This month, February 2012, marks my 15 year anniversary in business. And boy does it ever make me nostalgic!
My daughter was only 5 months old when I quit my job to start a business. She'll be 16 this year, and my son - who was then only 5 years old - is turning 21 this Fall.
It's amazing how time flies...
I think back to all the reasons I quit my job, started my first business - and then my second, and shut down my offline shops & offices to work from home full time.
It has been one crazy roller coaster ride! But I can't help but feel grateful (and incredibly satisfied) about where it all brought me, and how it changed my life.
15 years ago I could have never dreamed I'd be living the life I am now...
That's not to mean that it took me 15 years to achieve my goals, or to create a successful online business. It has been an incredible experience every step of the way! I had the opportunity to homeschool my children when I needed to, take care of my grandmother during her last two years, be a full time mother as a single parent... and strategically create a life that I love. 😀
I'd hardly ever left the state of Tennessee before I was 30. I've now been to Australia FIVE times, flew over White Rock Beach in Vancouver, spend weekends at the beach with my girlfriends, and basically LIVE to put new stamps on my passport and eat in as many new places as I possibly can. (I do love to eat, LOL)
I'm incredibly happy. And that is NOT all about money. In fact, I learned the hard way that money does not buy happiness. But my business success HAS allowed me to be the great mother I wanted to be, to travel and make wonderful friends all over the world... and to have a huge sense of accomplishment and pride for all I have achieved. Not just in business, but in my life as well.
It wasn't all easy. I often joked that being an entrepreneur is the best therapy you could ever have. LOL. It's definitely a great way to learn your weaknesses, face your fears, overcome your imaginary obstacles, and test yourself to the farthest limits. 😛
15 Things I've Learned In The Last 15 Years
1. Perfection does not exist. Only Perception.
2. There is no ONE right way to do anything.
3. Doing is better than planning.
4. You can always fix it later.
5. Being an entrepreneur means going with MY ideas.
6. Nobody is going to do this for me. It's up to me, and me alone.
7. Finish it. Whatever it is, finish what you started.
8. I'm the only one judging me. Nobody else really cares.
9. My biggest business fears... are kinda silly.
10. I'm not competing with anyone. I'm on my own timeline.
11. We're all somewhere. There will always be people ahead of you & behind you.
12. If I'm not totally into it, it ain't gonna happen.
13. Forget money goals. Plan a LIFESTYLE.
14. Take breaks when you need them. Long breaks, even.
15. Give back, every chance you get.
And above all... take time to LOVE, LAUGH and LIVE.
I worked *hard* to get where I am today. But it was all worth it. I have absolutely no regrets. I look back on where I was, how far I've come, and what all I have accomplished... and I'm incredibly proud of myself. I pushed through obstacles I wouldn't wish on anyone, and I never gave up.
Yes that meant long days (and nights) of working, and even breaking down in tears a few times along the way. But I did it. And that feels GOOD! 😀
A Special Offer To Celebrate This Special Occasion
When I started out, I did everything on my own. There were very few ebooks or mentors back then. I can remember pulling my hair out trying to figure out code, and learning the simplest of things with no real help. Talk about frustrating.
Since then, I've made it a point to help others whenever I could. I started a forum around 10 years ago, which I've since moved here to ClickNewz, and then started a small Private Brainstorming Group.
It turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my career, and the closest peer group I've ever had. Many of the members have been there with me from the start. Watching their businesses grow and take off has been amazing!
It is currently $27/month to join the group, which is a great rate. We have five live calls a month ("Brainstorming Hour"), live case studies, and discuss everything from ideas to implementation to technical issues.
To celebrate my 15 Year Anniversary, I've created a special option to join us for one month for only $15.
There's no flashy sales copy. It won't renew automatically, or set up recurring billing. It's simply a full month at a great rate, and a nice opportunity to check out my Private Brainstorming Group and see if it's something you would like to be a part of while you grow your successful online business.
All you have to do is register on the forum, confirm your registration by email, and then you can upgrade to an Elite Member to access the active private forums.
* Be sure to choose the "February Special" to join us for the single $15 month.
Again, it won't recur so you can just join in and take advantage of this opportunity to get some serious help with your website & business for the next month.
And if you love it, we hope you'll decide to join us long term!
This is a great chance to tap into my 15 years of experience - for only $15 😉
THANK YOU...
Thank you for being part of my business, and my life.
So many of you have contributed to my success in a variety of ways - with likes, links, shares, comments, clicks, encouragement, feedback and so many other ways. And some of you have become wonderful friends as well. I'm grateful to know you, and really enjoy sharing my days with you here...
