Carolyn Jack

Editor and CEO, Geniocity.com
A project of The Genius Group LLC

Reminding myself how far I’ve come

Maybe this is true of most people with big goals to work toward, but I tend to focus on how far I still have to go, rather than how much distance I’ve already covered.

The habit keeps me motivated - I believe I’m less likely to slack off if I continually stare at my destination and the milestones I have to pass than I am if I’m always looking back at where I’ve been.

On the other hand, too much gazing at the horizon can convince you that you aren’t getting anywhere. Especially because a business isn’t a finish line you cross, but an endlessly evolving process that you have to revise and refine every day.  You never really “arrive,” although making some serious money might persuade me that I had. 

So maybe it was a healthy thing that, in the course of pulling together the exhibits I need to attach to my nearly-finished business plan this week, I looked at the stack of documents and materials and realized that I’ve actually accomplished something in the last couple of years. 

I think if I made a list of what I’ve done, I might feel pretty good for once about this experiment with entrepreneurship. Maybe making your own list would do the same for you.  We all need and deserve a little boost, don’t we? Ok, so let’s try it. Here’s my list: 

1. I came up with a business idea that totally excited me and still does

2. Over a year and half, I sought advice from experienced people I trusted and began shaping that idea down to the smallest details

3. I wrote an initial short plan

4. I found lawyers and got my company incorporated

5. I joined the Council of Smaller Enterprises ‘ Arts Network

6. Through COSE, I found a business advisor and started learning about the practical side of running a company

7. I chose an accountant and got prepared to deal with taxes responsibly

8. With help from my advisor and a friend, I wrote a Power Point presentation about my business

9. I got a vendor’s license so I can sell goods in my online store

10. With the help of my partner the web expert, I chose a designer, bought software and got my site designed and built

11. Assisted by my lawyers, I got a consignment agreement drafted for merchandise suppliers

12. I recruited three bloggers to write on my site every day and five artists to supply creative work to my shop and learned how to post my own blog entries

13. I got business cards and stationery designed, as well as an invitation to my company’s launch event

14. I wrote and sent out press releases and got some media coverage of my business launch 

15. I launched my business in a great location with a nice party that a good number of people attended and seemed to enjoy

16. I worked out cash-flow spreadsheets, set up a merchandise log, developed a rate card for advertising and developed a brochure for recruiting artists and one for promoting my store

17. I recruited an additional three bloggers and three more artists (more about this soon…)

18. I worked out three different sponsorships with area organizations and carried out a direct-mail campaign promoting Geniocity Shop creative goods as holiday gifts  

19. I slowly but finally created a full business plan

20. And I’ve continued to refine my site bit by bit, with the help of my tech partner and the designer

I was right – I feel pretty good about all that. It took an incredible amount of work and psychological discipline to get it done, and even though I know I have to keep myself steeled for all the many jobs still ahead of me, I’m confident that I can handle them in time.

So how does your list make you feel?