We recently connected with Lynette Robinson and have shared our conversation below.

Lynette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

People often ask me if I wish I had started my business sooner and my answer is no. I am so thankful for the time I spent in corporate america. I got a sales job right out of college and looking back, it was the best thing for me. The experience helped me because: 1. I was constantly learning new things. Every time new technology came out, I had to learn it and learn why and how it was beneficial to customers, business, etc. I never stopped learning and I realized that things are always going to grow and change and you have to embrace it or you’ll be left behind.
2. I learned to be solutions focused. When you’re selling… you’re solving. You are solving for the problems the buyer knows, and you’re solving for the problems the buyer doesn’t know.
3. I learned to effectively communicate with confidence. I was so scared and unsure when I began my sales career. Over time and after lots of practice, I discovered that I communicate well when I know what I’m talking about and when I’m sure that what I’m selling will solve the customer/clients issue.
4. I learned DISCIPLINE! I had sales goals that I had to hit every month (LOL)! If I didn’t work at it, I wouldn’t make any money. My time in corporate taught me the importance of knowing your numbers, and taught me the importance of having a routine of making calls, which leads to contacts, which leads to meetings, which leads to proposals, which leads to signed contracts. Having been in sales for over a decade, I learned that when you are disciplined…DAILY, you’re able to produce results!
5. I learned how to build and maintain relationships. I had to establish relationships from the gatekeeper to the CEO! I now am able to identify decision makers, influencers, and other stakeholders who all play part in the sales process.

I could probably identify way more things I took away from my 13 years in corporate america, but these would be the top five most important things I learned from that time that play a significant role in how I approach my business today.

Lynette, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am the Daughter and Granddaughter of Pastors. I’ve had the honor of watching my Parents and Grandparents interact with all kinds of people, serving all people well and with excellence. My Mother taught me as a child the importance of attention to detail, organization and planning ahead, and I attest those skills that I embody to her.

To summarize a long story, I realized after spending several great years in sales (I was really good!) that I was working a job that I wasn’t passionate about. Even more, I discovered that I’d never really considered my purpose. I thought I’d done what I was supposed to do… I went to school, got a job, made good money, was taking care of my responsibilities… but I wasn’t happy in my career… something was surely missing.

So I began to search myself. I identified the things I loved to do and the things I did not. This helped direct me in the shift I was about to make. After doing this and extensive career research, I left corporate, obtained a certification in Operations and started my own business, Lighter Living Virtual Solutions, a boutique recruitment agency that matches businesses with the aligned staff they need to grow and scale. My business connects my heart to serve people with my natural skills as an Operator (attention to detail, organization, planning ahead, etc.).

My ultimate goal through Lighter Living Virtual Solutions is to lighten the load of business owners, enabling them to be the people they dream to be personally and professionally while driving their businesses to have the impact they created it to have. I call this the “Lighter Living Mantra”….

We know we have fulfilled our “Lighter Living Mantra” when our partnership with business owners:
• takes them out of overwhelm and burnout,
• positions them to be more present in their personal lives,
• empowers them to be innovators in their industries, and
• allows their companies to grow with ease.

We do this with offers in Strategic Planning, Recruitment Services and Operations Suppport. In each of these key areas we understand a company’s needs present day, and supply support that will help them grow and scale into the future.

I am most proud that my business that allows me to serve and impact business owners in their lives (with their families) and in their businesses.
Through Strategic Planning, we get to help busy CEOs organize their thoughts and bring clarity, direction and a plan to their business for the next year,
Our Recruitment Services allow us to bring diverse and qualified candidates who align with and share the same passion for the mission and values of the clients we partner with, and
With Operations Support, we establish and organize the back side of our clients businesses so that they function well supporting the front (client-facing) side of the business.

Taking these responsibilities from my clients gives them back time that they can now spend on themselves, or with their friends and family. It fills me up to know that our work allows us to give the gift of time and less worry back to our clients.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What’s helped build my reputation within my market is that I LOVE what I do. Because I love what I do:

+ I bring excitement, big energy and big smiles to every conversation. Most times because I’m excited, my clients share my energy and enjoy their time with me

+ I show up uber prepared at every conversation. Clients know that when we meet, I go hard and they appreciate my preparedness and the knowledge I bring

+ I’m always improving. With each client, all throughout the experience, I’m asking for feedback and looking for ways to make their experience the best it possibly can be

It’s because of these three things, I get great referrals and I’m fortunate that those referrals are people that I am grateful to call friends and partners in business.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

It’s important that people who come onto your team understand why your business exists and aligns with that mission and your core values. Even when the hiring need is urgent, it’s so important to select someone who believes in why you exist and what you value or they will surely leave for what they think is the next better opportunity.

As you explain the job, also communicate the impact of what success in that role means for your business. The right candidate/employee who believes in your business and your why wants to perform well. When there is clarity on what their job entails, what success looks like, and how their role impacts the business as a whole, there’s a greater chance the employee will stay and grow with your business.

Talk about what the future looks like. Ask the employee about their professional goals, what they love, where they see themselves short and long term. Make sure that you them in positions that allow them to shine and utilize their natural skills and abilities. Discuss growth and promotion. When people know that you care about them, they return the favor.
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I’m a big fan of one on one check ins either quarterly or twice a year. This allows for open dialogue about performance, a chance to make sure the job description is still accurate, and two way feedback.

I also believe in team building activities, virtual or in person to build comraderie and create a casual environment for everyone (leadership included) to learn about each other in a less formal space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lighterlivingvirtualsolutions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lighterlivingvirtualsolutions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lighterlivingvirtualsolutions
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynettedrobinson/
• Twitter: N/A
• Youtube: N/A
• Yelp: N/A

Image Credits
Photographer: Mena Darre of Mena Darre Photography, St. Louis, Missouri