As we approach the two and one half year mark for Small Business Affinity, we are working hard to overcome stumbling blocks that many entrepreneurs face: installing systems, back-end procedures, streamlining processes, and organization.

If there is one thing I have had hammered in me from one of my mentors, it is that it is much easier to install big systems into a small company, than to try and retrofit a big company with systems down the road.
I should have started earlier, but I am glad I am investing the time now, and if you are behind on your organization, now is the time – not next week, next month, next year!

What specifically have I learned? That when I secure an initial contract, and the scope of the work is extended, to get a signed agreement for that extension; that as much as I hate doing billing, it is the most important part of running my business, and I have to be more persistent and diligent about it; that unfortunately, no matter how good your work is, or how hard you work to maintain a relationship with a client, there are always people who will try and take advantage of your good nature and try and renegotiate your payment schedule. That last point can be a killer for a small, growing business, that depends on vendors and contractors.

The American inventor, Thomas Edison, is credited with the quote: “Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration.”

Business today requires we add “organization” to that mix.

For me, and maybe for you, what works, is to surround yourself with strong support, friends and family.

Your spouse/partner may not understand the minutia of your business, but they do understand you, and can be there with a kind word, a hug, or a nugget of encouragement.    Your friends may not understand your business, but they can be a sounding board for your problems with clients, maybe they work with a similar business?

Such is the power of more than one.  Where you find out the strong group surrounding you may not help you tackle your day-to-day tasks, but nevertheless, they play a strong part in your success.

Find your own center first, then surround yourself with whomever you need to insure your success.

Getting into lists simplified my life.

Making lists puts everything into perspective, allows us to prioritize our lives, and proceed in a more orderly fashion.

Systematizing your lists will make your life even simpler.  What I mean by this, is your “work” list is going to seem a lot more onerous and burdensome if every other task in the column is non-work related, “like get tires rotated, sew hem on dress, go to vet, let children out of the utility closet.”

Keep your work list work related, your personal list personal.  Separate sheets of paper; separate sides of the desk.

Tim Ferriss, in his book “The Four Hour Work Week” suggests the the best thing for the top of your list is  the task you LEAST want to do.  Tackle it first thing in the morning, get it out of the way, instead of stewing about it all day, and getting in the way of other, more important tasks (like “note to self” stop at Moonstruck for monthly truffle supply).

And, at the end of the day, hopefully your list will be chock full of items you have crossed off, and you can relax in the evening, sleep like a baby, and begin your next day refreshed, and with a completely new list to tackle!

Feel free to download this very complete glossary of interactive advertising terms, and within minutes, you’ll be an expert!  (Or at minimum, you’ll be able to ask much better questions of your media reps!)

Monday, April 11, 11A.  Coffee, water, soda furnished, bring a sack lunch if you like.  Looking forward to meeting you!   Spread the word!

The Perfect Martini

The classic martini is a cocktail comprised of gin and vermouth, garnished with a green olive or twist of lemon.    It is considered one of the six basic drinks of the cocktail world.    The origin of the cocktail is unclear, but may have originated in the US sometime during the late 1800s or early 1900s, and initially, was a much ‘sweeter’ drink with more vermouth than gin.  This changed during prohibition.  Although there are many variations today, the standard recipe calls for a ratio of 5 parts gin to 1 part vermouth, mixed in ice, and poured (without the ice) into a chilled martini glass, garnished with the aforementioned green olive.   A popular variation over the last decade has been the “dirty” martini, so named because of the addition of some juice from an olive jar (and possibly small pieces of olive), giving the cocktail a cloudy appearance.

My personal recipe is 1 oz of gin to ½ oz vermouth, with just a splash of olive juice, and two fat queen green olives, preferably the “martini-style” olive which we get from The Olive Pit in Corning, California.

I enjoy a good martini on occasion, and I have a beautiful cocktail shaker from Williams-Sonoma to prove it!

Last year we traveled to Amsterdam for a holiday, and we went to the Bols “Museum”; Bols is credited with creating the ‘grandfather of gin’, genever, in the 1600s.

Sometimes for the management of Small Business Affinity, a perfect martini is the way to cap a perfect day (Ok, and not so perfect days as well!)

We all know how many start-ups fail in the first year.  I didn’t, I made it.  Year one. Now year two.   Maybe starting the company on April Fool’s Day was a good thing!

Building my business hasn’t been without its share of troubles; the same problems any small business owner will echo, whether it’s finding the right employees/vendors, customers with slow pay, no pay.  Jobs gone horribly wrong, finding and refining the best niche for me. 

Over the past two years, I have been able to define and redefine what I want this company to be known for, and what kind of customers I work best with. 

I have been blessed a thousand times over to have the support of my family, friends, and co-workers on this path.  

I won’t kid you (or myself), there have been days when I just wanted to throw my hands up and head for the (perceived) sanctity and sanity of being an employee again.

But those days were, and have been, far outnumbered by the victories we have achieved for clients, the kudos and testimonials we get back from them, and more importantly, the most important thing a business can have:  new client referrals from satisfied customers.

Some of my clients have become dear friends, as well, and that was one of the tenets I wanted to operate by.

What lies ahead?  Am I entering the equivalent of the “terrible twos?”  We shall see.   I know there will be challenges ahead, growing pains, more redefining, but I think the hardest work is now behind me.

Against all odds, I have succeeded at this venture.  Happy birthday to Small Business Affinity.  And a special thanks to my dear co-worker and friend, Clare.

Here’s to us.  May there be many more SBA birthdays to celebrate in the coming years!

The parts of business we know we are terrible at?  These days, we outsource them to a firm or independent contractor.  By doing that, we can find the very best the market has to offer, and within our budget.  We don’t have to make additional office space for them, add them to the company insurance plan, or give them a parking spot.

In today’s semi-virtual world, there is a contractor and / or expert for every single aspect of running a business, whether it’s an off-site bookkeeper, HR firm (do you know you can “lease” employees these days?), marketing company, legal resources, sales management, physical plant maintenance, the list goes on and on.

Small Business Affinity can be your “business partner” in the area of marketing.  We take your budget, your goals, and make them into a reality.  You get a “virtual marketing department” of dozens of employees, in as broad or narrow of choices you elect – creative, web, copywriting, media strategist, media buyer, event planners, merchandiser, sales trainer, and quality control.

We offer a free one hour consultation to determine your needs.  Contact us to make an appointment.