I gotta say, life is good…
I officially filed my business incorporation documents with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office on November 19th. I’ll never forget that day; it was cold and rainy and I couldn’t believe how easy it was (legally-speaking) to start a business…
The past 5 years have certainly brought its ups and downs. I certainly wouldn’t change a thing, though. My boss is great!
Year 1 goal was to earn a living and convince my husband that this could actually work! Done
Year 2 goal was to develop a strategy and identify the best way to position my business for long-term success. I became involved in Social Media Club of Des Moines and continued to hone in on my ideal Client. I got a better feel for identifying a Client’s needs and offering a customized solution.
Year 3 goal was to expand my marketing outreach by joining the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. Best marketing dollars I’ve ever spent! I also started producing some of my own events to help market the event planning/promotion side of my business. DSM Sushi Roll, Iowa Craft Beer Tour and Iowa Wine Tour have been huge successes. This year, I also took on the roll of President of the Social Media Club of Des Moines and worked with an amazing ad-hock board to become an official chapter with the national organization, adding a sense of legitimacy to our local Club.
Year 4 goal was to make sure existing Clients understood my skills. While they may have hired me for one service, I made sure they knew all of the ways I could help them and their business. To further my business exposure and leadership experience, I was a part of the leadership team of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce’s young professional group, genYP. This was the year that I also graduated from the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s Community Leadership Program. What an experience! A lot of work while making friends for life!
Year 5 goal was to incorporate more events into my service offerings. Earlier this year, I was hired as conference coordinator for the Iowa Governor’s Conference on Public Health. It’s a big conference for me and I’m really enjoying working with their conference planning committee. I’m still keeping my eyes out for international conferences (wink, wink). Myself and a few other individuals have also been working on a substantial community project for the better part of this year, so stay tuned to find out what it is because it’s going to be pretty amazing!
Thank you to all of my current and past Clients, mentors, colleagues and friends for making this lifestyle possible. It’s amazing to be a part of such a great community of like-minded and supportive individuals!
