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 #15: LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO TO MAKE SPACE TO SAY YES
I've
learned that saying no isn't always easy, but sometimes it's necessary. Every
time we say yes to something, we're giving away our time, our energy, our
priority and focus-and those are limited resources. Often we rush to say yes
without thinking it through in order to be helpful, collaborative and/or to be
of service when in fact, sometimes the strongest decision is a clear no. Every
no creates the space for a more meaningful yes. We want to ensure we are
spending our time, energy and resources in a way that aligns with our values
and goals, allowing us to give our best to the things that are most important
to us. At the same time, saying no doesn't mean being unhelpful-it's about
setting boundaries while still offering support, guidance, or alternative
solutions where we can. This way, we stay present and effective without
overcommitting ourselves. As leaders, when we model healthy boundaries, we give
others permission to do the same as well.
For a long time, I found myself saying yes out of habit, obligation, excitement, wanting to help, and/or to not disappoint others. But I realized that in doing so, I was putting myself in a position that had me overbooked and exhausted and even worst, having to consider saying no to the things that mattered most to me and/or running out of steam to put my energies in things I loved doing. Learning to say no gracefully has given me the space to say yes with intentionality-to opportunities, relationships, and experiences that align with my values, are energizing and rewarding to me. It's not about closing doors; it's about choosing the right ones to walk through at the right time.
LEARN WHEN TO SAY NO TO MAKE SPACE TO SAY YES
Lesson #14: DON'T EXPECT IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION!
Another
valuable lesson I have learned in building my business (and in life) is to not
expect immediate gratification. In a world where so much is instant-answers at
our fingertips, same-day delivery, instant messaging-it's easy to grow
impatient when results don't come right away. But the most meaningful growth,
achievements, and relationships take time, persistence, and patience. By
resisting the urge for quick wins, we build resilience, develop discipline,
establish credibility, gain a deeper appreciation for the process itself, and
yield the best outcomes.

Lesson #13: REACH OUT FOR HELP AND FEEDBACK
One of
the greatest signs of strength is the ability to know when to reach out to
others for help, support and guidance. We do not succeed without the assistance
of others. Having a trusted group of people we can turn to is a necessity as
well as the knowledge of when to turn to them for help. In addition, it is
essential to request feedback, both formally and informally. The greatest gift
our contacts, clients, colleagues and other supporters can give us is honest
feedback, both constructive and positive. Be vulnerable, recognize you do not
have to have all the answers and encourage on-going feedback.

Lesson #12: FIND YOUR FORMULA
There is
magic in seeing the whole picture and then understanding all of the required
pieces to the puzzle in running your business. There is a formula to being
successful and that formula will differ for each person and each business.
Create your own formula that works for you and fits your style, approach and
needs. Determine YOUR formula and then fill in the specifics of each
ingredient. Once you know what those specifics are, then it's about working the
formula in a consistent, deliberate and proactive manner.

Lesson #11: BECOME AND BE A MARKETER
An
important ingredient in growing our business is to acknowledge that in addition
to our content expertise, we MUST also be a good marketer. As the owner of a
business, you will need to see your role as the head marketer for your business
and ALWAYS be wearing a marketing hat. Even though it may not be comfortable
for many to be in this role, we need to see ourselves in this way. I learned
early on in starting my business that it makes all the difference to have a
strategic marketing plan each year. We need to develop an annual marketing plan
that is specific, targeted, realistic yet creative in a way that is authentic
to ourselves and plays to our strengths and preferences. Plan for monthly,
quarterly, semiannual and annual activities. Stay true to it - follow up and be
accountable!

Lesson #11: BECOME AND BE A MARKETER
An
important ingredient in growing our business is to acknowledge that in addition
to our content expertise, we MUST also be a good marketer. As the owner of a
business, you will need to see your role as the head marketer for your business
and ALWAYS be wearing a marketing hat. Even though it may not be comfortable
for many to be in this role, we need to see ourselves in this way. I learned
early on in starting my business that it makes all the difference to have a
strategic marketing plan each year. We need to develop an annual marketing plan
that is specific, targeted, realistic yet creative in a way that is authentic
to ourselves and plays to our strengths and preferences. Plan for monthly,
quarterly, semiannual and annual activities. Stay true to it - follow up and be
accountable!

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.

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.
