By Design - October 2022

the Results-Driven Life by DESIGN a POWERZINE™ by Zine

DISCOVERING Your God-Given Power to Create

page 10

PILLARS OF OUR SUCCESS The People Behind the Scenes

page 12

plus Success is a Planned Result

HOW ONE COMPANY DISCOVERED VISION BY BACKING INTO IT

page 5

And what can it do for you?

Imagine for a moment a marketing piece that: ✔ creates and raises your status, ✔ boasts your authority and expertise, ✔ fills your peers with awe and envy, ✔ sells your products and services with proven direct response techniques, ✔ immediately impresses and delights your audience, ✔ and has your competitors scrambling to try to copy you (and failing miserably). The reason your competitors fail is because they don't have the content that actually gets results. And they simply have no clue what goes on behind the scenes. Even if they do have content, they don’t know the formula for creating such a marketing beast. They won’t know how to put it all together in a way that tells the world you’re the titan, the leader in your field. Meanwhile, you will own the ultimate marketing piece that not only raises your status by leaps and bounds, but gets you more leads, buyers, and sales without doing more work. It's called The Powerzine™️ and it's a formula that combines all the hard work you've put into creating results-driven content into a prestigious publication that asserts your status, your authority, and your success. Request the Powerzine ™ Information Kit at ThePowerzine.com

OUR NEWLY DESIGNED ADS GET RESULTS ❝ My magazine, Extraordinary Banker, is our flagship resource that reaches over 10,000 financial professionals nationwide. I brought Kia and her team on board for the design and layout. Also, we wanted the ads to conform to direct response marketing strategies that I knew worked. Her experience with Dan Kennedy-style marketing was a big bonus. I knew she would help us create effective ads, but I didn’t expect to see such a remarkable improvement in the overall design of the magazine! Kia’s attention to detail, organizational process, and understanding of the marketing behind the magazine has made her and her team a great asset to our magazine production efforts. They are easy to work with, and always responsive to our needs. Our newly designed ads get results and the new look of the magazine is compelling…I’m always proud and excited to distribute it to our clients every quarter . ❞ —Roxanne Emmerich, CEO The Emmerich Financial Group, Inc.

Volume 2 Issue 1

FOUNDER AND EDITOR Kia Arian

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kia Arian

GRAPHIC DESIGN Derek McClure

FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TO ADD OR CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Address P.O. Box 1166 Fairfax, VA 22038 Phone: 703.591.4000 Fax: 703.591.1110 info@zinegraphics.com

COVER STORY

How One Company Discovered Vision by Backing Into It An interview with CEO and Founder of ZIne, Kia Arian, about how they got to where they are now, and what the future holds for them.

Page 16

Letters to the Editor Write or email: info@zinegraphics.com Please include your mailing address and telephone number. To Advertise or Contribute Content Contact: Zine Phone: 703.591.4000 info@zinegraphics.com About Powerzine™ Leaders are successful in their market because they relentlessly promote and sell their products and services while establishing their brand and their authority. The Powerzine™ is a strategy that accomplishes those goals using powerful, results-oriented content in a high caliber publication. For information about getting a Powerzine™ made for you, visit www.thePowerzine.com

FEATURED ARTICLE

Pillars of Our Success

Page 12

Meet the people who make the vision of Zine come to life.

CONTENTS

Page 5

Success is a Planned Result

Page 10

What Happens When You Discover Your God-Given Power to Create

Page 22

Why Do You Do What You Do?

Page 24

Purpose & Legacy 101

R E SULT S - DR I VEN MARK E T I NG B EAUT I FUL LY DE S I GNED

Copyright © 2022 by Zine. All rights reserved.

www.thePowerzine.com 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Success for the sake of success isn’t fulfilling. But success with a purpose is. Money isn’t the only demonstration of our success. What other results are you achieving? What results are you achieving for your clients? That’s what this issue of The Results-Driven Life by Design is about. We inherently know that results matter. But the journey must be honored too. Like the process we use to deliver our services, the process we use to reach our life results deserves acknowledgment, improvement, and honor. SUCCESS FOR THE SAKE OF SUCCESS IS NOT WORTH IT. IT IS TOIL. I hope you enjoy reading the articles in this issue as they document the process of finding purpose–as entrepreneurs, husbands, wives, and more– and ultimately finding unexpected, happy results at the end. If this issue resonates with you, tell me about it. Email me at arian@zinegraphics.com. I always respond to our readers.

Building a business is not for the faint of heart. Entrepreneurs are some of the hardest working people on this planet. They are driven, courageous, and constantly having to face their demons to achieve breakthroughs. The entrepreneurial journey is exciting and full of possibilities. In the middle of this journey, we often hit a crisis. What is all the hard work for anyway? Is the countless hours working, late nights, failures, losses, and missed family events worth it? Success for the sake of success is not worth it. It is toil. It is easy to be focused on making money. But at some point, we need a bigger reason. Without it, there are only two possibilities: we either make all the money we want, get bored, and wonder what’s next. Or we will always be chasing after it, get burnt out, and wonder what’s next.

