As you embark on 2024, remember to view your branding and marketing journey like a trail to a summit: every touchpoint is a milestone on the path to peak performance. At Hornsby Creative, we've found that prioritizing strategy first, akin to plotting a hike's route, ensures that our clients’ brands resonate deeply and leave a lasting mark in their industry's landscape.

– John Hornsby, Hornsby Creative Group

Getting the right people in the right seats is really important.

– Anne & Todd Smith, College HUNKS of Asheville

Whenever I talk to a successful founder, I ask them "if you started your business today, with all that you know now, what would you do differently?" The answer I get almost every time is "Focus. I would have tried to do less things, and instead focused on what I was really good at and what customers really liked, sooner."

– Jeffrey Kaplan, Venture Asheville

Get super clear on *why* you're in business, *who* your clients/customers are, and *how* your product/service helps them. And don't forget that it's supposed to be fun.

– Courtney Edwards, Skyland Solutions

Don't get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. You always miss 100% of the shots you don't take. You have no idea what people are going through. Before you guess or judge, say "Hello. How are you doing?" and introduce yourself. Have patience. Success is giving your all no matter the outcome. Priorities aren't what you say; priorities are what you do and spend time doing.

– Jesse Boeckermann, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte