Kristin Marquet is the founder and creative director of Creative Development Agency, a PR firm in New York City. Follow her @KristinMarquet.

Who is your hero? (In business, life, or both.)

I would have to say my hero is my husband because he’s been supportive during all of my business launches and has never let me lose sight of the big picture. When things get tough, he always reminds me to keep an eye on the goal.

What’s the single best piece of business advice (unorthodox tips welcome!) that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?

My dad always said, “Go against the grain in business. Don’t follow what others are doing because you don’t know if it’s working for them, and your business won’t stand out from the competition. Be original.” Now, I always subscribe to that philosophy.

What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?

When I started my first business, I tried to cater to all markets; however, I soon learned that I could not offer dozens of specialties with a tiny team. Since I’ve learned to focus on two core areas, my business continues to grow 15-20% per year.

What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?

As an entrepreneur, I like to spend the first hour of business day drinking coffee and working on my most important tasks. That’s when I’m most alert and productive.

What’s your best financial/cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?

Validate your product or service before spending a lot of money on development and marketing. There is nothing worse than spending thousands of dollars launching a product or service that does not have any demand.

Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level?

Get a mentor right now! Find someone who has more experience and knowledge in your field so you can learn from them.

What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?

I define success as being able to work on projects that fulfill my creative desires and passions as well as making an impact on others’ lives. I will know when I’ve succeeded when I’ve left a legacy that has helped make a small difference in the world.