Kia Arian CEO/Founder of Zine

Meet with Kia Arian in Nashville! Scan the code to schedule time to discuss marketing ideas, growth strategies, and what's next in your entrepreneurial journey.

4 The Results-Driven Life by Design

SUCCESS IS A PLANNED RESULT FEATURE

PLANNED RESULT SUCCESS IS A

The Peloponnesian War of Ancient Greece lasted for 27 years. Historians believe it lasted that long because both sides lacked purpose or strategy. They had no particular plan for victory, so they just drifted along indefinitely, never quite losing, yet never quite winning the war—just fighting. Finally, a Spartan of foresight and ability, a man who knew how to imagine victory and success, appeared on the scene, went into action, and led his side to victory. Historians write that in one single hour he brought the long war to an end. —continued on next page

www.thePowerzine.com 5 Image Credit: 19th-century lithograph, unknown author -ANCIENT GREECE by Marshall Cavendish, Public Domain

FEATURE SUCCESS IS A PLANNED RESULT

H

—continued from previous page

How did he do it? Was it through battle and bloodshed? No. Instead, he led the enemy to believe that they had his ships and men cornered at the entrance of the Dardanelles. There he waited patiently for four days until the enemy became sure of themselves, thinking that his silence signified weakness and inability to fight. On the fifth day, when they sent most of their crew ashore to get food, Admiral Lysander made his move. He sailed out and captured almost the entire fleet of 180 ships without a single blow. TWO THINGS HELPED HIM SECURE SUCH SWIFTAND DECISIVE VICTORY One, he had a vision; and two, he had a crucial alliance. Lysander's vision for Sparta differed in that he didn’t want to just win battles, he wanted to overthrow the Athenian Empire.

While the other Spartans were caught up in a never-ending cycle of fighting, treaty-making, and rotating through admirals and leaders, Lysander went after the total and final victory.

of Persia, Cyrus, under King Darius II. Believing he could help him become king, Cyrus put all his means at the disposal of Lysander and later gave him the revenues from all of his cities of Asia Minor. Practice owners and entrepreneurs can be like those ancient Greeks. They have no definite plan for victory. So, they just go along never quite winning, never quite losing in business. They are content to “fight” small battles, jumping from one marketing or growth tactic to another, making temporary or incremental progress.

"IN ALL FIGHTING THE DIRECT METHOD MAY BE USED FOR JOINING BATTLE, BUT INDIRECT METHODS WILL BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO SECURE VICTORY.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War (500 B.C.)

INDIRECTMETHODS

Lysander bypassed direct, predictable methods with strategic, indirect methods that required persistence, patience, and vision.

Besides being a savvy military strategist, Lysander was also a shrewd diplomat. He cultivated a personal relationship and gained the support of the prince

New York Business Law Attorney and Zine client, Francine Love, understands the value of relationships and alliances. Her newsletter is rich with personal stories and professional content that cultivates her vision for her practice with every issue.

6 The Results-Driven Life by Design

SUCCESS IS A PLANNED RESULT FEATURE

Francine does a masterful job at connecting with her clients, prospects, and peers. They love her newsletter and regularly contact her to let her know.

The value of having a vision in a business practice cannot be understated. When the business owner has a vision of the final outcome they achieve for their market, they attract the best and highest value clients, colleagues, and partners. As they cultivate these relationships, they see growth and abundance in the form of greater value, resources, referrals, and meaningful victories. If you feel like you are doing everything you’re supposed to be doing for your practice, “fighting” battles, sometimes winning,

sometimes losing, yet falling short of big victories, it could mean your vision is too small. Big, meaningful visions don’t suddenly appear, they emerge over time. CULTIVATING VISION Vision emerges when you cultivate your alliances. Invest in relationships with big thinkers who will challenge you. And take advantage of rich media such as direct mail, email, video, and more to stay connected with your market, peers, and people. Challenge yourself to go beyond offering legal services. Interact

with them. What problems are you helping them through? How can you help them succeed in life. If vision and alliance secured victories for a Spartan Admiral and a Persian Prince, it can surely do it for you. If you need help, we have a free resource that asks the big questions to help create a clearer vision of who you are, what you do, and who you do it for. It is called the 4-hour Brand Discovery Roadmap. Email us at info@zinegraphics.com and request this valuable resource today.

www.thePowerzine.com 7

8 The Results-Driven Life by Design

www.thePowerzine.com 9

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT DISCOVERING YOUR GOD-GIVEN POWER TO CREATE —continued from page 13 I RI R - IVE P ER T CREATE

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DISCOVER YOUR GOD-GIVEN POWER TO CREATE by Kia Arian

August of 2019 was the 15 year mark of the founding of Zine. In that time, we seemed to go through a rhythm of reinvention every five years. Often, they were triggered by discontent, burnout, or some other seemingly negative event. But in 2019, it was ignited by the energy of a strong economy.

