Every overnight success we’ve seen has been years in the making.  And those overnight successes are rarely because of an amazing idea or a stroke of luck.  We asked some of our favorite folks from the community about what characteristics are at the heart of their success story?

Raffi Russo | Actor/Model

Be consistent and work hard. Read more>>

Cary Diaz | Photographer

This is such a great question and one that many businesses overlook. WHY is a business so successful and what can be done to improve it? As a business owner, I always want to improve and I have so many goals I’d still like to accomplish, I think my business has been successful thus far because of the customer service and the entire experience I provide. I always imagine that each of my clients is my very first. When you start a business, you really go above and beyond to make each client happy and make each client an advocate for your brand. I try to never forget that. I never want to become complacent and I always want to ensure each client is not only happy with their end product, but that the entire process from inquiring, to booking, to product delivery is seamless and an amazing experience. Additionally, branding is so important for me. Read more>>

Richard Sheppard | Boat Captain

We believe that the most important factor behind our success as a business and our brand is Customer Service. We are owner operators and we care about what our customers think about our company. Our boats are 100% Electric, Zero Emissions, and Eco Friendly which is what people are looking for these days. Read more>>

Jean Phoenix Le Grand-EL | The Legacy Brands Creator & Ambassador

There are many. But after years of building the type of brand that has real staying power, I would have to say authenticity is the most important factor to my success, especially if one is synonymous with their brand like I am. Think about how many personal brands were ruined because something was uncovered that drastically contradicted the image of that brand? I say, be authentic from the brand’s inception and you’ll never have to worry about whether or not you’re staying true to it. With my brand, I knew that it had to be authentically me and encompass what was unique about me. To know me is to know that I’m a trendsetter and a pioneer. Read more>>

Meredith Clarin | Creative Director & Owner

What a great question, especially during this extraordinary Pandemic time. I believe that the most important factor that has and will continue to lead to the success of Kitanim Flowers is love. It’s just one word and yet an incredible force that drives us to always exceed customer expectations. I have cultivated this floral business for the past twelve years (with help from my husband and our amazing team), growing all of our accounts (both private and corporate clients) with an attention to detail, an attention to each specific client and his or her floral goals, but the universal connection that keeps us going is the love that inspired this career and the love that I feel each and every day when I design and when I am able to offer people the art of gorgeous fresh flowers. My goal after college was to choose a career that made me happy and also made other people smile. Read more>>

Cheri Frantzman | Pediatric Occupational Therapist

The most important factor in my success is through developing relationships. Relationships are the very core of what I work on with the children I treat, with the parents I coach, and with colleagues and resources I utilize in my community. Relationships and connections are imperative to life to help our own emotional well being and to be the glue that gets us though even during the most Stressful times, like this pandemic. Read more>>

Deirdre Sours | Deirdre Sours, Owner/CEO of Bonito & Co., Medical Grade Compression Garments & Shapewear

Consistency! That’s the word that comes to my mind. Of course there are many factors that contribute to making a business and its brand successful, such as having a product that the consumers want = Demand. Then the product has to appeal and speak to the consumers, so they will be willing to buy it = Marketing & Sales. The consumers must be happy and satisfied with the product they purchased = Consumer Satisfaction. The price has to be right for what the consumers are purchasing = Proper Pricing Structure. The products must be available when the consumers needs them = Well Stocked Inventory. It must be easy for the consumers to exchange or return the products if needed = Consumer Friendly Return/Exchange Policy. Now we get to the last one, but probably one of the most important ones, as it really does not exist anymore in today’s world, and that is Customer Service. Read more>>

Kate Boyer | CEO and Co Founder of Anatomie , Former Hungarian Gymnast

Having developed a perfectly on point product for our audience. Having listened to our ladies the last decade as they elevated the brand by giving us tough love. Basically our customer base is an amazingly powerful like minded group. WE also never gave up and kept evolving and changing, adapting to new challenges and opportunities. We always aligned ourselves with other world class brands who target the same clientele, and piggy backed on their marketing efforts by partnering up. Read more>>

Rob Cohen | Founder of 4 Corner Automotive Group, racer, and full-time automotive addict

People. Fresh out of school I was fortunate enough to work for several large, Fortune 500 companies. While the big company structure ultimately wasn’t my cup of tea, in each case I found myself surrounded by the best and the brightest individuals I had ever met. And each had the experience and battle scars that I lacked. I worked hard and allowed myself to be ‘coach-able’, and as a result my managers and those above them made it a point to take me under their collective wings and serve as mentors. This led to progressively difficult work assignments, but with the guidance to be successful at them. Because of the personal attention I received and my willingness to accept instruction and feedback, my learning curve was accelerated, measured in dog years. Read more>>