I’m excited to share our latest anthology, World-Class Business Change Makers Explore Why Love Is Important in Business 2024. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’ve gathered incredible stories from top-notch business pros about how love does make the business world go round.
Each contributor brings their unique spin on why putting a little heart into your work isn’t just lovely—it’s essential. From building stronger connections to sparking innovation, they share how love has transformed their work and can change yours, too. So, grab a cup of your favorite brew, get comfy, and join me in discovering the magic of mixing love with business.
Annie Koshy Founder/Creative Director, GTA South Asian Media Network Inc.
Annie Koshy is a seasoned branding strategist and communications expert known for her efficient, creative, and professional services in design strategy, social media consultation, visual design, and public relations.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
As a creative solo-preneur, I’ve found that embracing love as a fundamental quality in business is not just a choice; it’s a necessity, especially for bridge-building and collaboration. In solo entrepreneurship, where the journey can often be solitary, infusing love into my business practices has been a transformative force. It goes beyond the typical transactional aspects of collaboration and becomes the heartbeat of meaningful connections.
Love, in this context, is the catalyst for authentic collaboration.
It breaks down barriers and fosters an environment where diverse talents, perspectives, and ideas can converge harmoniously. In my solo-preneurial ventures, I’ve witnessed firsthand how genuine care for the wellbeing and success of collaborators elevates the work’s quality and forges enduring partnerships.
Being a creative solo-preneur, I understand the power of collaboration in sparking innovation.
Love in business becomes the glue that binds creatives and collaborators, creating a shared space where ideas can flourish without fear of judgment. It transforms the collaborative process from merely exchanging skills to a joint venture fuelled by a shared passion for the work.
Love is the secret ingredient that turns collaboration into a dynamic, enriching experience. It’s a guiding principle shaping how I approach bridge building in my entrepreneurial journey, creating connections beyond business and laying the foundation for a supportive, flourishing, creative community.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
In 2024, infusing love into your business journey acts as a catalyst for personal growth. Cultivate genuine connections, foster a positive work culture, and prioritize collaboration. Love in business nurtures resilience, sparks creativity, and propels individuals to flourish professionally.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Navigating 2024 successfully in business involves a strategic blend of adaptability and foresight. Prioritize continuous learning to stay informed about industry trends. Authentic connections, whether with clients, collaborators, or your team, form the foundation of success. Effective communication, rooted in transparency and active listening, fosters a collaborative environment.
Innovation is crucial. Challenge norms and explore practical ways to enhance your offerings. Embrace technology to streamline processes and improve efficiency. Your wellbeing matters; maintain a healthy work-life balance and integrate mindfulness practices to sustain energy and creativity.
Success in 2024 is not solely about achieving goals; it’s about sustaining a purpose-driven journey.
Marcia Martin – CEO, Communication Expert, Renowned Global Executive Trainer and Coach
Marcia Martin, CEO of Marcia Martin Productions, LLC, an executive training firm specializing in transformational leadership training and communication arts technology, is renowned as one of the top transformational trainers and executive and life coaches worldwide in the arenas of championship performance, relationship coaching, communication mastery, and public speaking having personally trained over 300,000 individuals and corporate executives worldwide to be more effective human beings and leaders.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
People are motivated when they are inspired. Love is the most motivational strategy available anywhere. They give their all when team members feel cared for, loved, acknowledged, and supported. When clients believe that you care for them, not just for their money or fees, but because, as an organization, you genuinely want them to succeed, they will come back for more services and refer you to others. Your organization obtains a good reputation when the community feels your company genuinely serves the community with care and appreciation. Love all around is a good thing for business.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
Coming out of 2023, people are stressed by the world conditions, the economy, and the opposing political discourses. They are hoping for better in 2024.
If your team and your organization show concern, care, and support – all instruments of love – then you will be received with great gratitude, and people will, in return, support and care for you and your team. Your profits will soar.
Teach and train your team members to express care and support for all they meet; make kindness a value in your organization; make all team members smile and take time with people; be patient and genuinely concerned for what others need. This will come back to you in profits and support.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Instead of criticizing or judging others, take time to be kind.
Offer to understand before you make requests or demands. Find out what others need, rather than only telling them what you need. Smile and be grateful. Slow down and enjoy the ride. Enjoy people, and tell them something you appreciate about them, whether it is a team member, a client, a vendor, an industry competitor, or a community member.
And listen.
Give others your full attention when they are speaking to you. Be patient and allow them to share their whole message before you interrupt or respond. How they respond to and support you will make a big difference.
