Privacy Policy | Achieving Success

Who we are

Achieving Success LLC ("we", "us", or "our") operates this website at achieving-success.com. Questions about this policy can be directed to us via the Contact page.

Information we collect

We collect information you give us directly when you:

Contact us - name, email address, and your message
Submit a podcast guest pitch - name, email, company, bio, topic, social handles, and website
Request a free guide or book sample - name and email address
Complete a scorecard assessment - name, email, and your assessment responses
Leave a review - name and the text of your review
Purchase a service or subscription - name and email. Payment details (card numbers, billing address) are collected directly by Stripe and never stored on our servers.

We also collect limited technical data automatically: IP addresses, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs - standard information sent by every web browser. This data is used only for site security and analytics.

How we use your information

To respond to your messages and inquiries
To deliver requested downloads (free guide, book samples, scorecard results)
To fulfill service purchases and manage subscriptions
To review podcast guest pitches
To display approved reviews on the site
To understand how the site is used so we can improve it

We do not send marketing emails unless you have explicitly requested them. Any email we send includes an unsubscribe link.

Cookies and analytics

This site uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the site (pages visited, traffic sources, session duration). Google Analytics only loads after you accept cookies via the consent banner shown on your first visit. You can change your choice at any time using the "Manage cookie preferences" link in the footer. Declining analytics has no effect on your ability to use the site.

How we share your information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share data only with the third-party services we use to operate this site:

AWS (Amazon Web Services) - hosting, email delivery, and database storage
Stripe - payment processing for service purchases and subscriptions
Google Analytics - site analytics (only if you have accepted cookies)

Each of these providers processes data only as directed by us and under their own privacy and security standards.

Data retention

We retain your information for as long as it is needed to provide the service you requested or as required by law. Contact form messages and pitch submissions are retained for up to 2 years. Purchase records are retained for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes. You may request earlier deletion - see "Your rights" below.

Your rights

You have the right to:

Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Ask us to correct inaccurate information
Ask us to delete your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
Withdraw consent for analytics at any time via the cookie preference link in the footer

To exercise any of these rights, contact us via the Contact page. We will respond within 30 days.

Security

Your data is stored on AWS infrastructure in the United States. We use industry-standard security practices including HTTPS encryption, access controls, and regular security reviews. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.

Children

This site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page reflects the current version. Continued use of the site after a change constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.