About Success! Starts Here
Success! Starts Here was founded for the purpose of providing small business owners and managers the tools
needed to successfully manage employees and have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are
doing the right thing for your business and for your employees. Training services are also offered for you, your
management staff, or your employees on whatever topics you need. All services are tailored to the needs of your
business, no matter what industry you are in. More importantly, I offer expert advice from a small business owner
who understands the needs and challenges of small businesses.
Success! Starts Here now also offers public training seminars several times a year to provide relevant and
important information on human resources and management topics to employees and managers in all business
sizes.
needed to successfully manage employees and have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you are
doing the right thing for your business and for your employees. Training services are also offered for you, your
management staff, or your employees on whatever topics you need. All services are tailored to the needs of your
business, no matter what industry you are in. More importantly, I offer expert advice from a small business owner
who understands the needs and challenges of small businesses.
Success! Starts Here now also offers public training seminars several times a year to provide relevant and
important information on human resources and management topics to employees and managers in all business
sizes.
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About Cynthia Grimm
Since I am the force behind Success! Starts Here, it's important that you understand who I am, my style, and my
philosophies. We'll start with the resume:
Professional Background:
I have more than 15 years experience in human resources management, training facilitation, instructional design,
and business management. I also have 9 years experience in retail management and more than 10 years
experience in accounting management. I have worked in a variety of industries including child care, education,
library, restaurant, retail, hotel, transportation, manufacturing, lumber, benefits administration, marketing, and
software companies in addition to operating my own businesses. My businesses have included family budget
consulting, accounting services, general business consulting, jewelry design, herbal products, and pet sitting. All
this while working full time and attending college classes and somehow managing to have a life.
Personal Background:
I grew up in rural Maine in a large family that believes strongly in independence, hard work, honesty, and doing the
right thing. My mother's belief that if you were old enough to walk, you were old enough to do chores gave me a
great work ethic (plus lots of coos from visitors who found it absolutely adorable that a three year old would put her
own dishes in the dishwasher and carry little sticks of firewood through the snow to place them in the box by the
woodstove). It didn't matter how big or small you were, you did your share. I carry that same philosophy through to
my business and to yours.
I worked a number of years in my home town running a small business for an owner who preferred to be in
Vermont which led to my first experiences running my own businesses. Hey, if I could successfully operate his
company, why not my own? When my boss decided to permanently close the business and be "from away" full
time, I moved to Portland, ME to pursue my dream of climbing the corporate ladder. I put my own business
ventures on hold for a number of years as I gained experience working for large and small companies but finally
realized that corporate ladders really aren't for me. Banging my head on all those glass ceilings gave me a pretty
bad concussion and left me wondering what the heck I was doing running other people's departments and
companies when I have all the tools I need to run my own company. This meant a new focus. I realized years ago
that I can't really operate a successful business venture while working full time for someone else. So, I have retired
from corporate ladder climbing and I'm now focusing 100% of my efforts on my business. But, here's the great part
for you...your business, and its success, IS my business.
My Approach:
I'm a real person with real experience and so are you. I don't speak in legalese, I don't talk down to people, and I
treat people with respect. I strive to do the right thing in all aspects of my business which means my advice to you
will always be to do the right thing--both in the legal and ethical sense. If you choose not to take my advice on a
particular issue, I will remind you of why I recommend it once and then leave you alone (unless I am required by
law to report it to the appropriate authorities). It's your business and that means that all decisions are yours to
make. My job is to advise you on what I believe is the right course. And, if you don't follow my advice and the worst
case scenario comes to bear, there will be no "I told you so" chorus. We'll jump right to the part where we find the
best solution to the current problem.
In order to effectively work with your business and have a positive effect on its success, I will spend the time
necessary to listen to you and your experiences and to research your industry. I will never try to tell you that I know
your business better than you do. It's my job to help you steer safely through the regulatory waters of your industry
and help you manage your workforce.
Oh, and as my fifth grade teacher told me, the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. You should never
hesitate to ask me a question. If I don't know the answer to your question, I will find the information and get back to
you. That's a promise.
philosophies. We'll start with the resume:
Professional Background:
I have more than 15 years experience in human resources management, training facilitation, instructional design,
and business management. I also have 9 years experience in retail management and more than 10 years
experience in accounting management. I have worked in a variety of industries including child care, education,
library, restaurant, retail, hotel, transportation, manufacturing, lumber, benefits administration, marketing, and
software companies in addition to operating my own businesses. My businesses have included family budget
consulting, accounting services, general business consulting, jewelry design, herbal products, and pet sitting. All
this while working full time and attending college classes and somehow managing to have a life.
Personal Background:
I grew up in rural Maine in a large family that believes strongly in independence, hard work, honesty, and doing the
right thing. My mother's belief that if you were old enough to walk, you were old enough to do chores gave me a
great work ethic (plus lots of coos from visitors who found it absolutely adorable that a three year old would put her
own dishes in the dishwasher and carry little sticks of firewood through the snow to place them in the box by the
woodstove). It didn't matter how big or small you were, you did your share. I carry that same philosophy through to
my business and to yours.
I worked a number of years in my home town running a small business for an owner who preferred to be in
Vermont which led to my first experiences running my own businesses. Hey, if I could successfully operate his
company, why not my own? When my boss decided to permanently close the business and be "from away" full
time, I moved to Portland, ME to pursue my dream of climbing the corporate ladder. I put my own business
ventures on hold for a number of years as I gained experience working for large and small companies but finally
realized that corporate ladders really aren't for me. Banging my head on all those glass ceilings gave me a pretty
bad concussion and left me wondering what the heck I was doing running other people's departments and
companies when I have all the tools I need to run my own company. This meant a new focus. I realized years ago
that I can't really operate a successful business venture while working full time for someone else. So, I have retired
from corporate ladder climbing and I'm now focusing 100% of my efforts on my business. But, here's the great part
for you...your business, and its success, IS my business.
My Approach:
I'm a real person with real experience and so are you. I don't speak in legalese, I don't talk down to people, and I
treat people with respect. I strive to do the right thing in all aspects of my business which means my advice to you
will always be to do the right thing--both in the legal and ethical sense. If you choose not to take my advice on a
particular issue, I will remind you of why I recommend it once and then leave you alone (unless I am required by
law to report it to the appropriate authorities). It's your business and that means that all decisions are yours to
make. My job is to advise you on what I believe is the right course. And, if you don't follow my advice and the worst
case scenario comes to bear, there will be no "I told you so" chorus. We'll jump right to the part where we find the
best solution to the current problem.
In order to effectively work with your business and have a positive effect on its success, I will spend the time
necessary to listen to you and your experiences and to research your industry. I will never try to tell you that I know
your business better than you do. It's my job to help you steer safely through the regulatory waters of your industry
and help you manage your workforce.
Oh, and as my fifth grade teacher told me, the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. You should never
hesitate to ask me a question. If I don't know the answer to your question, I will find the information and get back to
you. That's a promise.
© 2008-2009 Success! Starts Here LLC
Success! Starts Here.
Where will it lead you?
Where will it lead you?