Hons., Dr. Rhonda Kerlew RN B.Sc.N EMBA – Independent Consultant and Global Director with the Neuro Change Institute
As a highly experienced leader with the Neuro Change Institute and with a deep passion for transformative education, Hons. Dr. Rhonda Kerlew channels her extensive healthcare leadership experience into empowering individuals and organizations to achieve transcendent mental wellbeing.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
Love is fundamental in business because it fosters trust, nurtures meaningful connections, and builds loyalty.
When leaders and entrepreneurs operate with love, they create a compassionate culture that encourages collaboration and inspires others. This positive environment boosts morale, innovation, and productivity. Furthermore, genuine care for customers’ needs creates lasting relationships and a loyal client base.
Love in business goes beyond profit; it’s about creating a legacy of impactful, human-centric experiences and values that resonate with people’s intrinsic desire for connection and respect.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
Love in business is a powerful force, both as an internal motivator and an external connector. As individuals seek to grow and flourish in the business landscape through 2024, embracing love as a personal and professional development strategy is crucial.
Here’s my educational tip:
Cultivate Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Module 3 in the Neuro Change Method:
Foster a love-based approach by developing high EQ.
Understanding and managing your emotions and those of others can create deeper connections, communicate more effectively, and lead with compassion. This heightened emotional acuity will strengthen your relationships and enhance your decision-making skills, positively influencing negotiations, client management, and team dynamics.
Endeavor to make love a core value in your interactions and watch as your business relationships deepen, resilience strengthens, and success follows.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
I used to love David Lettermen’s top 10 lists, so here are mine:
1. Adapt: Stay agile and open to change.
2. Continuously Learn: Embrace lifelong learning to stay ahead. Engage in professional development to keep your skills sharp and knowledge current.
3. Innovate: Foster a mindset of innovation within your business. Challenge the status quo and encourage creative thinking to develop new products, services, or processes.
4. Customer Focus: Deeply understand your customers’ evolving needs and exceed their expectations to build loyalty and competitive advantage.
5. Sustainable Practices: Incorporate sustainability into your business model—it’s essential for the planet and increasingly important to consumers and partners.
6. Strategic Networking: Build and maintain a strong professional network. Cultivate relationships that can provide support, insight, and opportunities for collaboration.
7. Data-Driven Decisions: Utilize data analytics to inform business decisions. Leveraging data can identify trends, optimize operations, and personalize customer experiences.
8. Emotional Intelligence: Prioritize EQ in your day-to-day.
9. Financial Health: Keep a keen eye on financial metrics and cash flow. Prudent financial management can help navigate economic uncertainties.
10. Mental Resilience: Develop mental resilience to handle stress and setbacks. Focus on wellbeing to sustain your performance and decision-making capabilities.
LaWanna Bradford, MPA – Chief Operating Officer, The Bradford Group, LLC
A Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, LaWanna Bradford leverages over 30 years of strategic insight to transform industries as the of The Bradford Group, an award-winning strategist and financial analyst, and a celebrated 5x best-selling author who also champions change and empowers women around the world to aim for a more equitable future.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
By embedding love into our business ethos and championing values like diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, we are essentially strengthening the core of our organization. This approach enriches employee engagement and builds a culture of respect that echoes how we connect with our customers.
It is about celebrating each person’s unique value and creating a space where everyone feels seen and supported. Creating a nurturing environment boosts team spirit and drives innovation. It makes our business not just a workplace where empathy and understanding lead to lasting success.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
Bringing love into the heart of business operations can be a game-changer for personal growth and mental wellbeing. Love creates a backdrop of support, empathy, and respect that is invaluable in any professional setting.
Feeling appreciated and backed by your team elevates morale and productivity and bolsters mental health.
It is about reducing stress, dodging burnout, and nurturing community and wellness. At a time in our history where there is a growing focus on mental health, emphasizing emotional intelligence and kind-hearted leadership will allow us to cultivate a thriving work culture.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Drawing from my three decades as a strategist, I have learned the importance of vision and strategic foresight for leadership success, especially in 2024.
To stay ahead in a rapidly changing environment, it is essential for leaders to constantly scan the business horizon, identifying opportunities and mitigating risks. This proactive stance ensures a company’s relevance and competitiveness. Leaders must adopt a strategic lens, anticipating shifts and adeptly navigating through them.
The key lies in responding to changes and strategically positioning the business for future growth and success. This strategic foresight is vital in navigating the complexities of tomorrow’s landscape.