B

Business was flourishing and I was ready to hire two new employees. I knew I had to raise the bar for Zine to attract the talent I wanted. I needed to get definite about our purpose, and the kind of people who would thrive in it. This led me down a path of deep soul searching. Why do we do the work we do? What do we want to see happen as a result? For our clients? For our families? For our personal lives? As I sifted through the thoughts, ideas, and experiences I had accumulated in my

lifetime, I came to a simple yet profound conclusion about the purpose of life:

Being free to pursue and create those things is what gives us life. Whether it is creating a business, creating relationships, creating a home, creating family, children, art, music, or experiences, we long to build something significant, step back, admire it, and call it good. Attorney and Zine client, Zach Cook creates his reality with his book, Hate Speech 1st Amendment cases. He also wanted to re-publish the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in a way that was relevant and fresh. Zine designed the covers in “Breaking News” style to convey the idea of "free speech rights" and capture the importance of this subject.

Freedom to Pursue. Freedom to Create.

At our core, we long to be free to do the things we want to do, in the way we want to do them.

10 The Results-Driven Life by Design

DISCOVERING YOUR GOD-GIVEN POWER TO CREATE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

It is deeply satisfying. But it takes effort and intention. Regardless of what 3-step formula and 5-step process you use to get there, you can’t do it without this one principal foundation:

people trying to live their lives. And an enemy to hostile competitors or peers who want them taken out. Unless you are very intentional about positioning yourself in this busy marketplace, the market will bully you and dictate your position to you. What you end up with is the outside dictating the inside, instead of the inside (your purpose) creating the outside (your reality). Why People Hustle and Grind I would argue that the main reason business owners struggle, hustle, and grind with little rewards is because they abdicate their power to create their reality. These are smart hard-working people, but they are busy running their business. Or to put it more accurately, their business is busy running them. Creating your reality requires focused energy—a rare resource in our world today. It also requires a shift in your thinking, a mindset change. Believe that you have the power to decide where you land in your market and how you are perceived and accept that responsibility. Take time to determine that message, and then be relentless about communicating it. Your message doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it will evolve as you put it in emails, newsletters, blogs, speaking, videos, and in every interaction.

Accept Responsibility for Creating Your Reality

To put it in business terms, it is similar to the principle of “market positioning.” Positioning yourself in your market means knowing who you serve, what problem you solve for them, and why they should pay attention to you. And then use various modalities to communicate this to your market, peers, and clients.

Email marketing expert and Zine client, Ben Settle, is very intentional about creating his reality. He calls it world-building.

Scan the QR code to read how he defines world-building.

As you create these things, you will (re)discover your power to create. You will learn to be comfortable operating in it. How will you know when you get there? That’s a trick question. There is no “there.” It is a journey. There will be demonstrations of your success: your income, your relationships, the freedom you’ve gained, and the things you’ve created. But your greatest treasure will be your power to create. And your legacy will be the things you create, including your reality.

Ben Glass’s book “LiveLifeBig: A User’s Guide” is a compilation of his life philosophy. Zine scanned

Unfortunately, most business builders fail to do this. They default to having a simple presence and an announcement of their services to get clients. And so become more noise in the crowd, taking up space. They are a nuisance to busy overwhelmed an actual page from his journal to create the cover design. His journal represents his creative power. It is the place where his ideas are stored and become reality.

If you would like to work with Zine to discover your unique marketing position and how to leverage it to scale your practice, visit www. RavingClientsZine.com

www.thePowerzine.com 11

Zine wouldn’t be where it is today without the dedication of the people. We want to introduce you to two of Zine’s team members, Kim McCann and Kurt Glen. If you work with Zine, you will surely work with Kim or Kurt or both. Here is a little more about what makes them special. PILLARS OF OUR SUCCESS

Meet Kim McCann Principal Designer

HERE IS HER STORY IN HER OWN WORDS: I got my dream job straight out of design school. When I was in design school, I dreamed of working in a small studio-like environment where my ideas and skills were valued and respected. I didn’t want to get pigeon holed into doing the same kind of project over and over, and I definitely wanted to avoid the kind of stressful, cut-throat environment I’d heard was not uncommon. Leading up to graduation, I did everything a good design student should do. I invested a small fortune in my portfolio, FedEx-ed

perfect promotional pieces to over 30 firms, and applied to countless online postings. After all that, I found my perfect job on Craigslist, of all places. I came across a graphic designer & marketing assistant position for Zine, and it felt like the job was tailor-made for me. I was wary of the unconventional approach at first, but I followed Kia’s crazy directions and scored an interview.

Kim graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009 with a

Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. Her brainy powers are in math so she originally wanted to go into the engineering program. But she wanted to also do creative work that she knew she would enjoy.

