10 learnings from 10 years in business

Hello,

The best part of unsolicited feedback?

I get to hear how my work has impacted leading organizations and the people who drive them.

This latest piece of feedback comes Shruti Miyashiro, President/CEO of Digital Federal Credit Union, who wrote:

“Thanks for all the continued support to our team here – that’s the magic of Amy. You are not just completing tasks, you are helping your clients build long-term success.”

It’s been a decade since I first launched my second career as an Independent Advisor, and testimonials like these remind me to slow down, if only for a moment, and to see the impact of my work with dozens of financial services, digital transformation, marketing, innovation, sales leaders and more.

Please read on to learn more takeaways from 10 years as an entrepreneur, inside judging the Global Innovation Awards, and more.

10 Learnings from 10 Years in Business

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1 in 4 U.S. businesses fail within their first year of operation, so I am all the more grateful that my business is now a decade old and has grown and transformed in ways I could not have foreseen. 

My 10 takeaways?

1. The best opportunities happen serendipitously: my mantra is “you never know.”
2. Don’t try to be all things to all people: specialize.
3. Do what brings you joy.
4. Know your value and price for it.
5. Invest in your relationships with no expectation of a return.
6. Keep learning.
7. Develop a marketing strategy and commit to executing it.
8. Be present on social media.
9. Be selective about whom you want to work with.
10. Be open to unexpected opportunities.

Interested in learning more about what I do and how I can help your company achieve long-term success? Please visit my website and reach out. 

Recognizing the Most Innovative Insurance Companies

As a change maker and innovation enabler, I am thrilled to evaluate an impressive array of submissions from insurance companies and insurtech startups for the Global Innovation Awards presented by the International Insurance Society and Insurance Thought Leadership.

These winning companies that focus on property, casualty, and life; health; and retirement are pushing boundaries, driving positive change, and contributing to a more sustainable society. 

The best news of all?

There is great work being done in this field, and I’m excited to share the results with you. Stay tuned. 

As I shared in a recent Columbia SPS interview,

“The big topic that interests me now is the idea that we have to ‘change the way we change.’  There’s a deep, well-established body of practices around ‘change management,’ which is not appropriate to the speed, agility, iteration, and messiness of change in today’s environment….

The biggest change leaders have to make is to shift from leading through a hierarchical, siloed structure to leading as builders and cultivators of networks. This is the only way to build support for transformative change at the pace that is now demanded.”

Is your company adept at change? This is key for both short-term and long-term success.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and where you think I can be helpful.  

Wishing you a lovely end of summer!

Warm regards,