corny" is not very indie, but I have found that putting positive energy into my community in the form of volunteer work has unintentionally been a strong factor in the success of my business.

It's important to keep volunteer time to an amount that does not interfere too much with stream of income (props to Mikelann Valterra), but many of my clients tell me they chose me over other professionals in my line of work because of my commitment to the community as evidenced by my ongoing volunteerism.

Those clients make referrals to their friends, which has grown my business to full-time-plus and each year about half of my new clients are referrals from previous clients.

A great benefit to my business: I've noticed that clients who value volunteerism tend to be people who are wonderful to work with. I've never had a "difficult" client who was referred from a previous client or who tracked me down to hire me after learning about my volunteer work.

So, my "success" has been growing my company to full time status while enjoying all the personal growth that volunteering promotes. And getting clients who are a joy to work with as a result.

Nancy

My life has been full of successes and plenty of failures that lead to them. Each situation that I have encountered that would normally have been considered a discouragement, I have chosen not to call it a "problem" but instead to refer to it as a "situation" and turn it into an "opportunity".

It's not how many times you fall down, but rather how many times you get back up. Look for the opportunities in the obsticles you face and never give up.

This thread deserves to be at the top. Successes are for sharing. That list of wisdom and achievements gets me fired up. Thanks, Noreen.

"Business can be hard work and lonely," but we can over come that with sharing the successes. I don't know why there wouldn't be 200 postings on this thread alone every month.

Glad this thread came alive again and was brought to my attention. Congratulations on all the great successes I just read about.

I was drinking a glass of wine when I read the "bitch slap" post - almost spit wine all over my PowerBook. It would have been a horrible waste of wine. The B.S. term is one I use often.

My most recent success: My new book, Identity Crisis!, was released this past week and is just now hitting bookstores. It was one year from signed contract to submitted final manuscript. It's book number two for me - but the one I really wanted to write.

I feel as if I'm ready for a recovery program now that the book is shipping. That begins next Friday with running away to Italy for two+ weeks.

Best wishes for continued success to all.

Jeff, I'm glad you like my BS phrase! Glad I didn't ruin your Powerbook or your wine! :)

So my most recent success is selling Mommy's Company.com! I sold it for over 500 percent more than I bought it for...so go ME! I also got to make a $400 donation to the Special Olympics, an organization that both my husband and I adore! And, the remaining money is covering almost all of the medical bills that have piled up in the last few months - it was a lifesaver!

My other success is not so much of my doing, but of nature or god or whatever one may believe. I have a condition that is causing me to lose my sight, and we found out this week that it isn't a tumor or blockage in my brain, but a condition that is caused by hormonal imbalances. This is good news! I am joining the registry for my condition, and the Intracranial Hypertension Research Foundation, and plan to host a fundraiser for the foundation next spring. I will also be working with Biznik Amanda Anderson, ND to restore balance to my body and mind. Thanks, Amanda!

This is all great news for my family and we celebrated all weekend. I felt compelled to share with my Biznik family. Many of you have supported me more than you know!

Thanks so much, and I look forward to reading about everyone's success!

Congratulations on both fronts Brianna, good for you! -Leif

I agree we need to keep this at the top. Too many people focus on their failures. Yes, we learn from them, but our successes have just as many lessons for us if we just pay attention.

Good going everyone.

Warmly,

Lynn www.CoachWithLynn.com

Brianna -

Congratulations on the successful sale of your business - and best wishes for continued improvement in dealing with your health issues.

This past month I was completely cured of the chronic vertigo I dealt with for over three years. It's incredible to be moving forward with such improved health - and I hope your issues are resolved.

• J.

That's wonderful, Jeff! Feeling good makes a big impact in our businesses. I'm so glad I'm on my way!

My successes... my shameless self-promo and how I did it....

huh. I rebelled!!!! I got fired and said "screw this whole I cant be myself bs! I'm working for myself and I'm going to be the freak that I am and work with the people I want!!!" then dan n lara came up with "the biz group" and I had a growing network of nutcases to support my growth from my home-based practice to my practice on broadway. Intention, being myself and having a bung-load of courage has kept me going in business. asking for help, admitting when I am wrong or slacking, and paying attention thru the years to new advice and education was how I created my current successes. these days - my success is just continuing to go on even thru some really tough times of personal doubt. How did I do it?