Veney Cochran – CEO and Co-Founder of SWAG Leadership, Development & Training
Retired, decorated U.S. Marine turned International Award Winning, Best Selling Author and Speaker.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
Love is key in business because it promotes a positive work environment and cultivates strong relationships between co-workers and clients. Love in business is not just about the love of a partner or spouse and how it translates into success in business. It’s about caring and concern for the wellbeing of others, which is expressed through kindness, respect, and empathy.
When people feel loved and appreciated at work and home, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated, increasing productivity. Love is not just a personal quality; it’s a valuable asset in the business world.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
My number one tip for success in business and life in 2024 is simple.
Follow the “Golden Rule”.
Treat others how you want to be treated.
Business is not the sum of money earned; it’s the sum of lessons learned. The rich may die with tons of money. However, the wealthy will die with dignity and respect.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
To succeed at any given time, one must first become what one wants to achieve. The biggest roadblock, both in business and in life in general, is our own “Limiting Beliefs.”
You are and will become who you see yourself to be.
If you want to become successful in 2024, define what that success means to you and why you want it, and then make it happen. Don’t worry about how you will do it because once you know your true “Why,” the “How doesn’t matter.
Colleen Arruda – Author, Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Speaker, Accountant, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Award- Winning Executive Producer, Founder and President of YOU MATTER MEDIA INC.
Colleen Arruda is an Expert Authority and Motivational Speaker about Mental Illness and the book’s author, YOU MATTER Changing the FACE of Mental Illness.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
Love is the foundation of every good business practice.
No matter the industry, we all want to feel a positive connection and experience throughout our business activities. Creating and maintaining positive and loving relationships with co-workers, employees, vendors, and clients is essential.
Love helps build the vision, mission, good reputation, respect, and integrity that generates long-term success. With love, we all feel connected to a safe space, and when we sense compassion through love, business transforms into the loving act of people helping people.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
Love is an action word.
To help individuals in business grow and flourish, we need to, first and foremost, identify and meet their needs and then take immediate action.
We can help them achieve short- and long-term goals by identifying specific needs. With self-love, we develop the patience and mindful awareness required to create a strong ethical culture and unyielding perseverance.
When we genuinely believe in our visions and our ability to manifest the most optimal business opportunities, we build the business’s fundamental strength and essence.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
It is imperative to think positively.
Our thoughts often become our reality.
It is essential to remind yourself that life is a journey.
There are always high mountains to climb and low valleys in every area of life, including business. Every business entity requires passionate dedication and steadfast determination. Patience for adjustment to ever-changing circumstances and self-control to redirect and reset whenever required will become essential daily business practices.
An optimistic and confident mindset gives way to a more peaceful flow of energy, which reduces stress and simultaneously encourages and attracts tremendous success.
Mandana Attarzadeh – Founder and President, The Flourishing Women Global
Dr. Mandana Attarzadeh is the Founder of the Flourishing Women Global. She is an Author, speaker, empowerment coach, community builder, and social justice advocate.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
From a spiritual perspective, Love is what brings the universe together and keeps it together. As such, every aspect of our lives is deeply affected by love as its building block, including our business. The business provides services and products to respond to fellow humans’ needs and solve their problems.
Being in business is an act of love to serve your fellow human beings through the talents and gifts the universe has given you. An act of love to give back. By doing that, as a result of that act of love, the universe gives back prosperity, which comes in many forms, including money.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
As mentioned in the previous question, business is an act of love.
If you look at your business as an act of love, this perspective will profoundly affect everything. Everything from your business choice to how you operate and treat your clients will change.
Your clients now are your loved ones, and you can only treat them the way you treat your loved ones, with their best interest in mind.
You show up for them thoroughly and will do whatever it takes to serve and help them flourish. And that transforms your business and your results. That will bring more prosperity and joy. After all, business is a love affair!
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Start the year with more self-love and self-care.
Think about and practice what makes your cup full and ready for giving. Also, approach every aspect of your business from a place of love and see how things change.
For example, I can often provide courageous and honest feedback to my colleagues and employees about their performance in a world where everyone sugarcoats their feedback. I do that quite easily, and they take it very well. That is because I start that feedback from a place of love.
I love them and want them to shine at their best and reach their highest potential. That’s why I won’t accept anything less than excellent from them and won’t compromise. When I communicate that, they feel my love energy and where I’m coming from and become receptive to my feedback.
