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30 publishers thought Steven King’s writing just couldn’t cut it. So you know what he did? He got better.
Nobody has it easy — not even the big names who are now leading industries. What separates the greats is a willingness to step through failure, heartbeat, and tragedy — and come out stronger on the other side.
Here are some of the most touching true stories on surviving setbacks, and thriving in spite of everything that’s come before.
From Failure to Fame: 7 Celebrities Who Survived and Thrived After Setbacks
Seek wisdom and actionable advice from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."
There’s a good chance you’re reading this on a device first imagined by the late Founder of Apple. And without pride and passion, it’s unlikely that Jobs could have ever left such an impressive thumbprint on our world!
"Dreams do come true, but not without the help of others, a good education, a strong work ethic, and the courage to lean in."
Over the course of 30 years, Burns climbed the ranks of Xerox, going from intern to CEO. Your dreams won’t come easy, but don’t be afraid to chase them!
"I knew that if I failed I wouldn't regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying."
There’s an alternate reality where Jeff Bezos lived a boring, safe, regrettable life. Don’t let that be you!
"As a leader, I am tough on myself and I raise the standard for everybody; however, I am very caring because I want people to excel at what they are doing so that they can aspire to be me in the future."
The former CEO of PepsiCo continues to be considered one of the most powerful business leaders in the world. Now we know how she’s been able to command such a compelling influence!
“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.”
Leave it to this Nike co-founder to give us a quote that fits on a T-Shirt! Business is a game. Be fair, be competitive, and leave nothing on the court.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right."
You don’t have to be a woo-woo manifestation nut to see the point Ford is making here. If you don’t believe in yourself… who will?
"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor."
Do we need electric cars to reverse the impact of climate change? Absolutely. Do we need a plan to get humanity to Mars? We hope not (but it’s always good to be prepared). Even the most “impossible” problems can be solved when we recognize the severity of inaction.
"Do every job you're in like you're going to do it for the rest of your life and demonstrate that ownership of it."
Barra’s first job at GM was to inspect fender panels. Without taking pride and responsibility in this small task… would they have made her the company CEO 34 years later?
To those who have, more will be given.
"One of the questions I ask [potential employees] is: "Tell me some of the riskiest things you've ever done in your life?"
As one of the leading hedge-fund managers… Cohen lives in a world where multi-million dollar mistakes are “just another Tuesday.” Risk-taking IS a skill that’s necessary for success. Make peace with the idea of losing, or you may never win!
"Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."
For this last quote, we went back over 100 years, to an entrepreneur who really should be a household name. Walker was the first child in her family born after the Emancipation Proclamation and went from destitute poverty to a haircare empire. She is on record as America’s first self-made millionaire. Emphasis on self-made.
There we have it — 10 inspiring quotes from 10 incredible business leaders. Which one resonated with you the most? Which one will you act on today?
3 decades of creating opportunity later… our 2024 National Conferences empowered the future while recognizing the incredible achievements in our rear-view mirror.
It's very hard to "Celebrate 30 Years of Opportunity" without this thought coming to mind:
"How do we continue to create opportunity for ANOTHER 30 years?"
To keep our business running for generations to come, we have to recognize past achievements while also preparing for future opportunities.
At Cydcor's National Conferences 2024, we got to do both!
NatCon hit Toronto, Ontario in July, before heading to Arlington, Texas in August for our B2B/Residential and Retail events. Across all three events, close to 2,700 entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals from our network of ICLs attended.
It's a far cry from where Cydcor was in 1994… when the entire business was just an idea in Founder Jim Majeski's head. Looking at the scene at NatCon 2024, and feeling the energy from the crowd, it's truly inspiring to see how far things have come.
And if you think Cydcor has been growing fast these past few decades, you should see the party at NatCon 2054 (when we hit 60)!
It's next to impossible to come out of the latest NatCon without the sense that the biggest is still on the way. While we were there to "Celebrate 30 Years of Opportunity," the programming was designed to challenge, motivate, and arm everyone with insights that will put new wins on the horizon.
