24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week. Junior investment bankers regularly work 80-90 hours a week. Many other high profile professions require the same level of commitment. Often those on the outside claim that working 80-90 hours a week is bad/wrong/terrible/silly/etc but we’ve spoken with so many folks who say working that much has been the best decision of their life – it allowed them to develop a deep and strong skill set far faster than would have been possible otherwise. In other words, by working 2x the hours, they were able to generate 5x or more the rewards. And depending on where you are in your career, investing heavily in your skills and competence can pay dividends for a long time.

Ann LoParo | Pastry Chef, CEO & Baking Instructor

The most important factor behind my success is perseverance and learning how to adjust over and over and over and over again. I know that baking is my passion and once I began teaching baking classes, I found a new way to fall in love with baking by helping make it less stressful and more fun for my students. I have hit a TON of roadblocks and been told many times to give up, and I just cannot stop. I just keep trying to find creative ways to keep this business going. I run it alone with no business background and it is the most challenging thing I have ever taken on. I am 6 1/2 years in and still pushing forward. I have gone from a catering business to a baking school to a virtual baking school to a school without a location for 3 years and recently found a home for my school and its been amazing! Read more>>

Althea Young | Founder & CEO

It may sound cliche but the most important factor of success in my business is the Golden Rule, treating people the way I would like to be treated. Customer connection is a huge part of what makes my brand successful. When you are a small business it is one of the main things that sets your business apart. I encourage my staff to build relationships with our clientele giving them a focused experience from conceptualization to the end product. My clients get to know and interact with me as the CEO and as a human being. NoBasis is all about self expression, it’s a challenge to have people express themselves or even be themselves, if they don’t feel welcome and accepted. This customer satisfaction and the loyalty it brings truly makes our brand stand out. Read more>>

Written Soul | Songwriter & Business Owner

Hope. It’s funny because I was going to speak on my thought process behind starting my own business when it hit me with this one that they’re one in the same-the answers anyway, and that’s hope. We give people back their hope here at Left 2B Write. We hit them with a firm, love filled “yes you can, and you will if you really want to. We’ve got your back.” Read more>>

Jennifer Meiners | Owner, MPT Meiners Performance Training LLC

Let’s extract the word success from this question, if we are being honest, I haven’t reached success yet. I am only two years in to developing my brand/business and I have set a very high bar for myself. The most important factor behind the day to day of my brand/business are my customers and clients. Without them, MPT would not exist. I worked very hard to develop a culture within MPT, I set the standard high and cross connect as many folks that step through my gym as I can. This provides everyone with a strong support system, along with accountability that is not solely coming from me as their coach/trainer. I have a strong group of leaders within MPT that carry the same high standard of work ethic which I demand from everyone that steps through may doors. Read more>>