Sheri Jacobs

What’s your best piece of career advice for women just starting their career?

Don’t be afraid to take chances, make mistakes, and learn from them. It is the best way to ensure you’ll grow and succeed.

What quotation inspires and drives you?

Chance favors the prepared mind.

In photography and in business, people frequently bring up the idea of luck. But luck has very little to do with success. If you are not getting the desired results, it’s not because you are unlucky. It’s that you haven’t done what is needed to put yourself in a position to take advantage of luck or good fortune.

In your opinion, what are the top three things someone should consider before starting a business?

Before starting a business, set a goal and a timeline for your goals. When you are a quarter of the way through your timeline, evaluate your progress and consider whether you need to make any adjustments. I encourage setting a financial goal, a sales/client acquisition goal, and a personal achievement goal. It’s okay not to reach your goals within the original timeframe. It’s more important to evaluate what is working and what isn’t working, learn from the missteps, and keep moving forward.

What’s something you’re proud of in your career journey?

When I was young, I had an undiagnosed learning disability. I’m dyslexic. I struggled in school and frequently brought home low grades, absolutely certain I was disappointing my parents and teachers. Today, I am the author of three best-selling business books and will soon publish my fourth book. I am also proud of the business I formed about 15 years ago. We have more than 300 association clients and continue to provide important work to the nonprofit community. I’m most proud of what I’ve been able to overcome and achieve!

What’s the first thing you do every morning to start your day off on the right foot?

I’m an early riser. I wake up without an alarm and love to go for a run before the rest of the city wakes up.

What’s your favorite thing to come home to after a long day at work?

My favorite things to come home to after a long day of work or travel are my husband and three dogs. We have three rescue dogs because we merged our families when we got married three years ago. My husband and pups make me smile and bring me so much joy.

Sheri Jacobs, FASAE, CAE is the founder of Avenue M Group, a global professional association membership firm with offices in Chicago and Denver. She’s also an in-demand keynote speaker, published author, and professional wildlife photographer.

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