Gratitude and Thoughts after 27 Years!

This cake is wonderful, but really, thanks to all of you!  Tuesday, January 25th marks the completion of my 27th year in business!  During this quiet time between clients, I have some time for reflection this year.  In a season of gratitude, I have a few things to say.

Thanks to all who took a chance on me in the early years.  Your courage made all of the difference for a scared girl embarking on a new adventure.  If you’ve never started a business, you may not understand how reluctant people are to be the first ones to hire you.  Yet, many of those early adopters were people who had seen me work in volunteer positions.  If you want others to see your work quality, consider participating in volunteer positions that speak to you.  Your good work will go before you in all you do.

Thanks to the professional support throughout the years.  This includes the VSCPA (local and state), IMA (where I was fortunate to be elected to serve on local, state, and national boards), Roanoke Consultants’ Group, WPLN, NAWBO (I still have the gifts for the newest business - $5 (so I’ll always have some backup cash) and the box of Kleenex (because starting a business isn’t easy)), and other professional colleagues.  The support you have provided to me and to other professionals is immeasurable.  If you aren’t involved in a professional group, consider joining one.  If you are already in one, find a way to give to others along their professional way.

Thank you to the advisors.  My advisors have been both formal and informal, sometimes being found in the most unusual of places.  Thank you to the mentors who sought me out – ones that I didn’t think even knew me. Thank you to the SBDC, the Wednesday evening attendees gathering at the Grandin Road CoLab, the former clients and employers who provided feedback, the Roanoke SCORE office, and others too numerous to mention.  At any time in your life, seek out others who can see the bigger picture to offset your own small, personal view.  If you have been blessed with knowledge or experiences, consider sharing these with someone, whether formally or informally.

Thanks to the clients.  Thank you for your trust.  Thank you for inviting me back again and again.  It’s important in what I do to quickly become a part of your team; thank you for being open to that.  Even outside of the workday, thank you for keeping our connection strong.  Thank you for the Christmas party invites, for welcoming me to your management retreat events (I wasn’t even picked last!), for the going-away parties, and for the post-engagement group lunch invites.  I hope I can continue to be a trusted resource for you for years to come.

Thank you for the testimonials.  Your words speak volumes, more than my words ever could.  Testimonials make my website richer and explain the diversity of my offerings. Best of all, your testimonials reassure future clients who are looking to add an outsider to an already chaotic situation.  For all of you readers, if there’s a business or colleague that has made your situation better, write them a testimonial, recommendation, or referral.  It can be a letter on company letterhead or a simple recommendation on LinkedIn.  It doesn’t have to be long or formal, but it will be appreciated by the recipient and by those that want to engage with that person.

Thank you for allowing me to be a resource hub.  A previous boss gave me some good advice when I was starting out on my own: “Don’t try to ‘sell,’ just be the place everyone goes to seek a resource.  Then, always send them to the right person.  Most times you will be sending them to someone else, but sometimes the right person will be you. This way, you will always get to see the opportunities first.”  I’ve given away many opportunities over these nearly three decades, but the seekers have always respected me for my honesty and integrity.  You, too, can be the resource that others need – just be sure to keep it honest.

Thank you to the friends and family.  Sometimes the “family” is your family of origin and sometimes it is your family of choice. During my early years in business, my family of choice consisted of the teachers, lawyers, coders, engineers, and web designers who gathered at the old Sgt. Pepper’s British Pub.  My family was also my Sunday School class that was made up of older church members.  There were also neighbors, childhood friends, and my family of origin.  I’m sure I’ve failed to mention someone.  My gratitude extends to you, too.

What’s the worst that could happen?  I’ve been a professional-level Gig Employee to these various businesses since long before it was “cool.”  While infrastructure is slowly coming about, there is still a long way to go.  Yet in 1995, there seemed to be no safety net.  I have to thank the two Julias in my hometown, an elderly mother and her daughter now long gone, who said to the apprehensive young woman, “What’s the worst that could happen?”  Well, I certainly made a long list of those things that could go wrong.  “I could lose my home,” but I could always get a roommate or something smaller. “I could be without healthcare,” but my doctor reassured me that they can’t leave me on the ground outside the ER.  Then, I finally boiled it down to this: the worst thing that could happen is that I could be an accountant that goes bankrupt!  But, no, there was actually something else that was worse.  There’s such a thing as being too poor to be bankrupt!  The bankruptcy filing fee can only be paid in cash!  A small gift I received alleviated this concern.  I set aside enough money to pay the bankruptcy filing fee and now the worst can never happen!  What’s holding you back?  Can you boil down your list and eliminate the thing standing in your way?  The opportunities are endless and the ride is wonderful!  Live fully and gratefully, enjoying those you meet along the way!  Happy travels!