After meeting Kia, my initial reservations disappeared. I knew that

12 The Results-Driven Life by Design

PILLARS OF OUR SUCCESS TEAM DEVELOPMENT

Meet Kurt Glen Director of Operations

Zine was where I belonged. Kia has killer design and marketing instincts, paired with uncompromising integrity. Needless to say, I got the job, and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. (I was so sure that I turned down full time senior positions at two other design firms, much to my parents’ chagrin!) Thirteen years and a couple of promotions later, Kia and I work closely on developing design and marketing strategies for the most challenging client projects that come in the door. There’s a kind of magic that happens when I take her concept sketches and turn them into high-end designs. The work we do is exactly the kind of work that I love – the more complex, the better. I get to design newsletters, brochures, books, direct mail, corporate identity materials… the list goes on and on. That isn’t to say that every project is a walk in the park, or that I love the way everything turns out after the revision process. (Sometimes you just have to give the client what they want!) But, I do truly love the work I do every day and creating pieces that matter, and that make a difference in the lives of our clients.

forced everyone to stay home. Today, Kurt continues to create top-notch delivery systems to give Zine clients the best experience. More importantly, he is now a proud papa to two baby girls. With such big changes over a short time, we asked Kurt a few poignant questions: IF YOU COULDGO BACK IN TIME AND TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF ONE THING YOUWISH YOU KNEW THEN, WHATWOULD IT BE? Lighten up some in serious times and be more mindful in celebratory times. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE #1 SECRET TO SUCCESS? Ask yourself what success truly is to you. What does it look like? It may surprise you.

Kurt came to Zine with extensive experience in

the promotional items industry as

a senior designer and art director. He knows both digital and print design, and as a bonus, knows how to operate and maintain printing presses and equipment. When he applied in 2019, he had just gotten married. With his military wife, they were moved to the DMV area where they were looking to put down roots. Coming from a big company, Kurt wanted to work for a small business where he could focus and contribute to its growth. Zine offered that, plus a family-like environment that he craved. When Kurt came to Zine, his energy transformed the environment. He immediately created a custom, online project management system called ZinePro. This not only helped Zine get rid of physical project folders for good, but it kept communication and projects moving along when the pandemic

WHAT IS THE #1 ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH

ENTREPRENEURS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THEIR PRINT MARKETING EFFORTS? Be consistent with it, let us handle the details.

At Zine, we want every person–employee, client, prospect, and even vendor–to feel empowered and supported in whatever it is they are called to do. It’s how we have created raving fans for Zine who love us, refer us, and keep coming back to us. If you want to know how Zine can help you create raving fans, visit www.RavingClientsZine.com.

www.thePowerzine.com 13

Finding FortuneWhere You Least Expect It Russell Conwell’s famous classic book, Acres of Diamonds, tells the story of a rich Persian who squandered his wealth searching the world for diamonds. When he died a pauper, the diamonds he sought were discovered on the very farmhe had abandoned to embark on this fruitless quest.

The Raving Clients Growth Program for Professional Services Practices Convert 5x More Prospects and Scale Your Practice Working with Clients Who Rave About You

14 The Results-Driven Life by Design

Today’s Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Are Making This Same Mistake Everyday They spend tens of thousands of dollars chasing the next new lead and or the next new client, when the people who already know them, like them, and have done business with them would happily do more business with them if only given the opportunity. Is the Allure of Online Marketing a Fruitless Quest? We hear this often from professional services providers who sell high-ticket services or long-term engagements: leads from Google ads and social media are low quality. Like the Fool’s Gold of the Gold Rush era, the landscape looks promising with glistening stones that appear to be gold, but real gold is few and far between. And only found after much toil and expense, not to mention bowing down to the Google and social media tyrants. What If Instead You Gained New Clients and More Profits Without Giving Another Dime to Google, Facebook or YouTube? The Acres of Diamonds that many wealthy entrepreneurs and practice owners neglect is their existing client list! They are the hard-earned leads that have come into their circle, but have yet to be converted. They are the satisfied clients who will happily return in only invited to do so. They are colleagues who will gladly refer if they only knew the door was open. “Greatness is Achieved Where You Are” After almost 20 years of helping our clients get their unique marketing message out to a hungry market, we’ve combined the most powerful and proven marketing strategies into one streamlined program guaranteed to deliver results: The Raving Clients Growth Program for Professional Service Practices In this unique program, we partner with successful lawyers, advisors, and other professional service providers to attract higher quality clients, charge higher fees, work less hours, and do only the work they love to do and are good at.

The Raving Clients Growth Program guarantees 5x more clients, and $500K of extra revenue in 12 months or less.*

The Raving Clients Growth Program leverages your current assets to:

Boost conversions of existing leads Re-engage clients and prospects. Build an irresistible offer and present it in a Shock & Awe Program

Convert leads into clients who rave about you Map the ideal client’s journey to guarantee success Gain greater status and authority with high-end marketing pieces

To learn more about the Raving Clients Growth Program and see if it is the right program for you, visit www.RavingClientsZine.com

R E SULT S - DR I VEN MARK E T I NG B EAUT I FUL LY DE S I GNED

*For professional services practices. Must meet qualification requirements.

www.thePowerzine.com 15

—continued from previous page FEATURE COVER STORY AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME

16 The Results-Driven Life by Design

AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME COVER STORY

HOWONE COMPANY DISCOVERED VISION BY BACKING INTO IT An Unexpected Outcome

There is something about the entrepreneurial journey that fascinates people. It’s the reason why podcasts like “How I Built This'' and shows like “Shark Tank” are so compelling. The ability to see the unseen is inspiring. Deep inside, we know there is more to what our eyes see. And when we discover people who have successfully created the unseen, it deepens our courage to do the same, to form a vision and pursue it with passion. However, for every person who has a passionate vision, there are many more who stumble around before they “bump” into their vision. That’s how it felt for Kia Arian, founder and CEO of Zine. She started her company in 2005 with just an idea…one that she almost abandoned several times. In this fascinating interview, she explains how she discovered the vision for Zine in an unexpected way.

—continued on next page

www.thePowerzine.com 17

COVER STORY AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME —continued from previous page

marketing services, we dropped Graphics & Print completely and became Zine. What does Zine mean anyway? How do you pronounce it? It rhymes with “shine” so it is pronounced with a long “i.” People sometimes pronounce it with a short “i” like in “magazine” which makes sense too, but it’s always been Zine with a long “i.”

publishing business, namely magazines, which is one of our specialties today. So when people mispronounce it, it doesn’t bother me. But even more interesting is that the name does now have a very profound and special meaning for me. I will give you a hint…it is related to a famous mountain. What is that profound meaning? Maybe we'll unfold it in this interview. This way, the readers will experience the same discovery process I did, and hopefully the same sense of wonder. OK, then tell us more about Zine. Did you have a vision when you started it? If you count wanting to separate it from the printing business a vision, then yes. Otherwise, no. At least nothing intentional. It was always just “what’s the next thing I need to do?” Which is a perfectly fine way to operate in the short term, especially at the beginning. But, you know, you can’t stay there. Because once you “do the next thing you have to do” you have to figure out what the next thing is. And then you find yourself just doing, doing, doing. And even if you reach your goal, there is just more doing on the other side of it. That’s how we get caught in the “hustle and grind” trap and start to burn out.

Give us a little background about Zine? What led you to start it? Zine was born in a dusty little print shop that my husband and I purchased in 2004. I was in the middle of a career change, wanting to move away from a confining, 9-5 job. My husband was looking for a job and we felt being business owners gave us the best chance at autonomy and wealth. We serendipitously discovered a business called Speedy Printing that was for sale. Everything fell into place Now the new career I was pursuing was graphic design. I had worked in software development for the Hubble Space Telescope for about 9 years, and though it was an amazing place to work, I wanted to do something creative and artistic that also gave me the freedom I sought from the 9-5 grind. The print shop was the perfect place to launch my new career, but I felt I needed to sell the design services separately to give it more value. Thus Zine was born. It was originally Zine Graphics & Web since web design services were in high demand. Then when I decided to focus on print, we changed the name to Zine Graphics & Print. And then we added and we became the proud owners on August 1, 2004.

Zine was born inside a retail printing business to provide high-end design services for print projects.

I wish I could say there was some profound meaning when I selected the name, but there wasn’t. I was planning on being clever with the words “dezign” and “inzpire.” But that cleverness never happened. It all worked out down the road because “zine” with a short “i” is associated with the

18 The Results-Driven Life by Design

AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME COVER STORY

I remember thinking what is wrong with these people? They don’t even extend the courtesy of a response! But you know what, the zero response was a response. It told me I wasn’t a fit for them, and they weren’t a fit for me even though I wanted to believe they were. And to be honest, deep inside, I didn’t

some help. I also reached out to mentors for guidance. I was willing to try anything. I even had it in my mind to shut down Zine because I didn’t want to keep going into debt. I figured I’d eventually get a job somewhere, but needed to cut my losses now. So I was willing to do whatever it took. I had nothing to lose.

When did you begin to form a vision then? Looking back, I would have to say that, funnily enough, it was when the business was so bad that I started looking for a job. I think it was 2016. I set up my personal webpage, kiaarian. com, for employers and realized I needed some core values. I put

Because once you “do the next thing you have to do” you have to figure out what the next thing is. And then you find yourself just doing, doing, doing. And even if you reach your goal, there is just more doing on the other side of it.

really want a different job. What I wanted was relief from the stress and pressure I was under–from the crushing debt, the burnout, the uncertainty. I didn’t want to do that anymore and I was looking for any way to escape it. That’s interesting. You left a 9-5 job because it felt like a prison. Now here you are, 8 years later, feeling trapped and looking for an escape. Yes, that’s exactly right. I was reaching for anything to escape– get a job, find new clients, new projects, do different marketing, change something, anything, with my business. My husband got a job with the Fairfax County School System–that provided

that website together in a couple of days. And I think I wrote the Core Values page in less than an hour. It was fast, because they came from within. It was all true, unfiltered, and just flowed out of me. That was on my personal webpage, I didn’t make the connection to Zine until later. What happened with the job? Crickets. But, it was meant to be. If they had offered it to me, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. I submitted that application with every marketing principle and persuasion tactic I knew. I even sent a beautifully appropriate shock & awe package. I swear that thing was a masterpiece. Still nothing.

