Gonink - Design & Print

Hey, everyone else does a year in review so why not us?

Basically I just kind of want to recap what I’ve done, where I’ve been and where I’d like to be in the future.

This year I learned that I need to work more at selling. It’s not so much that I can’t sell, it’s that I don’t sell enough. I don’t get out there and work on finding more and more clients. I fall into that feast or famine category where I have work and don’t take the time to market and then when it gets slow I focus on marketing. About the time I get a plan going I get busy again and put marketing down at the bottom of the priority list. My goal is to make 2008 a better year in sales, profit and marketing.

Speaking of goals, I joined a small group of like-minded friends in helping each other achieve goals. We meet once a week via an IM chat room and list out 3 goals we hope to achieve for the upcoming week. At which time all other members are given an opportunity to suggest ideas, encourage and discuss any/all of said goals.

In honor of Kermit The Frog, I’ve learned it ain’t easy being green. I really started focusing on this element of my life both at home and at my business. And what I found was it’s not as simple as recycling a few cans or milk jugs. It encompasses more than just that - such as fuel consumption and efficiency. It’s how we heat or cool our businesses and homes. And so much more.

Quite honestly, winning is everything and this year we won two awards. The first one came at the beginning of the year when we won a Summit Creative award for our company logo. The second one came at the end of the year when we were honored at the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce banquet as business of the year. And we don’t look at the winning as something to gloat about, but as a business tool. It provides us with credibility as a creative company and one who is involved with other businesses and our community.

Everyone has had to deal with this at one time or another and whether it’s in the status as an employee or a business owner, you’re going to find those customers/clients who push your buttons. You’ll have those who get too busy to help you finish a project and then when they’re ready, they’ll ask for a date for completion. It’s not their fault, it’s just the way business works sometimes.

And finally I’ve come to a realization that being a business owner is fun. I can recall those long and boring nights at my 9-1-1 job, where watching paint dry was more entertaining. I can remember those nights when the officers did everything they could to push my buttons and push they did. I would sit in that room dreaming of owning my own business. Thoughts of being around ‘Busco during the day and having an actual lunch hour floated through my head like any good day dream should. And now those days seem long ago, but I’m right where I wished I would be. A business owner. It has it’s ups and downs, but it’s a lot better than saying “9-1-1″ and hearing “HolysonofamothermarykissmyrightnoworI’llshootthemintheface ((((garble))))” all day long.

I was amazed this morning to find an RSS feed, a forwarded email and a newsletter informing me that the EPA has denied tighter emission goals. Are you serious!? The last time I checked, the EPA stood for Environmental Protection Agency and the last time I checked emissions from cars and industry affected the environment.

So what or who is the EPA protecting? Yet again I feel that a lobbyist or some fat gray-haired politician has their dirty little hands in this affair. It seems to me that the EPA administrator Stephen Johnson has been influenced by someone else in this decision. What other excuse could he or his organization have for ignoring these goals?

And as of right now (12/20/07 11:24EST) there is no mention of this outrageous decision by the EPA.

I hate the idea that politics gets in the way of improving our world and improving our future. But from now on I might have to refer to the EPA as Empowering Political Asses or Every Politician is an Ass. Because that’s whose stopping all of these proactive bills and what’s turning our country into the dirty little next door neighbor. You know the one who has junk cars, weeds and a horrible looking yard? That’s who we’re becoming people because our country and politicians refuse to think ahead about the future of our environment.

So I ask the EPA, who are you protecting then?

Even as I write this I can’t help but think about my recent post, Not So Green. A post about how some people are getting FSC certified, when really they’re not living up to the standards of the certification.

Be that as it may, I do feel it’s important for people to know who is FSC Certified and New Leaf has just announced that their Primavera Gloss Coated Paper has been certified and an increase to 60% post-consumer recycled content. That makes them that much more of a force in the paper industry and an example for those who choose to continue in the same fashion they have for years and years.

On Thursday 12/13/07 I received two RSS feeds from CNN.com that dealt with the climate and the U.S.A. Both of which are startling facts that this country is just ignorant or likes to turn a blind eye to the environment.

And Al Gore certainly isn’t shy about calling out America for blocking talks on climate change and initiatives. I applaud him for doing so, not as a politician, but as a human being. Forget he ran for president and lost in one of the most controversial elections this country has ever seen. Ignore the jokes about how he invented the Internet. And if at all possible, forget his recent Nobel Prize for educating people on climate change. Because not a single one of these attributes attached to Mr. Gore matter. The only one that matters is he has the ability, the media coverage and the backing to stand before our leaders and say “Wake the f— up!”

So why are we so resistant to change in this country? Republicans did their best to block an energy bill that was going to tax the big oil companies big time. Why would they block such a positive bill? Because of lobbyists and special interests groups who are in fear of losing the big fat paycheck they receive each week. Because some fat, gray haired CEO is sitting in his office wondering which young bimbo he’s going to pay off to be with him at some political holiday party instead of doing something about the environment.

Americans in general are listening, I think. But unfortunately we’re not being heard by the politicians.

Screw politicians as they screw the environment daily so they can get a big fat check.

Just over a week ago I wrote about Xerox exceeding a goal and here they are again doing more for the environment.

As part of its long-standing commitment to preserve biodiversity through responsible forest management and to provide customers with “greener” paper choices, Xerox Corporation earned “chain of custody” certification from both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.

I wonder how many more businesses will follow suit to try and keep up with Xerox? I know at least one designer who has been certified as environmentally friendly and more designers should follow that trend.

So what’s your next “green” business move? Reduce paper? Recycle more? I’d like to hear from you.