From $800 to $45 Million: How Tony Robbins' Advice Helped This Architect Build a Side Hustle Empire

From Side Hustle to $45 Million: One Architect's Journey With Tony Robbins' Advice

Cathryn Lavery, founder of BestSelf Co., a planner and conversation card deck company, went from having less than $800 to her name to selling $45 million worth of products. She shares her inspiring journey and the crucial role Tony Robbins played in her success.

Turning a Side Hustle into an Empire

Lavery's entrepreneurial journey began with a side hustle born out of necessity. A last-minute salary reduction and delayed start date for her architecture job in New York City forced her to find a way to make ends meet. She leveraged her design skills, taking on any graphic design work she could find. This experience opened her eyes to the possibilities beyond traditional employment.

The idea for the Self Journal, the cornerstone of BestSelf Co., stemmed from Lavery's own struggle with ADHD and her desire for a better way to stay organized. The journal combined frameworks from personal development books with her unique design skills, honed during her architecture studies. Lavery believes that all skills, even seemingly unrelated ones, can contribute to success in unexpected ways.

Key Mentors and Milestones

Lavery's business took off after a successful Kickstarter campaign for the Self Journal, raising over $326,000. The company's rapid growth led to winning the Shopify Build a Business Award, where she met Daymond John, who became an affiliate for BestSelf Co. products.

However, Lavery's connection with Tony Robbins goes even deeper. She had been a fan of his work for years and was fortunate to receive personal mentorship from him at the Build a Bigger Business Award event. Robbins' guidance helped Lavery shift her focus from loving her product to loving her customers, prompting her to consider expanding beyond the initial journal offering.

Selling and Buying Back the Company

After seven years of intense growth, Lavery decided to sell BestSelf Co. in 2022. She was ready for a break and a new chapter in her life. But in December 2023, she had the opportunity to buy the company back. The original buyer was facing financial difficulties, and Lavery saw a low-risk opportunity to apply her newly acquired coding and AI skills to a real business scenario.

Lessons Learned

Lavery's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning. She emphasizes the importance of balancing ambition with well-being, and her experience has shaped her approach to running the company now, focusing on creating a more sustainable and supportive business model.

This inspiring story shows that with hard work, determination, and the right mentors, anything is possible.