Breakouts were run by CEO & President Vera Quinn, CRO Rich Mangafas, Executive Chairman Gary Polson, and top managers from independent ICLs from across the country. These breakouts blended wisdom from the years spent building and growing Cydcor, along with some cutting-edge business innovations that will forever change how ICLs maximize results and achievement in the field.
And along with their insights, these leaders were also able to tell some personal stories about their entrepreneurial journeys and their role in Cydcor's first 30 years. Every single NatCon attendee has their own Cydcor story to tell, and it's exciting to see how they're evolving!
Special breakouts highlighted women in business, Black entrepreneurship, and veterans in business. Meetings where ICLs working on shared national campaigns could discuss strategy and insights. One incredibly eye-opening General Session where Cydcor leadership discussed the latest wins (in addition to what's coming in the near future). This was a full-steam-ahead conference… and we left with years' worth of actionable advice to take to our work!
And it wouldn't be NatCon without our highly-anticipated Award Dinner (and the Cocktail Reception that comes before it). We were able to recognize and honor top performers from across Canada and the United States, and celebrate a number of people — both from independent ICLs and our own corporate office — who have recently hit major career milestones.
We even got to honor one of our Platinum Consultants, who has been with Cydcor for the ENTIRE 30-year journey (and counting)!
And if that wasn't inspiring enough, the Award Dinner was also an opportunity for us to come together, share in the amazing results we all have achieved, and give back. Over the course of the dinner, we raised over $10k for Liberty Children's Home.
Liberty Children's Home is a Belize-based orphanage that Cydcor has been philanthropically supporting for the past 7 years. Home to over forty children, many who have experienced abuse, abandonment, and neglect in their lives, Liberty continues to be a cause that's close to our heart.
The massive fundraising success at NatCon will help Liberty continue to support these amazing children and nurture a better future for them.
And as exciting as it's been to celebrate our 30th anniversary and the amazing business achievements of professionals across our industry… seeing everyone band together for a bigger cause was the standout moment at NatCon 2024.
That's one thing that hasn't changed since 1994 — and it won't be changing anytime soon. Cydcor is a business where people help people… and we're working hard to instill that into the next generation of our business.
We weren't just at NatCon 2024 to "Celebrate 30 Years of Opportunity"...
The event quickly became about "Creating 30 More Years of Opportunity."
And while a lot is going to change in the next three decades, ONE thing is certain.
At NatCon 2054, we will be:
And if you WEREN'T at NatCon 2024, the next-best time to get on board is now.
Lots of people try to bend the truth to get ahead — but this is probably the worst way to build alasting career or business in sales.
From embellishment and omission — to outright lies that completely misrepresent what’s being sold — we all know how frustrating it is to deal with a dishonest salesperson. That’s why honesty can make you far more successful in sales — because people will always choose to do long-term business with the person they can trust.
And if you want more reasons why being 100% forthright is always the way to go...
Here are 7 Reasons Why Honesty is the Most Effective Sales Strategy
Vera Quinn joins top business podcast hosts to discuss leadership, her entrepreneurial journey and more. Here are our three favorite takeaways!
Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, once said “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
And no matter where you are in that journey — whether you’re taking the first step into entrepreneurship and trying to grow yourself, or you’re leading a team you want to develop, it’s important to examine the advice that has made other leaders successful.
Our CEO, Vera Quinn, has recently joined a few top podcasts to discuss the Cydcor approach to leadership — and how Vera continues to develop the team.
While a lot was discussed on these shows, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite takeaways — which will expand your definition of leadership and teach you how grow the people around you.
Culture is a bit of a buzzword in most corporate circles — with many leaders taking a “do as I say, not as I do” approach to their values.
But in discussion with Chris Waters on To Lead is to Learn, Vera presents a different way to go about culture:
Lead by example.
“I can say whatever I want to say, but it’s about my actions,” Vera says. “If we’re in a meeting and I’m not modeling the culture, someone on the team will speak up. We hold each other accountable. We call each other out.”
Vera and Chris go on to discuss the self-awareness and courage this requires as a leader.
We may think of the “courageous” leader as someone who’s always right and becomes a poster-child for the company’s values. But we are all human — and true courage comes from a leader willing to put themselves on the same level as their team.
