We were lucky to catch up with Susan Salzman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Susan , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

When I pivoted from being the CEO and founder of my 7-figure, global lifestyle brand, I did not have a clear plan or path as to “what’s next.” Coupled with the death of my father, my mentor, and rock, I went dark.

And that darkness stayed and manifested into a loss of identity. Loss and grief on so many levels.

Everyone around me, my clients, my accounts, friends, and family kept reminding me how badass I was, not only for creating what I had created but for who I was and how I helped people.

Then in 2016, I was diagnosed with cancer and it was the wake-up call I had been needing. It was in those moments that I gained clarity and said to myself, “If I moved mountains and built bridges in the past, I could do it again.”

At that time I was consulting with brands, businesses, entrepreneurs, and C-suite executives. I took some time to review those relationships and in doing so, I knew I wanted to shift “how” I was serving them.

I took the tools that I was already using and reorganized them into a more step-by-step, utilitarian and structured approach. I began using them in our strategy sessions, and not only were my people on fire but I was as well.

Being able to impact others, impacted me and the systems I created morphed into the 5 Stage Framework – which is now the tool that I use today with my private clients, in my groups, and in my digital courses and products.

Those tools have become the foundation for my business. And because of that, I have been able to scale, thus monetize my mission. And now I am helping 100s of other creative, industrious, and driven humans do the same.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My story begins back when I was a kid with an old cookbook and a burning desire to help others. And while most kids mess around with arts & crafts and make a mess in the kitchen, I sold my stuff and never stopped.

I have built businesses out of the trunk of my car and because of that, I help hundreds of creatives, intuitive, and educators build a life and business they value using the resources and knowledge they already have.

I spent 20 years building, from scratch, a highly successful multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand. Running a business and managing 35 employees, 4 franchises, clients and partnerships around the world requires a skillset that developed over time.

And one of the greatest lessons I learned was that not only am I a visionary and a creative, but I am also a systems girl.

I carried those lessons with me when I pivoted into becoming the leader that I am today. It was here, in helping and serving others that I curated The Five-Stage Framework™.

Using systematic and utilitarian set of tools, I am able to help my clients and students grow, both personally and professionally. It has also allowed me to scale that information into digital courses, ebooks, and my podcast, The Power Of The Pivot, which produces new content every week.

Learning by doing, in my opinion, is one’s greatest education. Because I learned and know how to scale, automate and monetize ones mission, I am now helping others to do the same.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

One of the ways that I foster loyalty with my clients, team, and colleagues is by continuing to share what I know.

As someone who is wildly curious with a strong desire to learn and develop, I am continuously gaining knowledge.

And because of that, I like to share that information and I do that in several ways.

I send a weekly newsletter with value-driven tips, ideas, and resources. I host a weekly podcast that highlights guest experts, past clients, and action steps that one can immediately apply to their life and business.

I also co-host quarterly workshops that are intended to inspire new ideas and best of all, foster community. While at the same time, allowing those that participate to walk away with a measurable transformation and sense of completion.
In doing this work for the past 14+ years, I have witnessed all sorts of wins, losses, failures, thus growth. One thing is for sure, especially with what we have all experienced over the past 3 years, the journey to success can be very lonely.

Bringing people together, via virtually or in person, creates a sense of belonging. Hearing someone elses story and or struggle helps one feel less alone. And it also fosters growth and inspiration.

It’s my mission to help as many humans as possible uncover their intuitive and abundant talent and then show them how they can both share and monetize their mission to the world and beyond.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Well…as I mentioned in my backstory, I was diagnosed with cancer in 2016.

In November of 2021, through a routine MRI, they discovered that I had a brain tumor that metastasized from that original cancer. After leaving the neurologist’s office, I called my oncologist to discuss the strategy. In our conversation, she said, “Your original cancer has no rules.”

Hearing that, hit me harder than, “you have a brain tumor.”

I have three boys, ages 17 – 25, and a 90-year-old mother who I am the sole caregiver for.

I didn’t have a choice. I had to dig deep and find the strength in order to move through what I was about to endure.

I had a choice. I could accept what was in front of me or I could be mad at the world that this was my path.

I chose acceptance. And through that acceptance, I released the control.

And what that brought to me, for the first time in my life, was the ability to simply sit back and receive.

Receive with grace and acceptance.

Resilience is not only about strength, but it is also about vulnerability. In order to be strong you have to be willing to embrace being open.

I learned alot in both the diagnosis and the healing process. And for the first time in my life, I actually leaned into being present. Onced I settled into to being comfortable with just sitting in the now, I was able to open my heart, unappologetially, and receive.

That shift has allowed me to recognize all the gifts and opportunities that had always been there, but I was unwilling to see them clearly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susansalzman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_businessmentor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-salzman-33743b11/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanSalzman
• Other: Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1574205503?mt=2&ls=1

Image Credits
Sheryl Wachtel Photography