Normally, when clients contact the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, a common reason to schedule a meeting with a consultant is to facilitate the creation of a business plan, financial projections, and the associated written assumptions to projections. In tandem with this sort of technical assistance, it is common for clients to discuss matters related to financing, with conversations often delving into alternative financing options.
Miguel Atkinson, an experienced tool and die maker from Flint, knows firsthand that it’s one thing to work for someone else — and it’s another to be your own boss. He had always wanted to own his own shop, so when the shop owners he had worked for for several years decided to retire, Miguel decided to acquire the business. He realized, however, that he needed counsel to secure the capital needed to do so. Miguel reached out to the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance, who referred him to the Michigan SBDC where he met Senior Business Consultant Harry Blecker.
At Taylor Flower Patch, our story is one of passion, perseverance, and the power of community support. I’m Jenny Campbell, co-owner of this beautiful flower farm nestled in the heart of Taylor, Mississippi, just south of Oxford. Today, I want to share how the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) transformed our dream into a thriving reality.
Gardening has always been more than just a hobby for me—it’s a way to connect with the earth and bring joy to others. When my husband and I purchased our property, we knew we wanted to create something special. With encouragement from my husband and sister, I began to see the potential of turning my love for flowers into a sustainable business.
By Barbara Nuss, CPA
Profit Soup
“Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important. The urgent pressures us daily, while the important waits patiently. ”
Congratulations! Your team just completed its first-ever strategic planning day. The creative ideas flowed freely. The team set challenging performance goals, created a plan to address two big structural issues and chose one exciting new opportunity to develop. Everybody exchanged high-fives at the end of the day.
It’s one thing to have a vision and another to create sustained change, especially when we find ourselves back in the familiar fray of life in a closely held business. It’s easy to slip into the old routines and let the tyranny of our urgent day-to-day problems crowd out our important long-term goals. Unless you change things up, before you know it the year will have passed, and your retreat goals will be a distant memory.
Here are 7 steps to build and maintain traction towards your big important goals.