People are always asking me if I think there’s a “formula” for success [side note: I have a formula for everything: how to get the most out of being stuck in traffic, how to never spend unnecessary time at an airport, etc. so this question isn’t as random as it seems].


While I believe that success is not a neatly definable idea, and think that people can expound it differently, these are three tools that will help you on your way to whatever definition of success you are striving towards.

MENTORSHIP

Tips on finding mentors as awesome as mine? Choose a mentor whose life, and not just their career, you are inspired by.

I've been extremely lucky to have a small group of impactful mentors who both inspire me and give me the honest feedback I really need to grow. You’re never going to find one mentor who can be everything for you. They each have different and equally helpful sets of skills that can help me as different obstacles get thrown my way. It's rare for me to use a sports analogy, but it really fits here so think about baseball; you have your coach, and you have individual trainers for specific things – a batting coach, a pitching coach, etc. That’s exactly what you need in mentorship.

Find people who have values aligned with yours. Some may have done amazing work that they are proud of, but have they managed to balance their health? Do they have a supportive family? Do they attend their children’s football games? Have they also explored their interests outside of those things? Human beings aren’t linear – I won’t ever be making a decision just as a businesswoman. I’ll also be making them as a sister, a mentor, a partner, and a designer. You want someone in your corner who can help you see the big picture.

The relationships you have with your mentors are ones that can (and ideally should) span many years, and likely several careers. The best way to ensure longevity is to make sure that you are giving back. Just because you are younger and earlier in your career, doesn’t mean that you don’t have anything to offer them. What are you better at than everyone else? Can you help them with a certain technology? Can you help their kids with an introduction? Don’t forget to take the time to ask them what they need.

Kimmy Scotti

COACHING

Having a coach is actually vastly different from having a mentor and I'm a big believer in both. Coaches help you with proactive development on a more micro level and are trained and certified to help with things like management and strategy.

I’ve been working with my coach, Tim Porthouse, for over a year. We meet twice a month in person or on FaceTime. He helps me define (and redefine!) my goals and then make sure I’m held accountable for taking steps to achieve them.

Tim will often prescribe specific exercises in order to help me both understand what it is I really want and then assess opportunities that will help me get there as well as beat the obstacles that I need to move past them.

MANIFESTATION

My sister, LisaMarie, who is also my business partner and best friend, is always joking about my powerful manifestation practice. I say I want something to happen and she's like, "You are so crazy, did you write it down? You'll definitely get it then!" She's right. For a long time I plan something that doesn't seem like you can plan for it, I write it down and then I find it in my life. As a way of tying the above together, as well as working in my more personal goals, I create vision boards. Usually once a year (around my birthday) I sit down and map out what I’m trying to accomplish. The result of every goal, whether it be eating less sugar or decreasing my email response window, aligns with a longer term value.

Whether you define success by pennies, moments, growth, or something else altogether, I hope the above formula can help you determine who you need to have in your corner to help you get there.


WRITTEN BY

Kimmy Scotti