Vera explains that if we shed the idea that we have to be “perfect” and instead make ourselves an ingrained part of the culture (just like everyone else), we can attract a team that enhances our strengths and sures up our weaknesses.
So, as you lead and build culture with your team — remember this:
A good leader is someone who allows their team to hold them accountable.
That takes courage.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
On the Leadership is Female podcast, Vera and host Emily Jaenson discuss strategic leadership.
To break the concept down, Vera highlights the two things a leader has to do:
At a glance, this may just sound like “telling people what to do.” But that’s what a boss does, while leaders take a different approach.
The keyword for Vera is “point.”
The leader can guide a team to where it needs to go — but it is by everyone’s own volition that the actually work gets done. As Vera and Emily discuss, it takes empathy to lead this way.
Vera explains that the best way to do that “pointing” is to “match opportunity with ambition.”
By taking the time to learn the individual goals of your team, you can align their ambition to the opportunities that need to be captured within the business.
Then, the team member can be personally invested in taking on that responsibility, rather than being forced to do it.
That’s how you end up with a team that you are leading, rather than having a group of people you are bossing around. Big difference.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
You may have read the last point and wondered:
“Ok… how do I empathize with my team and learn what their ambitions really are?”
And that’s exactly the topic that Vera dives into with Teri Schmidt, host of Strong Leaders Serve.
Vera tells Teri about her rise to leadership — and how a coach once told her that she needed to transition from “being interesting to being interested.”
“At the time,” she recalls, “I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be the bright, shining star.”
But a leader who tries to do that will not be a leader for long.
Vera highlights the importance of attracting talent around you — and moving from being the person everyone wants to learn about to being the leader who’s actively invested in learning more about their team.
“It changed my paradigm of being a leader,” Vera says, “and it even changed how I approached being a spouse, mother, and friend.”
Funnily enough, when you put the focus on “being interested,” you’ll draw more people to you compared to when you’re trying to be the most “interesting.”
People want to follow a leader that’s invested in their interests, story, and expertise. They don’t want to follow someone that makes it all about themselves. And while building rapport with your team is a big benefit to this mindset shift — doing this also sets you up to learn more than you ever could before.
To listen to the full episode, click here.
And when it’s all said and done, learning is the number one thing that a leader should be doing. That’s why we always get excited when Vera gets on a podcast to share some of the lessons, she’s learned at Cydcor.
You now have three actionable insights that you can act on today. So, get out there, keep growing as a leader and developing your team!
If Yoda was a sales manager, what would he say at the team meeting?
Blake from Glengarry Glen Ross isn’t the nicest of characters, but he still has the most quotable sales lines of all time.
Citizen Kane isn’t just the greatest movie of all time because it has a good story — it also teaches us a thing or two about what business success really is.
Business and Hollywood collide in this blog. Here are 10 inspiring sales quotes from movies.
Criticism is an opportunity for growth — but only if you know how to properly deal with customer complaints.
Let’s face it — everyone’s a critic these days, and it’s all but impossible to work a job without getting some negative feedback at some point in your career.
Even the most successful people deal with valid criticism. In the end, their ability to handle and interact with that feedback is what sets them apart.
Knowing how to isolate, identify, reflect on, and act on negative feedback is a skill they have developed over time — and doing the same will help you grow in your career or in entrepreneurship.
The next time you need to respond to negative feedback, turn to this four-step framework.
It’s all too easy to view negative customer feedback as a personal attack. There’s a fine line between constructive criticism and insult — and sometimes the feedback is just downright mean. But even when something falls into the category of constructive criticism, it can still hurt!
The first thing you need to do is isolate the feedback. It is not reflective of you, the person. It is reflective of the experience the customer had with the product or service.
Isolate the feedback as if you were a neutral, third party to the situation. This will remove any emotions, disappointment, or anger that you may be feeling about the situation and allow you to interact with the customer’s concerns in a positive way.
A lot of the time, the spirit of the negative feedback is valid, but the way it’s said isn’t. Your job is to not let the presentation of the criticism bother you (even if it comes in the form of yelling or choice language) while trying to identify where the real problem lies.
After you’ve isolated the feedback — you can identify where the real concern lies.