Gwen Lepard – Your Purpose Coach
As Your Purpose Coach, I connect empathic entrepreneurs to their purpose and help them remove the patterns, programs, and projections keeping them from being and loving themselves so that they can flourish in all walks of life.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
It’s common knowledge that having your own business is one of the most profound vehicles for self-growth. Bringing self-love to your business eases the challenges. Rather than panic, you can laugh at situations and yourself.
Love helps the nervous system calm down so you can come from a place aligned with your purpose. Self-love keeps you going when others question what you’re doing.
By its very nature, love is nourishing and motivating. It’s also attractive. Coming from love attracts the right people to you. When you’re talking to the right people, they say yes!
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
When you love yourself and bring that love to your business, you have a wealth of “fuel” that is renewable and easily replenished. When roadblocks show up, you have the energy to transform them into opportunities that align with your purpose.
As you look forward to your 2024 best business decisions, know that loving your authentic self will give you clarity and direction.
You flourish through actions that are aligned with loving who you are. Actions that are inspired by love remove the roadblocks to success.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Be in your purpose.
“Your Purpose is to BE You and to Love Who You BE!”
Patterns, projections, and poor programming get in the way. A Purpose Coach can help you remove those obstacles and connect you to your authentic self.
You’re the only person that can bring what you bring to the world.
Being in your purpose of being yourself and running your business from this aligned place will generate more success than all the programs you can buy, all the advice from others, and all the things you’ve tried that just weren’t you. BE YOU!
Christine Marsh – Founder, Author, Inspirational Speaker, Catalyst for Change
Christine Marsh launched her consulting and Training Company Prime Objectives after achieving a successful career in the fast-moving retail world that ensured firm foundations of business practices in both Operational and Learning & Development environments.
Christine has worked across many disciplines and countries around the world. Her knowledge, experience, and wisdom have inspired many people as she promotes creating Allies, not Opponents. In her book Flashpoint Transformation: Life’s Choices Ready to Jump or Waiting to be Pushed?
Christine reaches out to like-minded souls to contact her to share their common Values & Ethics and concentrate their combined energies on seeking a positive way forward.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
Is love a quality?
The English dictionary definition of love is ‘A quality of the soul within the core values of joy, truth, harmony, and stillness.’ Loving others is natural and a vital part of human relationships. It’s about mutual respect, growth, support and understanding.
However, we glibly use the word love to express an emotion ranging from admiring an object or item of clothing to imposing our love of a belief system and killing in its name.
Passion can be the initial action likened to striking a match to ignite the lasting power of love, which forms the foundations of a successful business.
You need to appreciate the inner light that shines within every one of us.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
A loving working environment is nebulous as a concept. Life’s rich tapestry of emotions shapes our identity and defines who we are.
Traditionally, businesses have been focused on operational factors and achieving cost efficiency. HR (Human Resources) is governed by rules and regulations with Employment Law and Political Correctness and is responsible for mental health and wellbeing.
Creating an environment where people can flourish and be effective would be best.
Exercise: Question of Perspectives
Personal
Internal: Write down the strengths you love about yourself.
External: Seek feedback from members of your community.
Business
Repeat Exercise: What do you love about your business?
Internal: Focus on what you love.
External: Again, seek feedback.
What insights have you gained?
What tips and guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Two thousand twenty-four heralds in an intense period of energy highs and lows.
Craft a life in balance and strip away practices that no longer serve you. Transend to an open and flexible approach within the rapid, unpredictable, fast-changing environment.
However, it would be best to be clear on your boundaries so people can respect your ethics and principles.
Self-love should not become selfish. Community spirit is based on shared love. People need to take responsibility for their actions.
Tough love may seem harsh, but it could mean the difference between failure and success in your business.
https://www.thechristinemarsh.com
Dr Annette Greenwood – Coaching & Radio Presenter
Dr Annette Greenwood is an award-winning life coach, radio presenter, and author.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
Love in business may sound a bit mushy to some reading this, but honestly, having love in business is important.
WHY!
Well, for starters.
It shines through if it comes across loud and clear that you love what you do. When there is love, it reflects in your business dealings, which positively impacts those you are collaborating with.
Think of love as high energy, and that high energy is vibrating. It affects how you speak, act, and behave towards others. Let go of the outdated idea that love in business is just a fancy notion.
It’s a winner!
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
I heard a couple of great comments.
‘Put Love in all you do’ and’ Be love, serve love, make a difference.’
This doesn’t mean you have to turn overnight into a love hippy, but if you think of this as an investment in your service, it completely changes your perspective.
