An Anniversary

I’ve noticed that I’ve been somewhat nostalgic, lately, talking occasionally about things that have changed in our industry, as well as mentioning many past events. It’s not just the New Year that got me into this mindset, but it also happens that GeoMetrick Enterprises’ fifteenth anniversary is coming up in a couple weeks.

At this point, I’ve now worked for myself much longer than all my other jobs combined, and I’ve long-since decided to label my business a success. After all, in fifteen years time, the economy has gone up, it’s gone down, things continue to change, and I’ve still remained in business. That’s no small feat for anyone, whatever their size.

Here are my thoughts on why I’ve been able to keep my business going for so long:

• Focus. I know where my business’s core competencies are and try to stick with them.
• Listen to what people say but watch what they do. For example, when I first started my business, I’d attend the LIMS Conference and Pittcon, and every booth I went into software vendors would say things like, “Wow, we’d love to do business with you,” yet when I returned to my office post-conference, couldn’t get them to speak to me on the phone or return my e-mails. It’s a trap I fell into and I’ve heard other business owners in the industry run into the same thing. Eventually, if you don’t stop waiting for those business relationships to materialize and move onto something else, your business will fail. Frustrating as it might be for any of us that hoped something would come of just a single one of those, remember that “hope” doesn’t pay the mortgage.
• Persistence. This is probably one of my defining qualities and I think it’s what has allowed me to keep my business going. That, plus the knowledge that it’s not necessarily that easy to just give up and go get a permanent job, either.
• Take it seriously. I don’t treat my business as a stop-gap between jobs – I treat it as my livelihood and my career. I work toward providing the best services my business can provide. Of course, that’s how I’d treated all my previous jobs, too, and that’s part of why I believe I’m still in business after all these years.
• Don’t do it alone. While I’m the one ultimately and entirely responsible for my business decisions, I belong to a number of groups and know quite a number of other consultants and small businesses that I network with. We provide each other with support and ideas. If it weren’t for them, I definitely wouldn’t still be in business after all these years. The NIH (Not Invented Here) mentality doesn’t work for most businesses, in my opinion.

Gloria Metrick
GeoMetrick Enterprises
http://www.GeoMetrick.com/