This may seem like a simple step, but it’s usually anything but. Customer feedback doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There are usually factors outside of the situation that impact how the response is worded or expressed.
A customer may rant about 10 different things that you did wrong — when all of those 10 things boil down to one specific concern that the customer can’t quite put their finger on. Or they may simply state that “this is bad” without explaining any of the reasons why they feel that way.
To work with negative feedback, you sometimes need to play detective. Ask questions that allow the customer to fully express their feelings. This won’t just help them feel heard, it will also give you the context you need to get to a solution.
Don’t just aim to listen, aim to empathize and understand.
Don’t say “I hear you” while someone is complaining — say “I understand.” Big difference there.
When the customer is finished explaining — repeat back what you’ve heard, but remove the emotion out of it. Be matter-of-fact as you walk through what’s just happened. This will prime the customer to start viewing the situation as a solvable problem (and not an emotion-crushing disaster).
As you go through your recap with them, focus on the handful of issues that are really at the crux of the issue. Even if these are things outside of your control. Take responsibility for them. The worst thing you can do is “try and pass the buck” — and in a world where everyone’s trying to point fingers, most customers will respect you for taking accountability.
At first — negative feedback can seem overwhelming and impossible to fix. But when you get good at finding the one thing that sits at the heart of the complaint it becomes manageable.
When the key issues are identified, act swiftly. Show the customer you’ve listened to them in the way you go about resolving the matter.
The most important work happens after the specific situation has been put to bed. Your job now is to evolve so that the problem does not happen again with another customer. It can be useful to discuss the negative feedback with your boss or peers — not to gossip or complain about it, but to get their opinion about how you handled things and how you can improve.
The odds are that they’ve gotten the same kind of feedback at some point in their careers. Listening to their experiences will help you grow — and will also reveal that getting criticism is normal (so you shouldn’t feel too bad about what that customer said!).
Reflecting helps you fix a problem before it becomes a trend. When you invest the time to think about how customers are responding to your product or service — you can start developing a tangible list of action items that are going to help you grow.
The best businesses are the ones that listen and adapt based on their customer’s needs and concerts. The greatest entrepreneurs have a spotlight on them at all times — and are criticized relentlessly. Knowing how to turn a negative piece of feedback into an opportunity for growth is a skill that directly correlates with success.
So, remember that everyone gets negative feedback sometimes — and if you know how to interact with it, that feedback can be a positive turning point in your career or entrepreneurial journey.
The last step in these situations is always to act. Take time to improve based on feedback and move forward with confidence and integrity.
There will always be negative feedback. But if each complaint is different than the last… you’re going in the right direction!
Are we just being sticklers—or does being on time ACTUALLY matter?
If there’s anything we’ve learned from three decades in business (and counting), it’s that time is one of our greatest assets as entrepreneurs. If you don’t keep on schedule—and disrespect the time of others—you’re not going to get very far at all!
In this blog, we highlight 7 reasons being on time matters—and how you can make punctuality your superpower.
Here’s how to level up your listening skills and become a better leader.
Have you ever stopped in the middle of a conversation and thought, wait a minute, this person isn’t even listening?
It’s a frustrating feeling.
The reality is that most of the time, people really aren’t listening. Despite what you may think, it’s not enough to just sit back and let noise flow into your ears.
So what does this have to do with leadership?
When we think of the greatest leaders, we often think of profound public speakers—leaders who inspire, command, and tell others what to do.
But more important than all of these traits, is the ability to listen.
As a leader, you are responsible for the people on your team. Their problems are your problems. Showing up for them requires stepping into their world, seeing their thought process, and understanding the problems that they may be encountering.
Listening is the gateway to all of these insights.
The better you understand a person, the more effectively you can lead them.
By listening to them first, you can align the team’s goals with their personal aspirations.
You can offer solutions to problems they might be anxious about before you set them to a task.
You might even uncover untapped strengths or gifts that they have, just through conversation.
Ideas don’t have to all come from the mind of the leader. On the contrary, the best innovations typically come from collaborative discussion. Your job as a leader is to facilitate as many conversations as possible, acting as a moderator while your team presents, adapts, and perfects ideas.
