HER Journey = Honest Entrepreneur Reflections
When Suzanne Nicar launched her resume writing and consulting business in 2024, she had one big goal: quit her full-time job. Like many entrepreneurs, she learned quickly that sustainable success comes from embracing smaller milestones along the way rather than focusing on one large goal that's many years out.
"I recently started working with a business coach who put things into perspective," Suzanne shares. "He said, 'that's a great goal, but let's take some baby steps.' Now we're focusing on doubling earnings next year, increasing social media presence, and implementing a CRM – small steps that lead to bigger achievements."
Embracing the Power of 'No'
With eight years of HR and recruiting experience, Suzanne thought schools would be her primary market. She hit a major roadblock when she discovered most institutions already had career centers that catered to their students. Rather than letting that derail her, she chose to pivot.
"You're going to hear 'no' a lot as a small business owner," Suzanne explains, drawing from her background in musical theater. "You have to have a very thick skin to be a performer, and you have to have a very thick skin to start your own business. Every 'no' is an opportunity to find a different path forward."
The Vital Role of Community
One year into her entrepreneurial journey, Suzanne emphasizes the importance of building a strong personal support network. "Surround yourself with as many independent business owners as you can," she advises. "Having an accountability partner or several, and people in your network that you can use as referrals and help along the way, is huge because sometimes you will feel like you're standing on an island by yourself."
During our conversation, Suzanne's eyes lit up at the possibility of joining a mastermind group. Like many entrepreneurs, she recognizes that having a space to celebrate wins, workshop challenges, and find creative solutions alongside other driven women is invaluable for sustainable growth.

This resonates deeply with my own entrepreneurial journey. I've been part of many Masterminds over my almost decade of full time entrepreneurship, but when I started my own mastermind group last year, my appreciation of a thoughtfully created Mastermind group doubled at leas. I got to witness firsthand the radical power of a dedicated business focused peer-problem-solving community. In our sessions, I've seen women entrepreneurs develop creative solutions they never would have considered alone - from innovative marketing strategies to unique partnership opportunities. One member even transformed her approach to publishing a children's book about financial literacy with the idea of leveraging local bank partnerships - an amazing idea born from our collective brainstorming!
Balancing Self-Care and Business Growth
For Suzanne, maintaining physical health has been crucial to business success. "If I can't make it to the gym, I'm walking in my neighborhood. I try to stay active. Getting out of my house, working in the garden, getting some form of vitamin D – that feeds my soul and puts a different perspective on life and my business."
Looking Forward
As she moves into her second year of business, Suzanne's focus is on building a stronger pipeline while maintaining the courage to say no to projects that aren't the right fit. "Sometimes you second guess your choices," she admits. "But sometimes you just have to take a stance and say, 'this is what I'm going to do as a business owner today.'"
Ready to take the first step toward your entrepreneurial dreams? Join me January 31, 2025 for The Alignment Advantage where we'll explore how to create sustainable success through personalized holistic business strategies. We'll choose 1 area of business to intentionally improve, strategically! Click here to secure your spot and start turning your business vision into reality.
Comments