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.