A Letter to Our Start Small Win Big Contestants

I’m knee-deep in entries for our Start Small Win Big Challenge, and I just had to stop and tell you: I am humbled. I knew it would be tough to judge this contest. We have a crack team of judges from the editorial staff, but our readers are high achievers with big dreams—and this was no race for slouches.

But I have to tell you, I am amazed at what I am reading.

You, SUCCESS reader, are truly inspiring. You are passionate, intelligent and innovative. You are wise in the ways of personal development and professional success. But most important, you are a good person.

You are brave enough to keep fighting for your business despite down economies and naysayers. You are tough enough to stick it out even when you’re walking through heartbreak, divorce and illness. You are compassionate enough to build a business just so you can model time well-spent with your children or afford a house big enough to nurture your aging parents or make a difference in your community. You are bold enough to live the life of your dreams, no matter how long it takes you to get there.

I’ll say it again: I’m humbled. I’m honored to read your words, to be privy to your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams. I wish more than I can say that I could offer each one of you a prize.

But I’m gratified to see that you already have the greatest prize of all: faith. Your faith—in your dream, in your business, in yourself—has not only inspired me and the rest of the editorial staff, but will continue to inspire others you meet along your sometimes difficult journey. So don’t stop. Don’t stop! We see you and we are proud.

People who read this also read...

1. Start Small, Win Big 2012: Your Wk 2 Action Plan Your Week 2 Action Plan For Week 2 (Jan. 30), read the February 2012 issue...
2. Start Small, Win Big 2012: Your Wk 4 Action Plan Your Week 4 Action Plan For Week 4 (Feb. 13), read the February 2012 issue...
3. Start Small Win Big 2012: Your Wk 1 Action Plan   Your Week 1 Action Plan For Week 1 (Jan. 23), read the February 2012...
4. Start Small, Win Big 2012: Your Wk 3 Action Plan Your Week 3 Action Plan For Week 3 (Feb. 6), read the February 2012 issue...
5. Start Small Win Big 2012: Your Wk 9 Action Plan Your Week 9 Action Plan For Week 9 (March 19), read the April 2012 issue...

71878 Responseshttp%3A%2F%2Fblog.success.com%2Fopen-letter-to-our-success-magazine-readers%2FA+Letter+to+Our+Start+Small+Win+Big+Contestants2012-06-15+14%3A00%3A41Amy+Andersonhttp%3A%2F%2Fblog.success.com%2F%3Fp%3D7187 to “A Letter to Our Start Small Win Big Contestants”

1. brewstghczf says:

   August 8, 2012 at 2:52 pm

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2. Birgitta Jorgenson says:

   July 31, 2012 at 2:38 pm

   Oh boy, OH BOY! Tomorrow a gold medal will be awarded and I'm not talking about the Olympics… I'm talking about the Start Small Win Big Business Challenge! One of the many contestants who participated earlier this year will be contacted tomorrow, and everyone else will hear about it in a couple weeks when the September issue of SUCCESS Magazine comes out.

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3. Birgitta Jorgenson says:

   July 12, 2012 at 3:27 pm

   Amy, I have a curious question: two days ago (Tue July 10) I received my August issue of SUCCESS Magazine in the mail. I figure you must need to submit the magazine at least one week in advance for printing and mailing, and before that you need time to fill in the layout before submission. So that would mean you are working on the September issue now?

   The last line of Susan Kane's editor note on page 12 of the August 2012 issue, made reference to the "next issue" revealing the winner to the Start Small Win Big contest. I know the contestants were told that the winners would be contacted on August 1st, but what I'm wondering is if waiting that long might be cutting it kind of close? None of my business of course, I'm just really impressed on how quickly you are able to turn things around!

   Anxiously awaiting a call or email,
   Birgitta

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4. Amy Anderson says:

   June 28, 2012 at 12:00 pm

   Birgitta, Mary and Dave – Thank you for your wonderful comments. This truly has been an incredible journey for all of us involved. We are so proud of all you have accomplished and can't wait to see what bright things the future holds for each one of our readers! Please stay in touch and keep reading!
   Amy

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   Birgitta Jorgenson Reply:
   July 2nd, 2012 at 8:26 pm

   I'm curious Amy – where can the SUCCESS readers find your Emmy Award-Winning writing? I enjoy great books, and as the Managing Editor for SUCCESS, I would anticipate something inspirational and/or thought-provoking!

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   Birgitta Jorgenson Reply:
   July 2nd, 2012 at 8:26 pm

   I'm curious Amy – where can the SUCCESS readers find your Emmy Award-Winning writing? I enjoy great books, and as the Managing Editor for SUCCESS, I would anticipate something inspirational and/or thought-provoking!

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5. Dave Murrell says:

   June 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm

   Hi Amy,
   In reading your blog, I started to wonder about all the other contestants and their stories. Besides the winners, which I am very excited to hear their story. I hope we can hear some of the other touching stories. I'm sure they will be inspirational. Thank you again for the contest and what it has done in the lives of those who participated.
   Dave Murrell

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6. Mary Juetten says:

   June 17, 2012 at 1:43 am

   Thank you to Birgitta for posting this link on FB so I too could read Amy's letter – I loved loved the contest – it gave me the strength to push through because of the deadlines and also because I no longer felt alone. It is sometimes hard to keep the passion and the faith day in and day out – I still miss looking for the next challenge or post. And as Birgitta said, I made a new friend on FB and I have continued to reach out to others in the same way that we did on the blog.
   Thank you SUCCESS!

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7. Birgitta Jorgenson says:

   June 16, 2012 at 9:25 pm

   That was a beautiful letter you wrote Amy. Thank you. It means a lot to know that our entries have moved the editorial staff so much! I'm sure you realize that this is a testament to SUCCESS Magazine? You provide motivation for your readers to not only dream that we can make a difference in the world, but to instill the belief that anything is possible, and therefore take the action steps necessary in achieving those goals.

   I'm sure the other contestants would not mind me saying on their behalf, "Thank you for creating the Start Small Win Big Challenge and providing us entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate". It was obvious when reading post from the other contestants during the 12 weeks that there was lots of personal growth and realization happening. I am equally proud of those who stuck it out until the end. Some of those weekly assignments were grueling and yet satisfying all at the same time.
   I am delighted to share that I ended up making a couple new friends with the other contestants, and connected with them on Facebook as a result of this business challenge.

   With gratitude,
   Birgitta

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