The Secret Ingredient to Business Success? Personal Growth 🚀🍪

Right now, my kitchen smells like cinnamon and anise, and I’m elbow-deep in flour making traditional New Mexican biscochitos.

I recently read an article about personal qualities that resonated with me – not just as a person, but as a business owner. These eight qualities aren’t just life lessons; they’re basically a blueprint for entrepreneurial success:
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1. Emotional Intelligence: In business, this is GOLD. Understanding your clients’ needs, reading between the lines of conversations, and managing your own emotions during challenging moments. That’s how you build lasting relationships.
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2. Resilience: Entrepreneurs know this intimately. Every setback is just a setup for a comeback. Just like how a burnt batch of cookies doesn’t mean you stop baking, a business challenge doesn’t mean you stop growing.
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3. Independence: Being self-sufficient while knowing when to seek advice or collaboration. It’s the fine line between stubborn and smart that successful entrepreneurs walk.
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4. Vulnerability: In today’s market, authenticity sells. Showing your true self, admitting mistakes, sharing your journey – this builds genuine connections with clients and customers.
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5. Kindness: Your reputation is built on how you treat people. In business, kindness isn’t weakness – it’s your most powerful marketing tool.
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6. Authenticity: Forget fancy marketing speak. Clients want real people, real stories, real solutions. Your unique voice is your biggest differentiator.
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7. Humility: The most successful entrepreneurs I know are always learning, always growing. They celebrate wins but remain open to improvement.
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8. Courage: Taking calculated risks, stepping out of your comfort zone, believing in your vision even when others might not – this is the entrepreneur’s daily bread (or in my case, biscochitos).
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These qualities aren’t just about being a good person – they’re about being a successful business owner. They transform how we connect, how we solve problems, and how we grow both personally and professionally.

As I dust these cookies with cinnamon sugar, I’m thinking about how we’re all continuously dusting off our skills, our mindset, our approach to business and life. I’m not saying I’m perfect at all of these. Far from it! But reading this article made me excited to keep growing, to keep learning, to keep becoming a better version of myself.

Maybe while you’re enjoying your holiday baking (or whatever tradition brings you joy), you might reflect on these too?

With love and alignment,

Jeanette “Sending warm wishes (and the smell of baking cookies) your way”, Ortega

P.S. If you’d like support to create an aligned, burnout-free business moving into 2025, here are a few ways I can help right now:

💖 Life Alignment & Clarity Quiz Feel like you’re juggling everything, but something’s just not clicking? This quick quiz will help you uncover where your life and business might be out of sync. In less than 3 minutes, you’ll gain insight into which areas of your life and business are draining your energy—and where small shifts could create more flow, alignment, and success. When your personal rhythm and business strategy are in harmony, your entire life transforms. Ready to pinpoint what’s holding you back and get clear on your next step toward greater business clarity and fulfillment? Take the quiz.💖 ​
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💜 The Aligned Success Self-Assessment – The Aligned Success Self-Assessment is more than just a worksheet—it’s your opportunity to decode the invisible blocks and energy drains keeping you stuck. In under an hour, you’ll reveal untapped potential and actionable insights that have been hiding in plain sight. Ready for your clarity breakthrough? Start here. 💜
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💕 Life & Business Alignment Harmony Strategy Intensive – Using the clarity from your assessment, we’ll map out a fully customized plan to realign your life and business—without burnout or overwhelm. Let’s create a strategic path forward that works for you. Secure your spot now! 💕

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions, thoughts, or experiences you’d like to share—I’d love to hear from you!