You can still take all the action you need from the practical side, including spreadsheets, video calls, and looking at the numbers, but you are changing the dynamics by thinking of it as love-based marketing instead.
Try putting it to the test by adopting these two mottos.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
I always advocate being clear, setting intentions, and taking appropriate action steps.
Without clarity, things are floating around with no real direction.
Success looks different for different people, so it’s essential to ensure you follow your True North, and everyone has a different formula for success.
People love or hate networking, but having conversations can lead to many possibilities.
Don’t forget collaboration, as it’s fundamental to success. Remember the line – No Man is an Island. This means no one is self-sufficient; everyone relies on others. Wise words to live by.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-annette-greenwood-98809819/
Susan Pilkenton, Community and Wealth Building Specialist – COO of Wealth Code Consultants
Susan Pilkenton, Founder of Flipping Success, Principal of Wealth Code Consultants, and Advisory Board Leader in The Community Corp, helps her community members match their personal and business capital with exceptionally performing assets and projects.
Masterful at her craft, she is a community inspiration who has overcome all financial setbacks by conquering nearly half a million dollars in debt to build a multi-million-dollar empire with her wonderful friends, family, and community business partners.
Why is love an important quality to have in business?
Love is an important quality to have in business. When you have a deep sense of love, joy, and gratitude in your heart and a genuine love for your business, you will become an absolute magnet to your customers, clients, business partners, and potential customers. They will mirror that same love and joy back to you.
This love is so magnetic that they will want to spend more time with you to help you grow your business vision. This builds a community of people who support your business growth and mission.
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
Exceptional Community of Like-minded Advisory leaders is the key.
Leaders from different backgrounds bring more unique perspectives, ideas, and insights. This diversity of thought sparks creativity, challenges assumptions, and leads to exponential growth, expansion, and long-term, generational prosperity.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
Have a well-thought-out and carefully crafted plan of action that includes sticking to a tried-and-true winning formula, principle, or philosophy!
This world is fast-paced and moving genuinely fast these days. There are so many new distractions and “latest and greatest” temptations. But if you have a formula currently working for yourself or your team, stick with it!
Expand upon it!
Listen, Learn, and Share!
Perfect your formula with the help of your community so that you will be the stand-out leader in your field!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpilkenton
Alex Vitillo – Leading Shamanic Priestess of Wealth & Wellbeing
I empower multi-talented individuals to unleash and monetize their gifts, minus the overwhelm and complexity. Let’s turn your talents into triumphs and riches!
Why is love a vital quality to have in business?
Love makes the world go round.”
I often hear this, yet many prioritize career over love. I’m the opposite, with “The Romantic” as a top-money personality; love fuels all I do.
Before this article, I surveyed finding love in business extends beyond romance to self-love and passion for the company. Balancing romantic love and career is critical.
Do they support or distract?
No right or wrong answer exists, but a positive mindset is crucial.
The romantic uses love to fuel, while the career-focused channels ambition.
What if I’m an ambitious romantic? I believe I can have it all—a “RED-CARPET Lifestyle” with intentional goals.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Can you share an educational tip on how love can help individuals in business grow and flourish through 2024?
Love is the spark of life.
Sprinkling love in everything you do in your business will elevate the frequency of your offers. Inject passion into your sales, be there for your clients, love your customers, and trust that potential buyers will feel it and choose you over similar offers.
If you are in a romantic relationship, focus on that when you are at home so you have a clear separation between your business and your family time. It will help you have fun, relax, and be supported in your ecosystem.
What tips or guidance do you have for individuals in business to be sure of a successful 2024?
“My tip is straightforward.
Be clear on what you want to create, know your limits, and be laser-focused and intentional. Stay focused, grounded, and dedicated to your success. While at it, surround yourself with a supportive team whose values align with and complement yours.
This collaborative environment will boost creativity and propel you towards your goals. Remember, success is not a solo journey; having a solid team can make the path smoother and more enjoyable.
That’s it for now.
I can’t express enough gratitude for the wisdom and perspectives shared by our world-class business change makers. Their narratives support the undeniable truth that love, in its many forms, is a cornerstone of successful business practices.
Let love guide your actions, influence your decisions, and shape your interactions within the business world, and always strive to cultivate environments where love is welcomed and regarded as a non-negotiable to your success.
Thank you for reading, and may the spirit of love continue to remain in all areas of your life.
Mark Stephen Pooler
https://ContactMark.me
CEO & Founder, TMSP AGENCY
A Premium Media and PR Agency
MSP News Global Team
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