New Year, New Goals

The new year is always a time to reflect about where we are in our lives, where we have come from, and where we want to go. This January, I enrolled in a Small Business Creation class to help me find a way to jump start my business. I have put my business on hold the past few years, only doing minimum work on it, as I was busy adjusting to my new life as a single mom. Now that I have gotten my footing, it is time for me to take back my business to where it was before and make it even better. 

One of my assignments has me reading Dave Ramsey’s book, “The Total Money Makeover.” It is a book that tells its readers that it is a “proven plan for financial fitness.” I know that it is normally a book for personal finances, but I believe it’s principles will be of great value to my business as well.  It teaches you to use the resources you have and to not go into debt. As I am getting ready to relaunch my business, it is tempting to go out and purchase new tools and glass colors. I shouldn’t do that, but instead look at what I already have and create with those supplies and tools. If I need some new tools, then I need to sell tools that I have and am not using to finance the new ones. Debt should not be an option that I consider. I would rather grow slow and be debt free.

I will also be participating in a $100 challenge in which I will take $20 and create a business or product and see how much profit I can make. The goal is at least $100 which we will donate to other small business entrepreneurs. I am finding it to be a tricky challenge, as I can’t have a “fake business” when I already have my own, so I am trying to come up with the way I can do the most good in creating the highest amount of profit to donate. I am trying to decide upon a fundraiser where I donate my profits over a specific time period, or if I create a specific product that I will donate the profits from. 

The class also asks us to keep a journal of our journey through the class as I way to help us learn and grow. I know that this will help me along my journey because it will help keep me find a way to focus my thoughts and energy into what will hopefully be the best path for me to take.