Active listening will help you better understand the collective vision, while also bringing forth the tough questions that will strengthen the idea. That’s why getting every brain in the game and encouraging candor in our meetings are two of Cydcor’s core values!
There’s also a massive interpersonal benefit here, too. Active listening is a difficult skill to master, so many people just aren’t used to being listened to. Because of this, the feeling of being heard is one of the best gifts you can give to someone.
Active listening is more than just a performance!
A common piece of advice on this topic is to “show that you’re listening.”
You’ve probably been told to nod your head, make small noises (like uh huh, yeah, and even the occasional wow!), and smile.
There was a time when this wasn’t terrible advice, but doing these alone is far from active listening.
These signals tend to be overused by people who are merely pretending to pay attention. The speaker may feel like they’re getting the right feedback from the listener, but something is a little off.
If these come naturally to you, then they’re great ways to show you’re listening. If you’re someone who likes to smile, smile. If you naturally nod your head when listening, let it happen.
Just don’t force it. The person wants to talk to you, not a bobblehead doll.
There’s a better way to “show” that you’re listening:
Ask good questions.
Conversations are often two people fighting over their turn to talk. Asking a follow-up question or trying to dive deeper into what’s just been said is a great way to show that you’re here just to listen.
Sometimes, you may be at a loss for how to keep the conversation going, but asking good follow ups is a skill that you can develop.
Don’t try to do too much. Simply asking for the “why” behind what’s been said, or asking how they came up with that particular idea goes a long way.
It can be uncomfortable at first, but you should (especially as a leader) learn how to ask tough or critical questions. This is not to be mean, or to shoot the speakers idea down. Instead, a difficult question—framed the right way—can make their idea stronger.
People—suprisingly—like being asked tough questions. They see that you’re not just telling them what they want to hear. They learn that you care enough about their success to challenge them.
Active listening takes thought—and if you’re thinking critically about what’s being said, you’re taking it to a whole new level.
Ok, this one is situational.
If you run into someone in the hallway and strike up a quick conversation, it would be a bit odd to whip out your notepad. But in situations like meeting, a notepad is a great listening tool.
Taking the time to write down what’s being said affirms how you value the speaker. What’s being said isn’t just useful in the moment, it’s worth saving for later.
When it comes time for questions, you’ll be able to reference the specific language that the speaker used and dig into things that you otherwise might have lost as the discussion went on.
The act of writing something has a positive impact on memory and learning—and even if you forget, you still have the notes!
This means you’ll be able to reference what’s been said, long after the meeting is over. When you apply this, the speaker’s words have long-term impact. Talk about a confidence boost!
As children, we were all told that we have “two ears and one mouth for a reason.” It’s more than a corny platitude, it’s the formula for great leadership.
As a challenge, strike up a conversation with someone you don’t talk to often. Try to get them to do as much of the talking as possible—and see what you can learn from them and the experience.
Keep doing that—and you’ll master this amazing leadership skill in no time!
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From networking with industry leaders to learning from top innovators, these are the can’t-miss events for this year.
Connecting with others is the best way to grow as a professional. Most of the world’s top companies understand this—and put on yearly conferences to bring their organization, network, and industry together.
Among these, some organizations take it to a whole other level. Featuring life-changing breakouts and late-night networking parties, here are the top corporate events we can’t wait for in 2024
This multinational event pays homage to the entrepreneurial spirit. Cydcor, a leader in outsourced sales, always puts on a great show at its annual National Conference.
NatCon gathers business owners and entrepreneurs from throughout Cydcor’s network of independent sales offices. Held in Texas and Montreal, both conferences celebrate the past success of top performers while fueling future growth.
In powerful breakouts with leaders such as CEO Vera Quinn and Executive Chairman Gary Polson, entrepreneurs will glean the experience and wisdom that’s come from Cydcor’s 3 decades (and counting) in business. NatCon also invites top performers to come share their unique recipe for success, as breakouts/pannels touch on various innovations and opportunities within the industry.
Running for three days, NatCon reflects Cydcor’s reputation for excitement and momentum. The energy builds to an award ceremony honoring the achievements of top performers in ICLs throughout Cydcor’s network.
