Chris Suchanek, CEO of Firm Media and Forbes™ Agency Council Member, has 25+ years of marketing experience and has launched brands like Omniblend™. He also co-founded Project Boon and manages CASKS Restaurant Group in Los Angeles.
As the CEO of a national medical marketing agency, cofounder of a growing restaurant group, and founder of a small but impactful nonprofit, I was struggling to find the results I wanted. I tried mastermind groups, consultants, and coaches, only to feel more drained and disillusioned. Nothing was working. It reached the point where I was exhausted, questioning my path, and ready to walk away. I reached a breaking point—a “sick and tired of being sick and tired” moment that forced me to step back and do some hard, personal work.
Through a series of painful realizations, I found myself confronting old wounds that I had unknowingly carried into my professional life. These wounds clouded my decision-making, weakened my boundaries, and led to fuzzy relationships at work and beyond. What I discovered on the other side of that work was life-changing: I needed to recalibrate my values, identify what I truly stood for, and set a new course rooted in a clear and honest foundation.
The most difficult part? Learning to walk away from my inner people-pleaser and those long-ingrained tendencies to compromise for the sake of peace. But this journey was worth every ounce of courage and persistence it took. Here are the eight truths I’ve come to live by—truths that have transformed my life and my work, taking me from just “good” to something far greater.
1. Embrace your greatness
Everyone tells us to be humble, but no one talks about the importance of embracing our greatness. Humility is essential, but we often confuse it with shrinking ourselves. Greatness isn’t about arrogance; it’s about acknowledging your unique strengths and stepping fully into them. Waiting for permission to be great was holding me back. When I finally gave myself that permission, everything shifted.
2. Stand firm in your values
Real power doesn’t come from influence; it comes from having the strength not to be influenced. I found myself constantly bending to meet others’ expectations, but my true power emerged when I defined my values and stood firm in them. The more I committed to staying true to my principles, the less swayed I was by others’ opinions.
3. Get comfortable with discomfort
Growth lives on the other side of comfort. The comfort zone is cozy but stagnant. I realized that pushing myself was the only way to achieve real progress, even when it felt risky or uncomfortable. Thriving requires a mindset that welcomes discomfort as a necessary part of the journey.
4. Forgive your mistakes but learn from them
Our mistakes do not define us, but we are responsible for learning from them. I had to let go of the need for perfection, forgiving myself for past missteps and reframing them as essential lessons. This helped me shift my focus from guilt to growth.
5. Define your own happiness
There’s no one-size-fits-all formula for happiness. I used to chase other people’s definitions of success, only to feel unfulfilled. Once I rejected those external standards and began pursuing what made me feel alive, my happiness—and my effectiveness—skyrocketed.
6. Reject limiting beliefs
If you’re taught you can’t achieve something, you probably won’t even try. I realized that my mindset, shaped by external voices, was holding me back. So, I consciously chose to replace those limiting beliefs with a conviction that I could achieve anything I set my mind to. It wasn’t easy, but it was transformative.
7. Rewrite the rules
The world is full of rules meant to contain people with low self-esteem. I stopped adhering to expectations that didn’t align with my values and decided to create my own path. By rejecting the “rules” that no longer served me, I gave myself the freedom to innovate and grow.
8. Live boldly
Opportunities are everywhere if you’re willing to see them—and seize them. Life is short, and we only get one shot. So, I’ve committed to living with a sense of urgency, pursuing opportunities boldly and without regret. If I see a chance to grow or make an impact, I go for it. After all, we’re all on borrowed time, so why not live like it?
These realizations have become the foundation of my approach to work and life. There’s no turning back now. Every day, I wake up not just to be “good” but to be great. And this mindset shift has redefined my path and brought a sense of fulfillment I never thought possible. So, here’s to finding the courage to grow, redefine what success means, and embrace the journey toward greatness. I hope to see you on the other side.
Read more from Christopher A. Suchánek
Christopher A. Suchánek, Entrepreneur & Chief Executive Officer
Chris Suchanek, CEO and co-founder of Firm Media, has over 25 years of marketing expertise, launching brands like Omniblend™ and MediLearn360™. He began in the entertainment industry with brands like Warner Bros. and MTV, contributing to a Grammy Award with Brainstorm Artists International. A Forbes™ author and Agency Council Member, Chris is an expert speaker on medical branding. He also co-founded Project Boon, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity, and manages CASKS Restaurant Group in Los Angeles. His leadership focuses on strategic vision and mentorship.
