It’s 2020 and I’m celebrating my 8th year in business. (For more on my journey check out my blog, Thoughts On 2020 . . . To Infinity And Beyond . . .) As an entrepreneur, I can get so caught up in the busyness of developing business and running my business that I don’t often slow down and see how far I’ve come. So, as part of my celebration in year 8, I decided to do just that and savor each success.
Since 2012 I have:
○ Worked with food-based enterprises via USDA federal business development grant funds in four states – NM, MI, NJ, AZ
○ Been a partner/contract consultant and participated in the grant writing on 8 grants (there is that number again!) for 5 USDA food producer and local economy development grants totaling more than $3million in awarded funding!
○ Consulted one-on-one with over 30 small locally owned businesses
○ Worked on over 20 nonprofit organization and social enterprise projects
○ Designed 4 Communities of Practice
- Santa Fe Community Foundation Emerging Leaders 1 & 2
- NM Community Capital Native Entrepreneurs in Residence
- Environmental Education New Mexico Fellows
○ Designed and facilitated over 20 Community Convenings for courageous conversations
○ Designed and consulted with 5 Entrepreneur Networks
- Design Corps Santa Fe
- Foodlab Detriot
- Mariposa Heathcare Farmers Coop, AZ
- Delicious NM
- Native Entrepreneur In Residence
Those are obvious successes and it was a lot of great work. And then, there are the intrinsic successes just as worthy of celebrating.
I am thankful for the clients who challenged me. I love a good challenge and learning new things! If I didn’t this would be the wrong path for me. It makes me better at what I do, both personally and professionally. Just like a muscle only grows with challenge and resistance, humans and businesses also grow stronger, quicker, smarter with each challenge. I have learned about industries I had no knowledge in – like environmental education. I have learned about different beliefs and cultures, and people who give back to their communities. It’s my knowledge and expertise in what I do that enables me to help businesses no matter what their industry is – but I can truly say I have enjoyed going deep with my clients. It’s made my world fuller and added to my own personal and professional growth.
I am also thankful for the client who fired me. (Real talk: it was not a good fit but I gave it a good shot.) That’s a painful lesson to learn but that is also the beauty of working for yourself – you get wiser and more discerning and have the option to say no when it’s not a good fit. That is valuable! If I can say no to the wrong client it saves both me and them from trying to get a square peg in a round hole and allows them to find the perfect consultant for them. More real talk – if you have a scarcity mindset this is not easy to do. I’ve had to learn that by trusting my gut and doing what is right for me and ultimately them, the right clients will come. It’s playing the long game.
Along that same vein… the project I quit because I knew I was no longer effective. You know? Know when to hold ‘em . . . know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away . . . know when to run.
Business, just like life, is about the journey, not just the destination. I am savoring and celebrating the ups and downs of the past 8 years and looking forward to what 2020 holds.
How about you? Will you take some time this week to look back and see how far you’ve come? Think about how your product or service or organization has benefited those you serve. Ponder what you’ve learned from your experiences – both good and bad. And then celebrate those successes!
