Seven Years, Seven Lessons: Reflections on the Birth of a Business

The dawn of a new year brings a mix of emotions, reflections, and resolutions, both personal and professional. As Albert Communications celebrates its seventh anniversary tomorrow, I’m sharing seven lessons – based on reflections – from our first seven years, which have been nothing less than challenging, exciting, and so, so rewarding.

1. BYO Help Desk.

When I think back to life in Corporate America, the one thing I took for granted was the IT Help Desk. When starting a new business, setting up QuickBooks pales in comparison to what needs to be done on the IT front, especially as your company grows. Find your “techie” and never let them go.

2. Trust your gut.

A former CEO once told me I thought too much with my heart and not my head. Although it wasn’t the intention, I took it as a compliment (thus, his remarks). In hindsight, I think there’s a happy medium; trust your gut. When it comes to clients, or prospective clients, trust your instincts. When it comes to partners and vendors, do the same. Walk away if it doesn’t feel right. You’ll never regret it.

3. Phone a friend. Be a friend.

When I started out on my own, what I feared most was the lack of interaction with professional peers right down the hall, but what I found was an even wider network, and all eager to help. A former colleague who had branched out on her own years earlier invited me to her home and gave me an abundance of advice. When I asked why she shared so much (especially because we were in similar industries), she said, “Because there is plenty of work for all of us.” And there is.

Give a call, take a call, and be there for others as others were there for you.

4. Love your clients back.

Philadelphia was once known as “the city that loves you back” and I like to think of us as the firm that loves its clients back. One of our core values is, “Our clients become our friends; our friends become our clients.” We can give example after example of this, and it has made a tremendous difference in our ongoing success.

5. Do the right thing.

It worked in “Miracle on 34th Street” and it works for us. We are thanked time and time again for sending prospects elsewhere. (Remember Santa Claus sending parents from Macy’s to Gimbels?) We know what we do – but we also know what we don’t do. We’re not masters of all things, and when we know we cannot do something well, we say it, and then we take it one step further by recommending others. Few things give us more pleasure.

6. Sendin’ out an S.O.S.

With a tip of the cap to Sting, know when to send out an SOS.

Two years ago, I began thinking more deeply about the business. What were we? What weren’t we? How should we define ourselves? We had started off strong and followed the path where it led, but after five years, I wanted to determine the path, not the other way around.

Lamenting this with one of my oldest and dearest pals, also a business owner, he suggested a business coach, someone who could help with the business of the business. I investigated, interviewed, and found a coach who has helped guide me in defining the business purpose and setting, reaching, and even crushing those goals.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It has changed our course completely, and in the most delightful and important ways.

7. Learn the lessons of a blind date.

 A former “blind dater” (and celebrating today wedding anniversary #23 with the last one), I like to say you can spend an hour with anyone. It doesn’t matter who calls or reaches out for coffee or a meeting; do it. Whether it leads to a new friendship, a referral source, or a business relationship, every one of us can spare the time for coffee or a phone call.

In the past seven years, I have had hundreds of these meetings, and the majority have led to new business, new partnerships, new friendships.

As we kick off 2018, let’s say “yes!” to all life brings and best wishes for a happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year!