Obviously, you didn’t close the doors to Zine. What changed? I guess being in a place of “I have nothing to lose” is a double edged sword. Typically, it means you’ve lost everything you could possibly lose. It’s a dark place to be in. But it also means you have new courage to do things you’ve never done before, because, heck, what do you have to lose, right? I had made incremental changes to the business that were getting good results, but my mind was still in “hustle and struggle” mode. I prayed a lot. I made the mental plans for closing Zine, how I would liquidate, what to tell my clients, and what to do with my employees to make sure they were taken care of.

—continued on next page

19 The Results-Driven Life by Design

www.thePowerzine.com 19

COVER STORY AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME

—continued from previous page

Then one night in prayer, I very clearly heard, “Don’t close Zine.” I was like, “Um…you see how much debt I’m in, right?” But really, money wasn’t the real issue. I simply felt lost. I had lost the motivation. I had no more hustle left in me. It just didn’t seem worth it anymore. The money part was just a painful symptom. But, I knew that voice. And I sure as heck knew it wasn’t my voice because I just wanted a way out. And staying with Zine was most definitely NOT a way out.

everything one day at a time, believed I heard right, and watched and waited. This gets a little personal…but I have to tell the dream I had. I saw the word “Ezra” flip and turn into the word “Zine.” That flip represented a turn-around. So I started reading the book of Ezra. It was all about rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. And a lot of the thoughts and ideas resonated with me. Another day, I was reading the Psalms about Mt. Zion, the city of David in

and something bigger was happening. It felt like everything was coming together though I couldn’t yet articulate it. It was a knowing, a vision. So I doubled down, found my resolve and no longer saw Zine as a burden to carry, but an important, valuable place to (re)build. And that a great turn-around was on its way. Your vision was something you saw and sensed, but didn’t have words for? That's right. It was like puzzle pieces coming together. It wasn’t an easy journey, but there were many interesting convergences and divine alignment along the way that gave me the resolve to not give up. I guess you can say it was the beginning of a grand vision, one that honestly felt too big for me. But it had to be too big. That’s how I knew that a greater force, the Divine Creator, was helping me create something big. So you received a divine message that gave you a vision of rebuilding Zine. And that it would be a place where God abides and people are victorious. Is that essentially Zine’s vision? [Laughing] Yes and no. I don’t say it like that. My change in perspective was important though. I started to feel grateful for what I had built with Zine, for the people who supported

It was like puzzle pieces coming together. It wasn’t an easy journey, but there were many interesting convergences and divine alignment along the way that gave me the resolve to not give up. I guess you can say it was the beginning of a grand vision, one that honestly felt too big for me.

So I kept listening. I said, “OK, I won’t close it. But what should I do?” I heard, “We’ll rebuild it together.” Of course, I had no idea what that meant or what it looked like. So I just took

Jerusalem where God abides and his people are victorious. And I realized Zion sounded like Zine. I knew that was a confirmation, among many others, that what I had heard in prayer was right,

20 The Results-Driven Life by Design

AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME COVER STORY

me. I started to feel proud of Zine. Instead of looking at it as a burden, I saw it as a valuable asset, a source of income and limitless wealth, a place where people come to prosper. Things did start to turn around in 2018. In 2019 we were indeed prospering. I needed to hire two new positions. And I knew I had to raise the bar to attract the kind of talent I needed. So I created what I thought was a core values document. It was good, but it was wordy and complicated. It did help evaluate what kind of people would thrive at Zine, but it read more like a culture document than a core values statement. So I kept those as a culture document, and went back to my original set of core values and adopted them into Zine. As the founder, those core values are what built Zine, so it made sense to transfer them. They are perfect and perfectly describe us. What’s the difference between a culture document and a core values statement? Our culture document is long, the core value statements are much shorter. I think each company needs to define that for themselves.. In our culture document, I just wrote down the things that were important to me and to Zine as a company… like what excellence meant, how

to be and act like a professional, taking responsibility, being proactive, solution-focused, growth-minded and so on. It was just wordy. But in the process, I realized that what our culture and our values produced wasn’t amazing marketing or beautiful prints or even a great company…those were by products. Our values produced excellent designers, writers, artists, marketers, and more. And that’s when the vision became even more clear: the purpose of Zine is to elevate and empower creatives. Fast forward to today. Has that vision stood the test of time? Absolutely. I would say it has made us even stronger. We doubled our team in 2022 and are continuing to grow. When I want to hire a creative director, a marketing strategist, or a writer, I explain Zine's vision to them, that this is a place where creatives can discover their true worth and cultivate their skills and talents. It’s a place where they can have big visions, where their creative contributions are valued, not just in the marketplace, but in co-creating

better, bigger outcomes. In a world that seeks to commoditize them, we want to elevate them and empower them to do what they were born to do….create things that make a difference in people’s lives. That is inspiring. Anything else you want to add? Final thoughts to the readers? Yes. Having a big team used to scare me. Not in a fearful way, but in a “I don’t want to spend my days managing people and dealing with HR issues.” It was a limiting belief that kept me stuck and stunted Zine’s growth. But when I discovered Zine’s true purpose, to be a place where creatives are victorious, where they are elevated and empowered, I welcomed people, knowing that those who embraced the same vision would not need to be “managed.” They simply need a place to thrive. Vision is powerful. And whatever journey you have to take, whatever cost you have to pay, do it. Go after it. It wants to be found.

