Tales of a first year business owner...

Assumption #2: It’s never too early to choose who you decide to do work with.

Reality: While, I still believe this to be true – Life is too short to work with bad clients. But the lesson I learned as a follow-up to this: Don’t burn bridges!!

My Advice: You never know where your next lead might come from…and it might come from one of these “bad” clients you weeded out. And those business cards you collected, look at those often, you don’t know when YOU might need a lead for computer repair people, accountants, etc.

Things I've Learned...

Assumption #1: To build a business you must network and market yourself and your business

Reality: Continue to nurture your established friendships and professional relationships. These people know you and can immediately vouch for you. While I’ve attended countless networking events and utilized traditional marketing tactics, each and every one of my executed contracts came from the referral of someone with whom I had an established relationship.

My Advice: Network with the intention of building a relationship, not with the intention of immediately garnering a lead. Nurture the relationships you’ve built, these people will be your greatest cheerleaders.

What a difference a year can make…

It’s been a little over a year since I first announced the beginning of a new chapter in my life and professional endeavors with the launch of Shore Break Consultants. While I couldn’t have predicted picking up everything and relocating to the Lone Star State – I wholly believe that the move is exactly what I needed to pursue this crazy idea I had. Thankfully, what started as a dream and an idea has truly turned into a reality. In the last year, I have been fortunate enough to have been hired for projects in Northern California, Southern California, Arizona and Texas. Not too shabby for my first year, eh?

But it wasn’t all as I expected or dreamed up in my head….

To be continued…