NatCon 2024 is scheduled for September—and is the perfect boost for entrepreneurs looking to finish the final quarter of the year strong. Last year’s theme was “Game On” and we’re eagerly waiting on Cydcor to reveal the focus for this iteration of their National Conferences.
IBM has been a global leader in technology research and consulting for over a century—we expect nothing less than monumental from their yearly conference.
Since 2018, IBM Think has allowed business leaders and tech insiders to learn about and discuss the latest in industrial technology. Think 2024—hitting Boston in late May—will focus on using AI to scale businesses, a hot topic that will continue to trend as the year goes on.
Over 5000 attendees from over 1000 organizations will be able to hear directly from the minds shaping the AI revolution. This includes keynotes from IBM’s Head of Research Dr. Darío Gil, Senior VP of Product Management and Growth Kareem Yusuf, and over 150 other industry leaders. Along with all the buzz around AI, business leaders will also learn about leveraging IBM’s Quantum to get a tech boost over their competitors.
IBM has had an active hand in technology innovations throughout the modern era. If you want to hear what their top minds are thinking about in 2024, don’t miss out on Think!
This yearly event is a force to be reckoned with—literally. Dreamforce, put on by CRM leader Salesforce, is known to put San Fransisco to a standstill. Bringing in thousands of attendees (with over 40,000 coming in person last year), Dreamforce is as much a logistical marvel as it is a fantastic corporate event.
Salesforce is a software that professionals across organizations use daily—which makes for a diverse and multidisciplinary crowd. Whatever your job title is, there’s a keynote or workshop that dives into the nitty gritty of how you can use the technology more effectively.
“True to the Core,” a Q&A with Salesforce’s top execs, continues to be a top highlight for those curious about features, updates, and even their biggest frustrations with the software.
It’s not all business at Dreamforce, though. The party schedule is just as extensive as the event’s educational offerings.
Dreamforce 2024 hits San Francisco in September. Best plan ahead: traffic getting into town will be a nightmare!
There are few opportunities to rub shoulders with the world’s top CEOs, executives, and business leaders quite like this. Put on by the big four firm Ernst & Young, the Strategic Growth Forum allows attendees to network and learn from “the authors of the future.”
The marquee event of the forum is the Entrepreneur Of The Year® US awards—which recognizes the incredible leaders that will shape the economy for years to come. The Illumination Experience is also a highlight—offering executives in attendance hands-on time with cutting-edge technology that will play a major role moving forward. Keynotes and workshops on topics from revenue growth to market insights are also on the agenda.
Beyond all this, the Strategic Growth Forum is one of the best environments for good old-fashioned networking. If you’re looking for investors, new partners, and even customers, this is where they’ll be.
EY’s Strategic Growth Forum 2024 takes place this November in Palm Springs.
Google’s playful approach to innovation takes center stage at I/O, the company’s flagship developer conference. It’s even become a tradition for the event dates to be revealed via an interactive puzzle game.
I/O is an opportunity for developers around the world to hone their problem-solving skills, get ahead of the curve on innovation, and have fun doing it.
While I/O is largely attended online, Google has emphasized interactivity for its 2024 event. There is a wide range of communities attendees can join, allowing them to network with developers from around the world. The hope for Google is that these connections last much longer than the event itself, as newly formed professional connections fuel future innovation.
I/O 24 takes over the digital realm in mid-May—and it’s not just professional developers who are excited about it. Hobbyists and novices alike are invited to come attend. Consumers also watch over I/O with a curious eye—as the event often reveals new features and tech products dropping later in the year.
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Whether you’re celebrating success with top performers in Cydcor’s network, or learning about the latest AI innovations from the heads of IBM, nothing rivals what you’ll experience at these top corporate events!
Maybe we’ll see you at one of them!
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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.sfweekly.com/marketplace/top-5-corporate-events-2024/article_58dcb2c6-21d0-11ef-a7ab-afacf66c1887.html
Inventor, politician, writer… Benjamin Franklin wore a lot of hats in his life (in addition to being the guy on the $100 bill). But in everything he did, he was a leader — and his quotes on the topic can benefit every aspect of our lives.
Cydcor Chairman and former CEO Gary Polson has learned a lot from this legendary founding father. In this blog, he shares 5 leadership lessons from “The First American.”