Rita's 20th Anniversary

I am humbled to
celebrate my 20th anniversary in business! I founded Rita B. Allen Associates
in 2005 with so much enthusiasm and motivation to make a difference. It has
been an incredible journey and even more rewarding than I could have imagined!
That is possible only because of the support of so many clients, colleagues,
friends, family, and trusted advisors.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you
for your continued partnership, generosity, and confidence in me!

In celebration of this milestone, I am
kicking off a year-long conversation on
20 Lessons Learned over 20
years!
I look forward to your comments!
Entrepreneur Loop Interview
Lesson #10: HONOR YOUR WORD, DO WHAT YOU SAY
Having
people trust me, earning credibility and nurturing strong relationships is a
crucial part of my personal brand and what I value most. I have learned one
important ingredient for being able to do that is to honor my word and do what
I say I will do. People remember that they can rely on you and that you follow
through on what you have shared or promised.
For example, I have made this a priority throughout my 20 years in building my business. Different ways I do so include showing up on time (if not early), giving and receiving valuable feedback, having difficult yet necessary conversations, committing to and respecting boundaries, following up on deliverables and commitments, as well as staying accountable and true to my values/standards.
HONOR YOUR WORD, DO WHAT YOU SAY
Lesson #9: LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Actions are more
powerful than words. We can say something numerous times and with much
eloquence, however, it resonates more with people when we actually display
those behaviors. Leading by example occurs when we consistently demonstrate the
behaviors, values, and standards that we expect from others, not only with our
words but through our actions. It's about modeling the mindset, attitude, and
accountability you want to see, not just talking about them. Over the last 20
years as well as during my life and career, I have learned the power of leading
by example, modeling the way.

Lesson #8: BE A SERVANT LEADER AND GIVE BACK!
Find the right
balance of ambition, drive and service. Servant leadership is all about
enriching the lives of others, building better organizations and ultimately
creating a world that is more caring and equitable. Not only is it personally
rewarding, but it makes a difference in others' lives. Giving back to our
community and profession, paying it forward is a way to add value and leverage
our talents and experiences while making a difference and having an impact. It
is a critical part of building our brand. My parents role modeled these
behaviors to me throughout my life and I saw the joy it brought them to be of
service and that is what I have done my whole life.

Lesson #7: BE and STAY GRATEFUL, HUMBLE AND PARANOID
Never take any of
your success for granted and always be grateful. There will be peaks and
valleys. Appreciate both for what they bring and offer. Do not grow complacent
and maintain a healthy level of paranoia. Complacency is the number one threat
to any business. Always keep the fire in your belly and hustle like it's your
first year in business! Continue to stay hungry, happy and humble as you travel
through all the peaks and valleys.

Lesson #6: GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE!
Most of our
greatest experiences and lessons come from stretching ourselves in new ways
that are difficult and uncomfortable. That is a life lesson I have learned
early on but it was truly emphasized to me throughout my 20 year journey of
building my business. It requires us to stay open, be agile and take risks to
push ourselves. It opens many doors and can be very rewarding if we are willing
to be uncomfortable. I love the quote by Neale Donald Walsch, "Life begins at
the end of your comfort zone."

Lesson #5: ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO SELF, YOUR PERSONAL BRAND!
Find and be your
best authentic self. When we stay true to ourselves, aligned with our values
and leveraging our talents, we allow our differentiators to guide and empower
our actions and decisions. It enables us to be grounded, staying true to our
personal brand and our leadership brand, which are two sides of the same coin.
People will remember these moments and the mark we leave behind.

Lesson #4: ALLOW YOUR BUSINESS TO EVOLVE!
As you build and
grow your business, allow it to evolve which may stray from your business plan.
No matter how much planning, projecting, research and forecasting we do, we
won't know until we try. Once we try, sometimes we find certain areas are not
as marketable or rewarding as we planned and we must be ready and able to
pivot. Stay open to the journey and allow your business to unfold and emerge.

Lesson #3: IT IS ALL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS!
Relationships can
make or break careers. They are a critical part of building our personal brand
and achieving our aspirations. Establishing, building and nurturing mutually
rewarding relationships is foundational to having a fulfilling life and career.
It is all about giving back and paying it forward. Being of service to someone
else, an ally and supportive colleague is not only the right thing to do and
rewarding, it does come back to us in many ways. Staying connected, being
authentic and also strategic about the different kinds of alliances we build is
essential.

Lesson #2: There is no such thing as failure
So often we hold
back on taking risks due to our fear of failure. If we can shift our mindset to
one that does not embrace failure, we will find there are many opportunities in
front of us to explore. One of my favorite quotes is by Nelson Mandela who
says, "I never fail, I either win or I learn." Each experience results in
success because we either achieve what we set out to, OR we learn a valuable
lesson that allows us to move forward.

Lesson #1: SAY "YES" WHEN IT SCARES YOU!
We are often
presented with unexpected opportunities that require us to stretch, take risks.
Personally, I have experienced many that forced me to take leaps of faith in
myself. As a result, I have learned that if a challenge scares me, I need to
say yes.
