Chip’s is an upbeat and optimistic voice – all-the-more refreshing in a time when the internet, airwaves and life itself are increasingly filled with so much rancor and division. Chip shares that living with his “Four P’s: Purpose, Passion, Positivity and a Plan” is the foundation for happiness and success and for turning obstacles into opportunities both personally and professionally. He champions what he calls “The Kindness Platform”, which reminds us how we were all created, and thus are meant to be connected with and invested in one another. He stresses developing an inner awareness that “life is simply a series of present moment events, the outcome of which is determined by how we respond to them.” One’s mindset – positive or negative – is your choice, he says, “and choosing positivity leads to positive results.” His own life is testament to just that.

Chip was born in Wisconsin where his grandfather, a Polish immigrant, founded a successful manufacturing company in 1923. Chip’s father moved his family of nine (Chip is the oldest) to Connecticut in 1963 to run their Eastern Division, which he later bought from his father in 1968. After getting his degree in accounting in 1976, Chip went to work for his dad, who sold the business to a public company in 1995. For several years as president, Chip had been consumed with leading a staff, sweating financials and reimagining manufacturing for the digital age. Six months after the sale at age 41, he was let go.

Chip embraced the change with optimism, creating Chip Janiszewski Enterprises, LLC, through which he has used his extensive expertise and experience to serve his clients and networking cohorts over the years. A speaker, trainer, facilitator and consultant, Chips turns 70 June 7 and plans to keep active doing what he loves most: running networking meetings and workshops, mentoring and sharing his “Kindness Platform” message through his presentations.

He is flexible and versatile but whatever the role, he brings the same energy and passion. As a solopreneur, one needs to enjoy and be good at building relationships (Chip’s definition of “networking”), and that's been Chip from the get-go. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce and was a former assistant director in Connecticut for Business Network International, training all new BNI members in networking skills.

Chip’s single best referral resulted in several years of providing business consulting through Central Connecticut State University’s Institute of Technology and Business Development. He worked with about 100 companies developing business and strategic plans. His areas of expertise include accounting (including budgeting and financial analysis), operations development and management, all guided by his 4 P’s.

“There are a lot of miserable millionaires out there because their primary focus is on building material wealth,” Chip says, adding that you can’t be successful unless you are happy first and that by being thoughtful and compassionate and by focusing on communication and understanding, your life will improve and you will contribute to making the world around you that much better. Chip is the embodiment of all that, happily doing what he does professionally while staying grounded and busy as a grandfather. He has two grown children – one in Greenwich, the other in New Jersey, both heavily and happily involved in music – and two grandchildren. So life is good … but it’s even better when connected with others. He knows there’s a lot of common sense in what he says but also knows how distracted people can get. “I bring a dose of awareness,” he said, and he assures people that just by changing their mindset, “magic is going to happen.”