Celebrating 20 Years In Business

Before this month comes to a close, I want to acknowledge how awesome August is in the life of Michelle. I’m celebrating  FOUR major anniversaries. FIVE years ago, my first book hit number 1 on the Amazon Bestseller list. TEN years ago, a number of things happened. I quit my corporate sales training job, built out my speaking business and expanded my marketing consultancy.  AND I started working with Kelly Anderson at Startup Princess (and got my first social media account). I ran my own agency and promotional products company not the side for years, but this year, with a baby in tow, I went on my own and built partnerships that changed my business and life forever. FIFTEEN years ago, I married my husband. Good Stuff. TWENTY years ago, I started my first business, Doodads Promotional Products. It was 20 years ago this month when I started my entrepreneurial story. This business isn’t my life’s mission, but it’s run “in the black” every year since it’s inception and it has funded EVERY other of my business ventures. When I needed to produce and record my first speaking event, I sold more pens, mugs and t-shirts to pay for the production company. When I needed a new website for a new venture, I sold some folders and CD cases to a long time client.I don’t promote this business anymore, but I do try to keep existing customers happy and 100% of my business comes from repeat customers or referral each year. I’m still grateful for this company that practically raised me. I was 19 when I started it. Doodads taught me about business to business marketing. It taught me about tangible marketing and campaigns. It taught me about systems and hiring help so that I could focus on revenue generating activities. It taught me about competition and differentiation and that people weren’t just buying a pen, they were buying me. It taught me about customer service and it taught me about myself. I have said many times, owning a business is the best personal development tool EVER. So, in these final hours before it’s September, I acknowledge the Augusts of my life. Without which I would be monumentally different. Too bad I didn’t do anything incredibly awesome this year so that I could add to this list in five more years for the 5, 10, 15, 20, 25.  LOL Here’s to August!