Amy Porterfield, the CEO of a multimillion-dollar business and NY Times Best Selling author, has emerged as an industry-leading figure. Having transitioned from a corporate employee to an online marketing expert, Amy captivates audiences with her extraordinary vision of empowerment. Guiding individuals to forge their own paths to success, she empowers people worldwide to seize control of their futures and unlock the door to success on their own terms. With her transformative mission, she has become a beacon of inspiration for those seeking personal and professional growth.
Her mission is to promote gender equality in the workplace and see more women rise to positions of power. She states, “Even in this current day and age, gender equality in the workplace is still out of reach for many… I believe we can build better futures that demand the respect, recognition, and freedom we all deserve for ourselves and the women who will follow in our footsteps. Together, supporting each other, we can turn the glass ceilings we’ve crashed into, time and again, the floors on which we stand.”
One of her guiding principles is the importance of pursuing one’s true passion. She quotes Buckminster Fuller: “The minute you choose to do what you really want to do, it’s a different kind of life.” Amy emphasizes that the best strategy, teaching skills, or marketing did not fuel her journey to building a successful business. Instead, her clear why–to have the freedom to work when, how, and where she wanted–drove her to overcome the fear of failure and persevere. She asserts, “I am still here today because my why was clear from the start, and it would pick me up on the days my worries knocked me down.”
Reflecting on her own experience, Amy shares advice she would give her younger self: focus on courage, not confidence. She says, “Courage is something you choose. Confidence is something you earn. When you want to make a big move, courage has to come before confidence. Confidence is neither necessary nor expected in the beginning. Courage, on the other hand, is required.
When I started my own business, I constantly second-guessed myself, never fully believing I belonged where I was and always comparing myself to someone whose business was light-years ahead of mine. If I’d understood that I had no business being confident back then, it would have eliminated so much worry, confusion, and overwhelm for me!”
She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs not to wait for confidence but to tap into the courage that already resides within them. She urges them to take that leap of faith and let courage guide their journey. Confidence will develop along the way, but the important first step is to embrace courage and start pursuing their dreams.
Amy states, “I want to tell the whole truth. However, one thing I know for sure is that the rewards of entrepreneurship far exceed the hard times, and I make it my goal to show my students what’s possible when they follow their dreams.” Amy believes in sharing the good, bad, and ugly sides of entrepreneurship. Starting a business can be scary, confusing, and overwhelming, and she wants to provide a realistic perspective.
Despite her success, she does not see herself as an influencer. Instead, she considers her students to be the heroes, with her role being a guide, teacher, and their biggest cheerleader. In a world hungry for empowerment and equality, Amy Porterfield shines as a guiding light, reminding us of the power of courage to shape our destinies. Through her guidance, we are reminded that by embracing courage and supporting each other, we can turn shattered glass ceilings into solid foundations for success.
This article feature is from our annual special edition issue, the L.A. STYLE Magazine Most Influential of 2023.