I had

a little help

from my friends

not to mention I grew up and really got that my business and my desire to be myself in my business was no longer about me.

so I guess you could say that expanding my ideas and "getting bigger" (as apposed to "playing small") has made my personal goals to make myself happy has expanded into influencing my larger community and the world with the ideas that have made me experience deep personal freedom and fulfillment.

Update on our Green Halloween initiative.

--Story in the Seattle Times last Sunday with a photo of Corey on the front page along with story inside. Here's a link to the story (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2003965019_greenhalloween21e.html)

--Corey also has done radio and two TV news casts coming up this week.

--We've gotten noted in a number of blogs. An aside on the power of blogs. One notice brought us more than 500 unique visitors to our website and at an event several people came up to me to say they had read about us on this blog (Red Tricycle by the way) and that's why they showed up

--We raised $12,000 for Treeswing, a non profit that works on health and nutrition in the schools, through a five percent day at two Whole Foods locations.

--We've had interest from a number of people who are interested in sponsoring next year on a national basis.

--Every day we're getting interest from around the country.

We're pretty breathless right now, excited and a bit overwhelmed. Our nice little plan has simply been blown to smithereens and we're going with the flow, at least until after Halloween when we can regroup and re-plan.

Warmly,

Lynn (http://www.CoachWithLynn.com) (http://www.GreenHalloween.org)

The first review just came out for my debut novel Chasing Tales in Seattle Magazine and it was fantastic! I couldn't have been happier. The reviewer both loved and got my book. She gave me an A- and I'm over the moon. This is also the first book by my new small press La Familia Publishing so it is a double wow that I could get any reviewers to take a look at me, let alone actually get on into a magazine. I can't believe it, but I love it! Here's to being a David in the world of Goliath.

Cheers,
Lanae

Lanae, congratulations, WRITING a novel is an accomplishment. Getting it noticed and a good review is fantastic. May this be the first of many.

Warmly,

Lynn (http://www.CoachWithLynn.com)

My latest success is getting my profil on biznik!

I've also just today completed a major market research project for wonderful client. Life is good!

I'm getting referrals from people I don't know and new clients contacting me based on simply having found my website. (I'm actually receiving emails and Biznik messages complimenting me on my presentation of my information.) So I totally understand your success this week, Noreen! That's some fabulous news. :)

A bit of shameless self promotion here. My business partner gave a workshop at the Future Of WebApps conference in London a few weeks ago, on the topic of "Scaling The LAMP Stack". He just posted his slides on slideshare.com a couple of days ago. I've got a link up on my blog at http://mhalligan.livejournal.com/75856.html

It is important to celebrate small successes. It can be easy to get bogged down on the things that are NOT happening.

My business partner just split after six months in business together. Got cold feet for being in business for himself (ourselves). Why do I post this as a "success"? Because sometimes things that seem bad are actually a turning point and the kick in the you-know-what you need to succeed. Business has actually PICKED UP since his departure, and I feel like the best is around the corner.

I am happy about where I am professionally, how my business is positioned and what the future holds.

We just had our 1st official 'staff meeting' for the REDEFAS Foundation. Came up with a game plan for the rest of the year and 2008 (including a comedy show/fundraiser!). Been having good feedback and reviews for the program.

Opened up the Tacoma BizBuilders meeting and laid the groundwork (set the date/place) for the Lynnwood chapter.

Congratulations to everyone on a good month!

Hi guys,

I (and my business Spark Northwest) was featured in the National section of the LA times because of the 'soul-tech' workshop we've been doing. In addition, I just found out this morning it was republished in the Chicago Tribune today and have had multiple radio interview offers since (KOMO this wed). Follow the link above to check out the LA Times article.

I needed to give a shout-out to Biznik, because I believe it was due in part to their great SEO that this workshop was originally found by the reporter. Thanks guys!

Let's hope this good press turns into good business. Cheers, Leif