Here's to 15 awesome years... and many more! 😀 *cheers*
Best,
About Lynn Terry
Thank you 😀
Congrats on the success of your business. It's inspiring to see someone achieving their goals and not scared to do the hard work to get there! Your list of tips is a great way to approach how you go about getting your business to the success you have achieved.
Thank you Bernard - hard work indeed! 😉 LOL...
15 years whohoo! No small feat that's for sure! You are inspiring! Especially raising kids by yourself and creating the type of income needed to support them without having a job! That is awesome! Most people couldn't do that! These stuck out to me:
9. My biggest business fears… are kinda silly. (this is so true...so I say to myself just DO!)
11. We’re all somewhere. There will always be people ahead of you & behind you. (note to self: never forget this!)
12. If I’m not totally into it, it ain’t gonna happen. (yeah, I've found this out the hard and long way!)
Here's to another 15!
Thank you Lisa!
That #11 was an important lesson. I caught myself on more than one occasion feeling "less than" or like I should be somewhere that someone else is/was. Watching others' progress instead of my own. That kind of thing. Sometimes it would just knock the wind right out of my sails. 😛 I constantly remind myself that I am ONLY competing with myself, with my own dreams and desires. Period.
Hey Lynn, great read and CONGRATS on the successful 15 years! That is so exciting! It really makes you appreciate things more when you work through both the good and bad to get to where you are. I don't know, I have always found success a little bit sweeter when you have to go over some bumps and fall into some ditches along the way(even though it doesn't feel that way at the time when you suffer through it). I have like you, found that learning on my own has somehow helped me to understand things a lot better than maybe I would have if someone had just given me the instructions to work through.
You have been such an encouragement and mentor to so many of us and we are glad to be here to help you share in your celebration. I too look forward to the day that I can go and travel and try new foods all over the globe, to me that sounds like the perfect job.
Here's to the next 15 years and beyond!!!
Thank you Melanie! 😀
I agree. And that's what makes the difference between an employee and an entrepreneur - following a dream vs following directions. 😉
Lynn,
I'm a new follower of yours and we don't know each other, but I've already gotten much inspiration and strength from what you've accomplished with your marketing and blogging.
You, Rosalind Gardner, and Karon Thackston are all examples of the kind of empathetic, heartfelt marketing I want to emulate. It's nice to see successful marketers who are actual caring human beings that add something good to the world, not just more hype and empty promises.
Congratulations on your 15 years of success, and here's to many more!
Thank you Greg! I hope to hear more from you, and look forward to getting to know you. 😀
Hey Lynn,
Congratulations on all your accomplishments over the years.
You've been, and are, a real inspiration to me.
Wishing you many more successful years in Life
and business.
Take care,
Ron
Thank you Ron! 😀
Hey Lynn,
Super Congrats, and I just want to say that your elite forum is one of the best things going for internet business owners. There's so much candid, useful information there with some really awesome members that are always willing to help.
Lynn, you're also an inspiration to all of us, you give us reasons to 'hang in there' and the ideas to keep us moving forward. You genuinely care about people.
I've always believed that you get what you give, and you're a perfect example of that 🙂
So again, Congratulations and here's to another 15+
Liz
First of all, congrats! 15 years is definitely a big deal. And thank you for sharing those things you learned in this important period of your life. My favorite is the last one: give back every chance you get. May your business grow as much as possible!
Sounds really great Terry.I'm going to join your program. I'm always looking to join other online marketers online. Congrats on the 15 years of service you have done.
Okay, I've signed up; now I have to figure out what to do. lol
A BIG congratulations Lynn, and I love and agree with your list of lessons learned. I'm excited to join your group and to learn from others and contribute what I can! Warmly, Jane Morrison
I've been a part of Lynn's Elite group for several years and I have learned more from Lynn than anything I have done online. I don't get a chance to call in to the weekly sections as often as I would like, but I do take advantage of the replays and forum often. I will remain a member as long as Lynn keeps this group going. Nice job Lynn and congratulations on reaching the 15 year mark!
Carol Deckert Networking Expert/Coach
MEGA CONGRATS LYNN! And thanks for all your great advice 🙂 Have a blessed AND safe day with all the stormin' goin on!
Really Very Inspiration Story...Thanks Lot For Everything
Congratulations on making such an entrepreneurial achievement, Lynn. I know the struggle is real and it was rough in the beginning. But the bottom line is..you did the transformation business work and succeeded. hats off to you.