I’m home. Actually, I’ve been home in Nebraska for a little over a week now. It’s good to be back, and it’s been a whirlwind of business and family. My apartment includes a cozy, cottage-like office with a glasstop L-shaped desk and beautiful white bead-and-board walls. I bought a new set of speakers for my iPhone, and I connect to Pandora for hours a day as I work away at my new projects. When I feel like it, I head out to the patio, where I enjoy the company of my parents in their paradise yard. I’ve gained at least a half dozen new clients since I arrived back in Nebraska–some here, and some in exotic places like Los Angeles, Connecticut and Rhode Island. I’m busier than a one-armed paperhanger, but happy as can be. I’m really getting some momentum going with the assignments, the work, and the pay. I can see more of it as the next couple of months unfold. I’ll be testing writers, setting up systems and beginning some serious marketing. I’ve had a lot of help getting to this point, and I’d like to acknowledge some of my colleagues who have helped.
1. My brother, Brad Foster, safety procedures writer for EPCO, a natural gas pipeline company in Houston.
If it hadn’t been for my brother and business colleague, I might easily have given up my business. After my children left home, I wasn’t sure why I was working so hard anymore. I didn’t feel passionate about my work after so many years of doing the same thing. I actually hated some of what I’d felt I had to do over the years. Brad helped me find my passion and organize my thoughts, so I could begin an exploration of what is meaningful in my life–meaningful enough to sustain a business for the long-term. He also is the one who recommended looking into a course with Chet Holmes, which turned out to be a huge boon to my expansion.
2. My sister, Karen Beaman, welding instructor at Southeast Community College and former owner of Foster’s Commercial Cleaning.
Everyone should have a personal go-to friend and counselor like my sister. Her wisdom, support and creative ideas for handling the difficult situations I’ve faced are some of the only reasons I’m still sane. She owned her own business for years, and put into place some principles that I am determined to follow, including paying your people well to get their best performance and taking a high road of integrity in all things. She also works like a dog, and she’s my hero.
3. Steve Maly, owner of Maly Marketing in Lincoln, Nebraska, and expert in online and social media marketing. www.malymarketing.com
I’ve known Steve six or seven years, and he has been a terrific partner in business growth. We studied together with Chet Holmes and Tony Robbins, and our businesses have paralleled one another in many ways. As lone operators until we both began bringing others on board this year, we often have shared ideas, offered encouragements and kept each other from making mistakes. We’ve acted as accountability partners–and we’ve also brought one another business from other sources. It’s a perfect mentor/colleague arrangement, and one that other lone operators could mimic.
4. Jason Peterson, owner of Turbine Interactive in Lincoln, Nebraska. www.thisisturbine.com
The transition from writer to business owner was difficult at first, and Jason was a super mentor in helping me identify what my main motivations are. We both knew my business wouldn’t last if I didn’t find an aspect of it that truly motivated me. He is the one who helped me figure out that I could use the knowledge and experience of past years to set up a semi-self-operating branch of my business, so I could explore new things. He’s also been a great one to give me insight into exactly what it is that business owners do every day.
5. Dan Sedor, co-owner of Leadership Resources in Lincoln, Nebraska, a professional development and strategic planning company with a unique program for development of people and companies. www.lrsuccess.com
I first met Dan as a student in a Leadership Resources course on personal productivity. He and his partner Boyd Ober became one of my clients, and I partook of their coaching services several times. The last time, I worked closely with Dan to draft a structure and plan for my business based on the new motivations and passions I had discovered to sustain me. Dan was exceptionally insightful in adjusting the Leadership Resources process to fit my “organic” and spontaneous style. As a result, I have a greater understanding of the ways I can harness my passion and organize my efforts from a 10,000-foot view. Perhaps most useful of all, Dan was able to convince me that my vision was viable, and that I have the skill and wherewithal to make it a reality, step by step.
6. Jill Slupe, owner of Verde Martin, a sales analyst company that helps business owners find and exploit their strengths. www.verdemartin.com
I’ve only known Jill a short time, but she is responsible for some of the most profound changes in the way I do business and the way I work each day. She helped me define my strengths and weaknesses, my sales process and a plan for approaching new prospects. She has helped me organize my efforts, so my spontaneous brain doesn’t get so lost and can see a clear path to success. In the process, I’ve gained confidence and solidified my vision. Jill is so positive, so adaptable to my quirky style, and so professional–I feel very lucky to have found her at just the right time.
There are others, of course, who have added to my life and success as a business owner, but these are extra special. I offer my undying thanks to them for setting me on a path that has made me happier than ever in my life. If you are struggling with forward momentum, look around you to see who might be willing and able to float you to the next island of accomplishment. Maybe YOU even have something to offer a family member, friend or colleague. Either way, together we’re better!
