I’ve been successful. I’ve failed. I’ve faced adversity. I’ve even faced a potential crippling injury. But, I’m still here. Yup, you betcha. I’m not dead yet (but not for a lack of trying). I have yet another opportunity to start over – and start over I will.

I realise it’s never going to be the same as it was back when I opened in 2005. And truthfully, for the rest of 2008 I’m going to struggle to catch up: physically, mentally, and business-wise.

So, how do I go about it? How do I build back up from here?

Hindsight. That’s what.

I have to start back with lessons learned.

Lesson #1
Marketing is not just having an office, a website and a cool logo. Nor is it a one-time event that will bring you a great R.O.I. It needs to be an ongoing campaign from day to day and month to month. Consistency is the key here.

Lesson #2
A business life has so many peaks and valleys, you’ll never be prepared for them all. But, with experience, you can anticipate the lows and capitalize on the highs, so you’ll have a much better chance at being successful. From my experience, Autumn is a bad time of year and I still have plenty of time to prepare. Also from my experience, I know that Summer is pretty good so I need to capitalize on those moments.

Lesson #3
It seems like such a cliché to use this phrase, but life is too short. Live in the now and know that no matter what comes, if you are breathing, you my friend are one of the richest human beings on the planet. Between my accident and other personal life occurrences I was on the verge of losing everything I own and I came to realization that “the man” can come and take every single thing I own, but “they” cannot take my life.

So now I take these three lessons and I live life to the fullest. I dream big and go after it. I under-promise and I over-deliver for each of my clients.

Half of 2008 is history, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t have time to implement my plan from the start of the year and have it carry over to 2009.

In closing, I’d like to use a quote from a book I read at the end of last year, titled, Tuesdays With Morrie:

When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.

The book surrounds the last days of a professor who taught the author during his college years. I truly believe that if you can apply your life experiences to business in a positive manner, your success can be greater than you ever expected.

Chris Tomlinson | Designer / Printer
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