Celebrating the Small Stuff
My son’s third birthday was this week, and needless to say, I went a little overboard planning a Blue’s Clues themed picnic… believe it or not, kids still love that show if you can get your hands on it.
Birthday parties are a lot of work. Child rearing in general is a lot of work, but like most parents, I’m willing to invest some serious sweat equity. My three year old does not care if baked goods are store bought or handmade, and he has no clue if the decorations and tableware coordinate… So why do I get caught up in that stuff? It’s a labor of love. You may not handcraft Handy Dandy Notebooks for your kids, but I’m sure you have some crazy methods of your own.
Owning a business is kind of like that. It requires sweat equity and a vested interest that borderlines obsession.
The Big Payoff
How can we measure our success? In the early years (of parenting or small business ownership) the rewards are not always tangible. My goal as a parent is to raise a kind and productive member of society. Your goal as a business owner is to produce a sustainable profit. The jury may still be out on both of those things… So what gets us through in the meantime?
Small Wins
The party wasn’t perfect, but fun was had... and I’m pretty proud of those Handy Dandy Notebooks. As a business owner, take time to step back and admire your good work (a creative concept, a fantastic logo, professional signage, a beautiful storefront, etc.). Small wins are still wins.
Celebrate with your Support System
Only a few children attended my son’s party. Most of the party-goers were friends of the adult variety (college buddies, co-workers, neighbors, etc.), many of whom do not yet have children of their own. Each of them took time out of their busy lives to watch kids eat cupcakes at the park, and even though it was a VERY silly day, not one of them made me feel silly about it. Thanks guys!
Like new parents, new business owners need encouragement from friends, family and the community. Celebrate with your support system. No win is too small (or silly).
You may be in need of some guidance, or you may just want someone to eat cake with at the park… either way the Rooted ID team would love to get to know your business and be a part of your support system! Email Kendall@RootedID.com to learn more.