What have you accomplished in your professional life/career since your 40 Under 40 selection?
I have not accomplished everything I wanted to, but I did all right. I published a few books, including The BOLD Business Book, sold my first company, started a few other companies, including Calls On Call Extraordinary Answering Service and Draw In Customers Business Coaching. The podcast bug bit me, so I started the Authentic Business Adventures podcast that recently hit 100 episodes.
I started and continue to grow my YouTube channel with videos on business and entrepreneurship. Teaching seemed like fun, so I teach a business planning class through WWBIC a few times each year. Outside of all of that, I had a kid and realized that you don’t have to work all of the time. Just make sure you always carry a pen and your business cards, just in case.
What accomplishments, milestones, or endeavors have you attained in your personal life since your 40 Under 40 selection?
I had a son in 2013. That altered my priorities to making sure he grew up to be the best person he could be. Running my first half marathon I suppose could count, but that still hurts my legs to think about.
If you were to “do it all over again,” what (if anything) would you do differently throughout your career?
Nothing. Well, maybe change some of my marketing expenditures, now that I know which ones were fruitless.
How did your 40 Under 40 selection help your career?
At the time I was labeled as a 40 Under 40, it was pretty sweet. People congratulated me and I was even sent a framed copy of the article by a friend. That meant a lot to me. Then 40 came and went. Recently, when I went to the 40 Under 40 reunion, it took me back to the heyday of networking with a solid crew of business professionals around Madison. It was great to see how everyone else has grown and evolved in their careers.
What is something that you have a new passion for since the time of your induction — either professionally or personally?
I don’t know that I would call it new, but motorcycling has definitely blossomed with me since 2010. Now I hang out with business professionals who ride and we stop to grab a coffee and chat about business ventures. Combining business and bikes has been a great way to have fun starting and growing new opportunities.
Based on your experience, do you have any advice for today’s young professionals (under 40)?
Enjoy each day, regardless of your age. In a few years you will see what everything you have been working for has produced and you want it to be worthwhile. The key to knowing if it was worthwhile is to ask yourself, “Did I make the world a better place by doing this?” and make sure the answer is a solid, “Yes!”
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