If you enjoyed this interview, let Kia know. You can contact her directly at arian@zinegraphics.com. Or scan the QR code to stay connected. If you are a creative professional looking for a place to prosper, Kia wants to hear from you too.

www.thePowerzine.com 21

MINDSET DEVELOPMENT DISCOVERING YOUR BIGGER WHY

Why Do You DoWhat You Do? Discovering Your Bigger Why

Here is a useful exercise for digging deeper and avoiding burnout (which typically plagues people every 10 years starting from about 40 years old).

Read the question below, take some time to give it thought, and write down your answer.

If you could be free from the day-to-day of the work that you are currently doing (and there was zero loss of quality in your work, relationships, and finances), what would you do with your time?

This question detaches your practical, temporary goals from your life/value goals.

Meaningful goals are rooted in our values. When reached, you feel like you’ve accomplished something, you feel like you’ve made a difference. Without that sense of accomplishment, we start to feel useless. We begin wondering why we’re doing what we’re doing, questioning our abilities and even our self-worth. Practical goals are things like how much money we want to make, buying a home, a business, equipment, a dream vacation, dream job, dream car, dream body, etc. They are rooted in our wants, not our needs. Once we accomplish them, we’re back to wondering what our purpose is.

After you get your answer to the above question, the next logical question to ask is: How can I do that NOW with the time and resources I have NOW?

Your Business is a Powerful Resource Your business is one of the most valuable and most powerful resources that you have. If you can look at your business as a resource (instead of an end goal) to accomplish your life/value goals, then you can infuse new life and purpose into your business. And develop a brand that is authentic and compelling.

22 The Results-Driven Life by Design

DISCOVERING YOUR BIGGER WHY MINDSET DEVELOPMENT

Your business should serve you, not the other way around. When your life goals and values are given the priority and attention they deserve, then your unique brand will begin to emerge in all aspects of your life, including your business. Create Your Why Statement Now that you have an idea of what your life goals and values are, you can begin to create a “why” statement that describes why you do what you do and what is important to you. Your “why” will get you to focus your activities and priorities and help you see your business differently. Remember, running a successful business is not your purpose. Your business may serve as the financial engine or resource to achieve your purpose or your why, but it cannot be the sole reason and motivator of your existence in this world.

Write Your Why Statement

To

so that

Examples of Why Statements:

• To inspire people to do things that challenge them so that together we can change the world.

• To be a positive influence to everyone I come in contact with so that they realize their value and worth. Additional Resources: “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek. Available in book, audio, and TED talk.

• To bring people together so that they can connect and help each other through life.

• To be on the forefront of innovation so that we give everyone an opportunity to thrive.

“Traction” by Gino Wickman. Available in book and audio

• To help people make great decisions so that they can thrive.

Keep Moving Forward Your unique message, your brand, and your “why” are a work in progress. They emerge over time. Your marketing activities are important for developing that message and testing what works and what doesn’t. If you would like to partner with Zine to walk you through this process, contact us and ask about the Zine Brand Discovery Intensive. The Zine Brand Discovery Intensive is a 4-week, workshop-style program that gives clarity to the one thing that sets you apart and how to express it in a way that compels your market to act. Visit www.BrandDiscoveryProcess.com for more information.

www.thePowerzine.com 23

MINDSET DEVELOPMENT PURPOSE & LEGACY 101

by Kia Arian Purpose & Legacy 101

As a visual person, I often think in pictures. I use diagrams and images to explain ideas. In my journey towards a bigger life purpose, I created these diagrams to capture my thoughts and gain understanding. Read on and see if it resonates with you.

24 The Results-Driven Life by Design

PURPOSE & LEGACY 101 MINDSET DEVELOPMENT

The Purpose/Legacy Diagrams define the three areas of life that give people meaning and purpose. For our lives to have meaning, we need purpose attached to the things we do on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. Without a defined purpose or a bigger “why,” frustration and fatigue set in. Over time, this frustration and fatigue can turn into disillusionment and burnout. Resources is how we make money; how we use our mind and body. Freedom to Pursue is how we grow in character and maturity. It is what inspires us and gives us a sense of dignity and well-being.

