Sabine Deans

My why is really my financial freedom and my son's freedom. Initially, it was just fun, but now I can build my business so my son doesn't have to work his 9-to-5 anymore. My plan is to continue growing and building it so my business can be left behind to my son, who is an adult and works full-time. I see him working, and I want him to be at a point where he doesn't have to do that anymore, where he can just enjoy life. I worked hard enough my whole life, so he doesn't have to work his whole life like that. I want to make sure that this is something he has to take over when it comes time, when he's ready, when he wants to. This is something he can continue taking over that I have established.

To be consistent, and if life gets in your way, keep pushing, because consistency is key to everything. Just because life gets hard doesn't mean you shouldn't keep pushing for your dreams, because it's worth it. Consistency is key in everything you do, and I can tell if I don't get consistent - I can tell the difference. So consistency is key, and you know, you just have to keep going.

Find a mentor or coach that can teach you, and understand that nothing's going to happen overnight. Not just in my industry, but in any business - businesses that happen overnight usually just flop away too. You have to grow because people have to trust you. When you start a business, a lot of people are still watching you and waiting for you to fail, waiting for you to say you give up. But you have to stick with it. If you're new, some people will wait to work with you because they want to make sure you're legit - I know I would. That's why I'm a member of the Better Business Bureau, to have that extra accreditation that makes me stand out. You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Put your face on your business cards, get out there and network. It's not going to happen overnight - it's something you have to grow. Don't quit your day job right away if you're the one paying all the bills. Make sure you have things in place so you're not getting to that point where you end up homeless. Come in with the mindset that it's going to take you a while to be successful. And honestly, your friends and family will not be your clients, and that's probably the best thing that could happen to you, because they're going to be the neediest ones who won't respect your boundaries.

The biggest opportunity for me is that I get to do more now - I'm at a point where I get the opportunity to go to conferences to learn more and educate myself. I can afford to invest in myself, and my investing in myself is traveling somewhere and doing training, attending trainings and conferences, and building relationships. You can grow and make it as big as you want to, or as small as you want it to be. You just have to continue striving towards where you want to go and keep pushing towards it.

Integrity, honesty, and kindness are the most important values to me. I'm very straightforward - sometimes I say things that aren't harmful, but I don't sugarcoat. I have to be mindful when I say something because I'm German, so sometimes it may come out differently than I intended. I don't like phone conversations as much because if I can see you, I can see if you're offended by something. But the integrity and honesty are key, and just being kind. Kindness goes both ways - I'll be kind to you, be kind to me. I have a really thick skin, so even when clients are frustrated and it's not my fault, I can handle it. I understand that some things are out of my control, like flight cancellations or airline prices. But kindness, integrity, and honesty - I think those are the most important things.