Plan the work and work the plan. You must stay focused on your work plan or very quickly, things can go off the rails!
About Alisa Marie Beyer, Entrepreneur + Business Strategist + Executive and Organizational Transition Expert: Alisa Marie Beyer, CEO of LemonTree Partners, has been helping executives, companies and organization for more than 20 years through business strategy and executive leadership transitions. Her clients have included Nestlé, Estee Lauder, Mary Kay, Avon, DuPont, Galderma, L’Oréal, Wet ‘n Wild, Proactiv, Meaningful Beauty, StriVectin, Dow Personal Care, Murad, GlamGlow, L’Occitane, Fresh, Bath & Body Works, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, KAO Brands, Osmosis and more than 100 startup and small companies. The hallmark of Alisa’s success has been the ability to grow and successfully transition her own companies as well as that of her client companies and organizations. Visit:
Where did the idea for LemonTree Partners come from?
I chose LemonTree Partners because first of all, I love lemons–they are a symbol of unity and happiness, and secondly because I worked really hard to get to place, San Diego, where I had my own lemon trees. That was the result of a lot of professional work in my businesses.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My typical day involves so many things! In addition to getting a family of three teenagers up and out the door, my number one priority is my team daily huddle, which gets everyone on my team aligned, working on the same priorities and same page, and keeps us focused on the right outcomes. And, I play tennis 2X a week in the mornings too!
How do you bring ideas to life?
For me, the best and only way to bring an idea to life is through an intense focus on what that idea is, and is not, team dialog on how to bring the idea to life, and lots of coffee!
What’s one trend that excites you?
I am extremely excited by the trend in businesses coming together supporting more women taking positions in the C-suite. California just passed a law that by the end of 2019, every publicly traded company in the state has to have one woman on their board. I truly believe this is a pivotal moment (and hopefully not just a trend) for women gaining even more representation in the upper echelons of business.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Planning the work and working the plan. You must stay focused on your work plan or very quickly, things can go off the rails!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t worry so very much about the failures you are inevitably going to face because they are a part of your journey, and they will make you that much stronger as an entrepreneur.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Clearly, my singing voice. I think it’s pretty good, but I can’t find another person who agrees!
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Surround yourself with smart, highly engaged employees who are invested in and you can trust to execute your vision, and then let them do their jobs. Without the right team in place, your vision won’t get far. I’d take a great team and a mediocre idea any day!
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
The best strategy I know to grow business is again to hire the right people, make sure they are in the right positions, and then trusting them to help you execute your vision.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Early on in my career, I started a swimwear company–without any knowledge of or experience in the clothing industry. Predictably, the business faced multiple struggles: swimsuit fit, sourcing, distribution–you name it. But I just kept going. Rather than quitting when I felt down, I asked for help when I needed it and course-corrected as we evolved, the net result of which was my swimsuits landing in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, and selling the company to one of the largest swimwear manufacturer’s in the world.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
If I could invest in any business right now, it would be what I think is the next wave in beauty – CLEAN CLINICAL. Yes, we love natural and organic, but if you can marry clean clinical with the reality of the injectables business…WOW.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I bought a new tennis racket. I played tennis competitively and have recently again made playing a priority. By again giving myself this healthy and creative outlet, I’m more able to focus and bring my best self to work each day.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
I am obsessed with the Morning Brew! Every morning I literally get a cup of coffee, and read the BREW. I feel so much better informed.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield. The number one reason most people fail in business is a lack of focus. In business, particularly in the C-suite, if you really want to be successful, you have to learn to focus, and this book is an amazing inspiration and guide on how to do just that.
What is your favorite quote?
“Success is never final, failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.” – Jack Wooden
Key Learnings:
- Always make time to meet or ‘huddle’ with your team each day. Doing so will keep your team focused on what matters, and not spinning their wheels on what doesn’t.
- Failure is as integral to being an executive or entrepreneur as success, and it only matters if you let it be the defining moment of your career. It’s what you do with what you learn about yourself (and your business) when failing that matters, not the failure itself.
- Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and excellent at their jobs, and then let them do it. Micro-managing does nothing to further your vision.
- If you want to grow your business, you have to focus. Focus is a muscle that needs to be exercised every day.
- Play every day, literally. Have fun and make sure you have activities in your life that are non-working, and that give you joy.
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Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.