Monday, December 31, 2007
What’s Ahead for Soky.Biz
The blog known as Soky.biz will remain and I will post more often. Those who don’t read my other blogs and sites may not be aware that I have been building a publishing company. This new company has taken most of my time and effort. I have learned many new skills and even embraced the MAC and Adobe. We have just distributed our 8th issue and we are very proud of what we have achieved.
The focus of this blog will remain small business. I will post at least 52 posts in 2008 on the topic of small business, technology, planning, organizing and yes... marketing & advertising. You may be comforted in knowing that I intend to have my submissions proof read in the future as I tap my copy editor to help me with the presentation here.
On a more technical note: I will be changing the technology used to publish the blog. I will also be upgrading the server that the site is hosted on. The new journal engine will work more closely with the publishing methods we use for the magazine and allow my editors access to make changes to my hacked English. It will also remove my dependency on Google Blogger or any other outside vendor. It will include a search feature as well.
When I make the change to the new engine, I will go through the hundreds of previous blogs and set tags and keywords as well as set them into categories for easier reference. Some may be removed, all will be moved however efforts will be made to redirect references to the new location. I think this will be a good exercise and help me be more focused on small business.
While this blog started as a local business blog, I will make efforts to make the posts more appropriate for general small business. I will continue to list local resources for people in Southcentral KY, but will attempt to offer advice to those who don’t live in our region.
I would like to thank everyone who visits! I don’t track the logs as well as I should but I have to admit, I’m somewhat overwhelmed at the basic statistics. I am honored that you find my ramblings of interest and will strive to offer my opinions more often.
Now let’s get down to business!
Looking Ahead
As promised, here is a little peek into my mind and plans for 2008.
I just spent the last half hour writing out some of my business plans for the Magazine and the Web businesses. I’ve decided to withhold that information for now simply to protect my business interests. I have some great ideas and I don’t need them turning up elsewhere before I get a chance to make a go of it.
I read my pre 2007 journal and I am so very surprised at the changes I have subject myself to this year. Last year at this time, I had no idea I would be a magazine publisher. There are many things different this year from the last; the people I trust are different; the tools I use are different; the dreams and plans are much different in so many ways. Though there are so many differences, there are many things that remain unchanged. My personal commitment to do the right thing, keep my integrity and to serve others above myself remains intact and that brings me comfort.
I anticipate many changes this year. Carrie and I [still] want to sell our house and I [still] want to get a more professional office. Funny though, the office I envisioned last year is in the same place, though the business conducted will be vastly different than I had envisioned just 12 months ago.
I intend to be more aggressive this year. No more Mr. Nice guy? Well, I’ve learned a good deal observing other businesses as well as how public relations and politicians achieve their objectives. It seems that if I want to “win,” I must be willing to man up and say what I need to say. In the past I have not said things or done things simply because it might hurt some feelings or because I didn’t want to be selfish. Those days are over! I must do what needs to be done to build my companies even if I have to be more “in your face” or more aggressive.
I will also be making the decision to (or not to) run for public office this year. That’s an entirely different post and probably for an entirely different website. (grin)
My desire to get back into shape remains and I will be about the doing of it this year. I did it before and I will do it in 2008. I will journal my progress though I may not publish the pictures and all until I am in better shape. I’m quite disappointed in how far I’ve let myself go in the name of building a business or being too busy. My routine will be simple to start with and progress as it did last time. My goal is to lose some weight at first, but then to gain it back as muscle.
There is another desire for 2008. Carrie and I have talked about it many times and we are going to start getting out more. We are going to attend more events that are listed in our magazine; we are going to meet more people; I’m even thinking about joining the masons to expand my personal network of people I can trust. There is likely to be an “image improvement” this year as I have a desire to change my dress and appearance.
As you can see, I have many things I want to do this year. Many things I want to change and accomplish. In hindsight, I didn’t list most of the changes that took place in ’07, yet I am completely transformed from this time last year. I can’t say that I will achieve all of these goals, but I do think it is useful for a man to look at what he wants to change once in a while. A great feeling of accomplishment can come from reaching lofty goals. I believe that setting your personal expectations a little higher and accomplishing them is much more satisfying than not expecting so much... and reaching it. I want to be a stronger man, a smarter man, a man who has fun and enjoys life and a man who can look back and know that he has achieved his goals with honor and integrity. So far so good... why stop now?
May all who find this have a wonderful 2008. Remember the past, look to the future and set your sights on a goal you don’t think you can reach; when you reach it, you’ll know you’ve done something great.
