a sandcastle birthday cake at the beach as a metaphor for a business anniversary

What are you celebrating this Labor Day?

Maybe it’s the end of a memorable, or not-so-memorable, summer. Perhaps it’s a peek into a vibrant autumn. My wish for you is exactly what you want.

For me, today marks 5 years of my business, The Carrelle Company.

The name and the business were born on Labor Day 2018. Here’s the origin story: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-name-carrelle-company-born-labor-day-caroline-leach/?trackingId=%2FYVREys1T0irvUPtHkln%2BA%3D%3D

It’s a labor of love, evolving from 3 decades in the Fortune 100. I held corporate leadership roles in communications and marketing.

It’s an ideal foundation to become an executive coach, a communications and personal branding consultant, a keynote speaker, and a university professor.

Here’s what I’ve learned, for corporate careers AND entrepreneurial ventures.

HAVE A PLAN, AND STAY FLEXIBLE

A viable business or career needs a good plan. Who are you going to serve? How will you meet their needs? How will they know about you? Why will they want to work with you?

And a plan only goes so far. Along the way, there’s feedback about what’s working. For me, executive coaching came later. My calendar showed people wanted to talk about leadership. Being flexible fueled the addition of coaching.

VIBRANT RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING

What we want professionally usually involves getting it from another person. The strength of a network is what helps a business or a career grow and thrive over time.

In my case, some exceptional early introductions led to the establishment of key clients who continue to this day. Nurturing relationships and delivering great work are imperative. So is paying it forward to open doors for others.

DON’T FALL FOR THE “SUCCESS PORN”

Overnight success doesn’t exist, despite what our social media feeds say. “The slog” isn’t talked about much. That’s the day-to-day action toward a business or career vision. The outreach. The conversations. The proposals. And sometimes the rejection. The silence.

What really matters? Working on a business every weekday, in harmony with an overall life. Identifying opportunities, persisting through obstacles, and building on bright spots. If a door is closed, it’s possible to open a window.

What would YOU add to these lessons?

 

P.S. In July and August I posted to LinkedIn every day as a content creation experiment. It’s been fun and rewarding, reconnecting with many of you in the process. Going forward, I’ll post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.