Monday, September 25, 2006
A Symphony of Business
SoKy.net, llc. update
While this blog has been all about small business in south central KY and my personal observations, opinions and comments of the same, I have also shared a number of personal and professional dreams and goals here too. The past couple of weeks has been bringing many of those dreams to reality and has also reminded me of the importance of some of the advice I have offered here.
Have a plan!
I thought I had a plan and I thought it was a good one. My primary aim was well established as was my strategy, but I'm facing a harsh reality that having a plan is much more than an obscure objective or even a solid business concept. Having a plan in business encompasses every single thing! From accounting and banking to procedural guidance for employees and contractors. My plan did not include a method of delegation, assignment or dispersion of responsibility.
The first step in correction is admitting the flaws!
I recently wrote about pride and it's affect on the small business mindset. Pride plays a role in taking an objective look at ones business and admitting flaws in either its existing operation or its plan. Having already admitted that I allowed pride to interfere in my decision making process, it made it easier to take a critical look at other aspects of my model. I didn't like what I saw! What I found is that I had boxed myself in so firmly that I had no way to grow beyond my limited view of business. Or... my pride prevented me from admitting that I am going to need help. Shame on me.
The next step is action!
Once I humbled myself enough to look in the business mirror and admit I'm a fool (Okay, that was harsh... admit I made some mistakes?), I began to see many areas that I could improve upon. Remembering that my primary aim is freedom, I began to adjust my "plan" to make achieving that aim possible. In short, I faced the fact that if I don't put on the right people and provide them with the guidance they need to perform up to my specification and expectation, I am hopelessly bound to only enough business that I can handle myself.
Action!
I have contacted a few people that I have known to help and offered them "incentive." Through those proposals, I was able to identify many needs in managing those people and providing them with the information and guidance they needed to learn and comply. I also identified needs for methods of measurement and oversight. Some of these issues are yet to be addressed, but identifying them is a key step in creating the process effectively.
With all the new and exciting business opportunities I have been presented with in the last 10 days I am very optimistic about the future of my "little internet company." (Quote based on recent blog comment) I've also been able to see ways to take it from a one man band to a well conducted orchestra of creativity, production and operational excellence. It gave me the incentive to look past my own nose and see what that was I was smelling. I've embraced a dream for a very long time, I have been offered a vehicle to reach that dream and now I am fueling that rocket ship to take me and my business to the next level.
The next 6 weeks will be key for me itsy bitsy world class internet development company in Bowling Green. From developing an online auction from the ground up to managing my new sales managers, creative directors, programmers and public information staff, I've got a large amount of work to do. No... wait... WE have a large amount of work to do. Oh... that feels good to say.
Thanks for reading! I meant to get this out earlier because Monday mornings appear to be the high traffic time for this blog, but, well I was too busy bring the above to pass. Wish me luck, keep sending your suggestions and use my mistakes to make your small business better than it is. I know I will.
David Francis
Soky.net
P.S. Sneak peak of new layout now online at www.soky.net (I'm so proud)