FREEDOM TO PURSUE FEED THE SPIRIT

Learn, Meditate, Journal, Create, Hobbies, Talents, Gifts, Skills

PURPOSE OF LIFE

PURPOSE OF WORK

LEGACY

GIVING FEED THE SOUL

RESOURCES FEED THE BODY

PURPOSE OF MONEY

Family, Community, Ministry, Connection, People

Financial Engine, Work, Money, Time,Busisness, Property

Giving is our sense of connectedness and how we make an impact on those around us. The areas that overlap in each circle form the purpose for those activities. We work in order to have freedom to do the things we love. Our work

DIVINE UNION

also helps us create wealth so we can give and make an impact to our community. When we can enjoy freedom, our work becomes more meaningful. Our freedom also allows us to meet the needs of the people around us. Through giving, we see the positive impact our efforts and our values have on the world around us, and thus our life feels meaningful. The enclosed circle around the three areas recognizes that there is a Divine Intelligence, an original Creator, a force outside of ourselves that impacts everything whether we realize it or not. When each of these areas exist together in harmony, a strong legacy is formed. Legacy is not just what your life on earth leaves behind, it is also what you send forward to future generations.

The triangle is another way of expressing this truth. When all parts of our lives—work, freedom, and giving—are tended to, your foundation is solid and strong at any angle. Thus you attain the fullness of your purpose and the potential which your Creator intended for you to have.

GIVING

PURPOSE & LEGACY

RESOURCES

—continued on next page

FREEDOM TO PURSUE

www.thePowerzine.com 25

MINDSET DEVELOPMENT PURPOSE & LEGACY 101

—continued from previous page

When Any Area of Our Life is Out of Balance, The Other Areas Suffe r

FREEDOM TO PURSUE

Too much focus on Resources turns you into a workaholic. Your ability to make an impact and find meaning in life is diminished. The purpose of your life becomes about work, which is temporary and can be taken away. If you don’t cultivate those areas during your life, you will be left feeling empty if/when you stop working.

PURPOSE OF WORK

PURPOSE OF LIFE

LEGACY

GIVING

PURPOSE OF MONEY

RESOURCES

DIVINE UNION

FREEDOM TO PURSUE

Too much focus on Freedommay leave you in debt or enslaved to others to provide money and basic needs. You also risk becoming self-centered and out-of-touch with the world and people around you. Without giving, your life will feel stagnant, like a lake where no water flows in or out.

PURPOSE OF LIFE

PURPOSE OF WORK

LEGACY

GIVING

PURPOSE OF MONEY

RESOURCES

DIVINE UNION

FREEDOM TO PURSUE

Too much focus on Giving leaves you in need of “fuel” and leads to burntout. Every output needs an input whether it is money, time, or mental energy. Also, people are fickle. When your purpose is wrapped too much around meeting the needs of others, you risk feeling disappointment.

PURPOSE OF LIFE

PURPOSE OF WORK

LEGACY

GIVING

RESOURCES

PURPOSE OF MONEY

GIVING

GIVING

DIVINE UNION

PURPOSE & LEGACY

PURPOSE & LEGACY

In the triangle model, you have no stable foundation. Your life feels “wobbly” and on the verge of falling apart at any moment. The total area of Purpose & Legacy in blue is dramatically reduced.

RESOURCES

PURPOSE & LEGACY FREEDOM TO PURSUE RESOURCES GIVING

FREEDOM TO PURSUE

RESOURCES

FREEDOM TO PURSUE

In reality, life tends to cycle through the circles. Sometimes, we get stuck too long in one circle, either because we think it is most important or because of circumstances. When that happens, we feel the consequences described when one circle gets too big. When searching for our life purpose, it is important we understand that our life goes through seasons, but that we must always be cultivating each circle. Then, with each passing season, we are able to find our way back to balance more quickly and easily.

Where you are now in this journey? Where do you want to be? What challenges do you need to overcome to get there? Visit www.YourVisionDiscovery.com to schedule a call with Kia and see how Zine can help you in your journey.

26 The Results-Driven Life by Design

Get 5x MORE Clients and Add $500K inMORE Revenue in 12 Months or Less, GUARANTEED!

The Raving Clients Growth Program for Professional Service Practices “Greatness is Achieved Where You Are” After almost 20 years of helping our clients package their unique marketing message and present it to a hungry market, we’ve combined the most powerful and proven marketing strategies into one streamlined program guaranteed to deliver results.

Attract higher quality clients Charge higher fees, Work less hours, Do only the work you love to do and are good at.

To learn more about this program and how it can help you scale your practice, visit: www.RavingClientsZine.com

KIA ARIAN IS AVAILABLE TO SPEAK AT YOUR NEXT EVENT. As CEO and founder of Zine, Kia Arian has almost 20 years experience helping attorneys, entrepreneurs, and professionals scale their practices using high touch, direct response print marketing.

Kia knows how to harness the power of print marketing to make a connection, inspire action, and generate profitable results.

To book Kia for your next event, visit www.MeetKiaArian.com.

PO Box 1166, Fairfax, VA 22038 Distribute to other team members: R E SULT S - DR I VEN MARK E T I NG B EAUT I FUL LY DE S I GNED