Okay, so let’s be honest. Often times we look at someone else’s success with major admiration. We think, ‘Wow, how did they do it so easily?’
Instead of going the jealous route, I want to point out that you might not be seeing the whole picture. There’s a whole road that leads those successful people there. It’s full of trial and error, and major growth spurts along the way. Each person has her own story.
Take my friend Stephanie Diamond, for example. She’s the founder of the Listings Project – which if you’re a New Yorker, you might actually be on.
Stephanie’s made a huge name for herself in the art world. Major players call her a dear friend. She’s the ultimate connector.
So what is the Listings Project?
It’s a free weekly email of real estate and opportunities listings serving artists, creative communities, and beyond.
It didn’t start with a business plan. It simply came out of a need – and Stephanie stuck with it out of love. She only recently started turning it into a profit. And now she makes a great living from it – and even has a support staff!
It all started in 2003 when Stephanie was looking for a place to live. She emailed her friends to inquire about apartments for rent. But after she found a place, she kept receiving emails about available apartments, so Stephanie forwarded them to her personal network of friends and colleagues.
People took notice, and began sending her specific listings to forward. She did, and has continued ever since. It spread by word-of-mouth, with friends forwarding it to other people they knew in search of a place in New York.
And then it grew.
And grew…
and grew.
Now there’s over 50,000 people who receive the coveted list each week.
Stephanie’s since received major press – and was even featured in the New York Times.
So what’s her advice on how to start a successful business of your own?
Watch this week’s video to find out her simple keys to success. It might all sound simple, but from a girl who I’d like to call the art world’s feminine response to a curated craigslist – you don’t want to miss this!
Plus if you know Stephanie – trust me, you have never seen her like this before (It’s a big reveal on multiple levels!)
Click to Tweet
Want to know what all the buzz is about?
To join the list, go to: ListingsProject.com.
One of the best unplanned outcomes of the list is the amazing community that Stephanie has created.
“E-mails poured in to her from grateful users: artists who inadvertently met soul mates through a listing for a work space, or artists who found homes that seemed to have souls.” – via The New York Times
Click here to read some of the listings project stories.
It’s not so surprising. Stephanie’s personal artwork is based around community.
She serves a need, and continues to work out of love.
Follow Stephanie’s simple steps for building a successful business:
1. Have a need
2. Have faith
3. Surrender to the process
4. Become of service
5. Engage your community
Trust that you are on the road to manifesting your dream. It’s all happening now.
I’d love to hear from you! Tell us in the comments below how you merge serving yourself and others in your big vision. How were you inspired by this week’s video?
