I live in a small Midwestern town up near Chicago and for those of you not familiar with the area, we jokingly say that we have 2 seasons – winter and road construction. Because I live close to some major thoroughfares, this is especially true! To make matters worse, we’ve recently had some sort of pipe burst on a local street right around the corner from where they are doing work on the railroad tracks. So, this month feels particularly frustrating because in many instances, you just can’t get there from here!
But as I sit at a different set of railroad tracks multiple blocks away from where I need to be, watching a 1000-car train go by (I’m sure that’s an exaggeration, but it feels pretty accurate!), I began reflecting on how it all kind of fits in my life! (Is it just me, or does some of your quality thinking occur while waiting on a train?) My mission for this year and years to come is to be a better business girl. I feel like my weaving is in a good place now. So, it’s time to personally sort out the more foreign side of being an entrepreneur – marketing and selling.
At the end of last year, I took a hard look at how things went. And it was clear that I needed to make a few changes. In an effort to be smart about those changes, I have enlisted some wonderful help from the wise, experienced folks at SCORE. (If you are looking for assistance with your small business, I can’t endorse them enough!) They are helping me focus on the end game and keeping me moving in the right direction! (I almost typed they are “keeping me uncomfortable”, which is also true! But, growing pains are worth it, right?)
As a first step, I’ve been working with Seth and Justin at SERA Solutions who have been walking me through the tricky task of updating my website and adding a shopping cart! They have been brilliant! My goal is to really get into the game when it comes to online sales. I realize it may take awhile to truly get the momentum going. But, I’m excited to take steps in the right direction! (You are welcome to check out our progress on www.actoncreative.net!)
Next up is to really hone in on where my people are and get in front of them – online, in person, etc. It all sounds simple on paper, but complex in reality. I have faith that between my mentors and myself, it’ll happen!
So, as I am sitting in my Pontiac counting cars on the train, I’m thinking there are a lot of parallels. Except in this case, even with a number of detours, I’ll get there eventually! (And p.s., I’ve decided to enjoy every twist & turn along the way!)
How about you? Any interesting detours lately?
