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Welcome to 2011!  One of the best things I did in 2010 was put pressure on myself to provide you with more updates – apparently I work well under pressure because creative flow or not, I’m determined to back up my good word.

In these first few weeks of 2011, I’ve taken a lot of time to reflect on our first full (fiscal) year of business.  In my reflection, I’ve experienced a series of emotions that I was somewhat surprised by – from passion and excitement, to disappointment and sadness.  The most important element from each of these emotions is that I’ve learned something and am determined to use these experiences to continue to grow, as a person and a business owner. 

In the spirit of Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (from the hit TV show “NCIS”), I’d like to share with you some of my rules for business:

1)   Have Fun – I’m not saying that everyday at the office is going to be line-dancing and puppet shows, but if you’re not having fun it’ll show in your work and to those around you.

2)   Be Passionate – With every new client and every new project we take on (and even when we re-visit old ones), my passion is what drives my work, both the flow (meeting deadlines) and the quality (of the finished product).

3)   Choose Your Team Wisely – The people you work with have such a huge influence on your overall life; if you are in a position to choose your team, choose well.  If you need to, be overly critical; trust me, there is someone out there who is the perfect fit.

4)   Be Patient – I am a highly spontaneous person but I have learned the hard way that patience is definitely a virtue.  Take time to make decisions, especially the important ones and utilize people you trust to steer you in the right direction.

5)   Develop Systems – For every task there should be clearly defined procedures (systems) to ensure effective communication, administration and organization.

6)   Communicate, Communicate, Communicate – In our team meetings we discuss ways we can improve as a team and the underlying theme is always communication. 

Having reflected on the lessons learned in 2010, I’m going into 2011 with my own set of rules, my own code of conduct, to which I’m going to hold myself accountable.  As I continue to learn from my experiences, I will continue to share my “rules” for business and encourage you to share yours with me - What did you learn in 2010 and how will you apply your own rules to life?

Keep smiling~
Mac