Sydney drummed her fingers against her coffee cup, staring at the job application on her screen. The cursor blinked, waiting. She had the experience. The internships. The polished resume. So why did it feel like she was just another name in a sea of applicants?
Like most people, Sydney had been playing by the rules—following the expected path, hoping the right opportunity would find her. But when an unexpected mentor hands her a challenge, she starts to realize something:
The most successful people don’t wait for opportunities. They create them.
The Business of You is not just a career book—it’s a playbook for taking ownership of your future. Through Sydney’s journey, Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio introduce a new way of thinking about personal success, leadership, and career growth.
- Tell your story in a way that makes people pay attention.
- Build a network that actually works for you.
- Stop applying for jobs—and start attracting the right opportunities.
- Think like a CEO, because the most important business you’ll ever run is your own.
- Master personal branding and career strategy—so you're always ahead.
If you’ve ever felt stuck—unsure how to stand out, build connections, or create the career you actually want—this book will give you the strategies, mindset, and confidence to take control.
Perfect for college students, professionals, and career changers who want to future-proof their success.
Your business starts now. Are you ready to take the lead?
Nick Coniglio is a seasoned technology veteran with over three decades of experience in the ever-evolving world of IT. Born with an insatiable passion for problem-solving and a gift for unraveling the mysteries behind technology's hiccups, Nick embarked on his tech odyssey in the early 1990s as a mainframe programmer.Nick has donned numerous hats, transitioning from programmer to team lead/manager and from corporate executive to tech startup entrepreneur. His expertise spans diverse technologies and experiences, yet his greatest successes are rooted in his ability to bridge the gap between business and technology stakeholders. Nick's last two decades were marked by his leadership in four different companies, each of which experienced remarkable growth and successful exits.Nick's most recent venture was co-founding Lifecycle Insights, which transformed from an idea into a rewarding exit in a mere three years. Following this exciting chapter, Nick is currently engaged in various projects, where he eagerly shares his wealth of experiences to lead and nurture successful teams.Nick's problem-solving mindset carries over into his personal life. He's continually puzzled by two persistent mysteries: why his golf game hasn't improved despite playing for four decades, and the unwavering devotion and passion he holds for the New York Jets.Nick and his wife Susan call Suwanee, Georgia, their home. When they're not busy, you'll often find them indulging in binge-watching shows like Ted Lasso - a shared endeavor to avoid micromanaging their nineteen-year-old son Connor, who is currently a senior at the University of Georgia.
Marnie Stockman, Ed.D., started her career in leadership with the toughest customers/employees of all... high school math students. Her passion for education and using data and humor to help others grow and succeed took her from the classroom to Sr. Director of Customer Success of a leading Ed Tech company, and now to Co-Founder and former CEO of Lifecycle Insights - a vCIO/Customer Success platform for MSPs.After her successful exit from Lifecycle Insights, Marnie is working on a new project as well as mentoring and advising software startups in the IT and EdTech space.Marnie can talk to a wall, but she would rather talk to a crowd. You can often see her at IT or Ed Tech industry events. She has podcasted with many. She participates on an advisory council for CompTIA. She enjoys wrangling other leaders and SaaS founders to engage in fun and educational content to help grow businesses. She hosts the monthly Bits and Books open book club for MSP Media Network to drive conversations around leadership and business.Her parents raised her and her sister with their own set of rules. Two of the most frequently heard ones were: -Dad: "Don't be sorry. Be right."-Mom: "Kill 'em with kindness."When she isn't walking and writing books, she can be found playing pickleball or working on projects with her husband, Frank, and two 20-something kids, David and Josie, in Greensboro, Maryland.
