Even highly successful Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce executive Marlyn Kissner didn’t want to go back to college after the first semester.

Keynote speaker at the Carbon County Women in Business December Luncheon, Kissner said a guidance counselor in high school told her and her mother that she was not college material. She was an A/B student, but her two brothers were stellar.

Her mother dismissed the counselor’s recommendation, and Kissner went to college. Still after that first semester, she had her doubts.

“I was homesick. I was really shy. And I just didn’t have the confidence,” she said.

Her mother, though, used a dose of tough love and told her she couldn’t just move back in with her.

“If my mom had said, ‘Stay home. It’s OK. We’ll find something for you to do here,’ then I would never, ever be where I am today,” she said.

Today, she not only has a bachelor’s degree, but also has a master’s degree. She is the executive vice president of the GLVCC Northern Region, executive director of the Pocono Chamber of Commerce, executive director of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Corp., and leads the strategic positioning and partnership efforts for GLVCC.

She also has been named one of the “Top 25 Women in Business” in Northeast Pennsylvania and a Lehigh Valley Businesses Journal “Power Player.”

Kissner said she realized she couldn’t run away from difficulties. She had to face them in order to conquer them. That mentality got her through the rest of her education and has helped her overcome other hurdles.

At the luncheon at the Orioles in Lehighton, Kissner’s presentation “Path to Letting Passion In” outlined five points that have made a difference in her life and her career. The first was “Be Competitive.”

“You have to be confident, and you have to work on your confidence,” she said.

One strategy she has used, especially before giving an important speech, is to rehearse it in front of a mirror.

“Remember, to be competitive, you have to be confident,” she said. “You have to want to be a winner, because if you’re not going to win, you’re not going to get to that next point.”

She also likes to focus on positive thoughts, but when her confidence wanes, she has a good cry and pushes through it.

The second point in her talk was “Take Risks.”

Kissner suggested doing things outside of the comfort zone, such as attend a social event and talk to new people. It’s a good way to make new connections.

She said she also found good advice in a book titled “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyways.”

“Don’t fear failure,” she said.

Her third point of advice was to “Visualize the Outcome.”

“See yourself being successful,” she said.

In graduate school, Kissner said she was working full-time, and juggling many responsibilities. To keep herself positive, she would imagine herself walking across the stage to receive her degree on graduation day. Envisioning that helped her to not give up.

Her fourth point was “Surround Yourself with Great People.” Part of doing this is distancing yourself from those who don’t believe in you.

“Healthy relationships are important,” she said. “Stay away from those energy drainers.”

Kissner recommended finding a mentor: someone who is admirable, someone who would be good to emulate.

“And be a connector for others,” she said. “Radiate positive energy and have a smile.”

Her fifth point was to remember to “Take Care of Yourself and the Great People in Your Life.”

Instead of getting completely absorbed into work and/or life responsibilities, step back and do something just for “yourself.”

It’s also nice to remind those who are special in life of their importance. Send a text or an email to let them know, or leave a note. A kind word can make a big difference in a person’s day.

“Be grateful. Be genuine. And be giving,” she said.