We did it! The Pedestal Group crossed the 5 year mark on January 2, 2014. Six years ago if you had told me I would be here, doing this, I would have laughed at you. I enjoyed working in an office with people all around. I enjoyed having a supervisor and sales people who (to some degree) dictated what needed to be done. And I enjoyed being able to take vacations.
What I didn’t know was I could really enjoy working from home. That was a big adjustment but I now find the quiet is very productive and being alone, if there are times I need a break, it is easy to take one without people looking at me funny. I thought being alone would be difficult as well and then I realized how much time in an office I wasted every day because it is so easy to get caught up in what other people are doing. So that’s been fun to find out as well.
I made a couple commitments to myself when I opened that I have stuck to and I’m proud of that. I have never made a cold call. While that may seem short-sighted, every customer I have gained I have a real relationship built. It means I keep them longer and it is stronger than other consultants. If I “lose” a client, it is typically something we both wanted or the person calling it a loss doesn’t understand. For instance, I have a client who was in a networking group and went with the group’s web person to redo their site. I didn’t lose the client, in fact today we are working together more than ever. But before she ever made the move we discussed it. That’s what I call a good client relationship!
Another of my commitments was to always be marketing. When I worked at the franchisor I used to get on the owners to always be marketing. So how could I look them in the face if I didn’t do it now? I am proud to say that for the last five years I have done a minimum of 20 hours a month in marketing. While that may not be enough and it doesn’t include travel time, etc. etc. etc. at the end of the day I can happily say I have been able to manage marketing through good times and bad. And if I can do it, so can everyone else!
Finally, I promised myself I would always be me. Working for other people you have to represent them and their brand. While I never did anything to compromise my principles or ethics, I certainly had to represent ideas I didn’t necessarily agree with or present an image that was more them than me. I’m proud to say I am now me and the people I work with get that. They know (to some degree) who am I and what they will get. Love that!
So thank you to everyone who has been a part of The Pedestal Group for the last five years in whatever way you have been there. May this just be the beginning!
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