5 Years and 50 Lessons

This week, we’re celebrating Geben’s fifth aniversary. We’re not a toddler anymore — yay!

Instead of writing a cheesy, retrospective post, I thought it would be more helpful — for me and you — if I captured some of the most important lessons I’ve realized along this crazy journey. So, with that, here are 50 lessons from my entrepreneurial experience thus far:

1. Teamwork really does make the dream work. (Tweet this!)
2. Define your all. Don’t let others define it for you.
3. Do well by doing good.
4. Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from crossing the start line.
5. It’s not about the journey. It’s about the people on the journey with you.
6. Don’t compare your real life to other people’s “highlight reel.”
7. A solid pitch trumps a lukewarm relationship.
8. Business development is addicting.
9. Partnering and connecting is our competitive edge.
10. Own it. Even if you don’t own it. (Tweet this!)
11. Work/life integration is more attainable than work/life balance, but you still need boundaries.
12. Your reputation is like gold. Fiercely protect it. (Tweet this!)
13. The phone is not dead. Stop over-relying on emails and pick up the phone.
14. Say thank you. A lot.
15. Ask for help when you need it.
16. Sometimes you have to take a tiny step back to make a big leap forward.
17. A referral is one of the nicest gestures someone can make.
18. Writing remains one of the most important skills in PR. (Tweet this!)
19. Design your day. Don’t let others set your agenda.
20. Freedom and flexibility are two of best benefits of owning your own business.
21. If you’re organized, focused, and realistic, you can be a good mom and a good business owner.
22. Embrace the crazy.
23. Trust is precious. When someone violates that trust, it will feel devastating, but you can recover.
24. Follow your instincts. Always. (Tweet this!)
25. Plan smart. Implement smarter.
26. Be decisive.
27. Hire smart people, train them to exceed expectations, and then get out of their way.
28. Control your thoughts. Don’t let them control you.
29. Sometimes people just need help. And, if you’re in a position to help, then you should.
30. Nurturing a relationship is always a good use of time.
31. Hire for culture, not just experience. You’re hiring a person, not just a resume. (Tweet this!)
32. Do what you do best and outsource or partner for the rest.
33. Sometimes the best business decision is saying no to a potential client or project.
34. Sometimes you just need to dance it out. (Or shake it off …) (Tweet this!)
35. A good playlist can cure writer’s block.
36. When you articulate and live by your values, clarity appears.
37. A solid, qualified pipeline of potential hires is just as important as the pipeline of potential clients.
38. Quick thinking, responsiveness and doing whatever it takes to get the job done matter more than you think.
39. When you make a mistake (and you will!), own it, apologize and move on. (Tweet this!)
40. Take risks.
41. Make the implicit, explicit.
42. You are stronger and more resilient than you think.
43. Experiment and innovate, but maintain a laser-like focus on the goals you were hired to achieve.
44. While unglamorous, job descriptions and budgets are necessary evils.
45. Be kind to everyone, not just the founder/CEO, but especially the executive assistants who often have the ability to make magic happen. (Tweet this!)
46. Always make a client feel like they’re your only client and top priority, even when you’re being pulled in a dozen different directions.
47. Be receptive to feedback, both positive and negative.
48. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
49. Nail the basics. Then add some sizzle. (Tweet this!)
50. Don’t ever underestimate yourself.