Gracie Communications

by Lisa Sirkin Vielee

8 years. 151,840 days. (That’s like 56 in dog years, people.)

That’s how long Gracie Communications has been in business. Sometimes I feel each and every one of those days. Other times, I feel like we are just getting started.

Considering that only 40% of the businesses that started in 2005 alongside ours have survived, I’m feeling pretty lucky. When you consider that more small businesses have “died” than been started since 2007, I think I may have to go buy a lottery ticket this week.

To commemorate our 8-year anniversary, here are 8 of the observations that I’ve made as a small business owner in the past 151,840 days:

1. When you start out and another small business owner tells you that you’ll work twice as much on the business as in the business in the first few years, they aren’t kidding.

2. Don’t overthink things. Just get started.

3. You can get more work done when you work from home. Or you can spend all day on Facebook. Be disciplined with your time.

4. The hardest part of small business ownership is making time for training opportunities and professional development.

5. Don’t underestimate your value. According to a PRSA study cited on SoloPR, most solo public relations practitioners were making less than a senior account executive in a PR firm. The same is true for many industries.

6. You can’t do it all. Go ahead, try to figure out corporate tax code. Then call me, I have an excellent CPA.

7. One of my mentors told me to surround myself with people smarter than me. Best advice ever. Not only does it keep you humble and help you make better decisions, it makes you look smart by association.

8. There is no sweeter moment than opening the first check that you earned All. By. Yourself.

Thank you to all our clients, partners, friends and colleagues who have made the past 8 years so much fun. Here’s to day 151,841 and beyond!

Last week I was reminded of a valuable lesson about being an entrepreneur.

You don’t always have to do it yourself.

I was helping my youngest daughter, Helen, work her stand at Lemonade Day Indianapolis’ kick-off event. She’s been a part of Lemonade Day from the start and I am wildly proud that she has made all the decisions, secured the venue. picked the charity beneficiary, and designed the booth all by herself.  She was pretty proud too, until she heard that her total revenue was way under the other kick-off event participants.

This wasn’t a case of the other kids having Daddy Did It All Syndrome (for the most part). The real difference was the other kids found locations using the resources of the Lemonade Day organizers. They were inside when we were out in the rain last year. They were working with corporate office support and marketing efforts.

Helen and I talked all the way home about what she was going to do differently at this May’s event. She is still going to raise money for Joy’s House, but she is going to get help from the organizers in picking a higher-traffic location. She is going to go to one of the preparation workshops. And she is going to borrow ideas she learned from the other kids at the event, including adding some entertainment to draw people in.

My 10-year-old’s story reminds me of my own (and many others in business for themselves). Entrepreneurs go into business for themselves to fulfill a lifelong passion or a dream. They’ve always wanted to be their own boss. To make the rules. They are excited every day to get to work. It is their great idea or unique way of providing a service and no one is going to tell them what to do or how to do it.

Here’s the rub. When you do it all yourself, you miss out on others’ great ideas on how to make your great idea even better.

Who should you be partnering with, listening to and emulating in your business?

Last Tuesday, I dreamt of flashing yellow lights. When I woke up the next morning, I was sure the dream was a warning of ominous things to come. I must have really been in tune with the cosmos because the next 24 hours were plain lousy. Rather than cowering under my desk, I reminded myself of my three philosophies of small business ownership.  (more…)

I have been reading a lot about patience lately. In this hyper-connected, 24-hour news cycle world, it seems patience is becoming a virtue rarely practiced. Yet countless business coaches continue to emphasize the importance of time and perseverance. I couldn’t agree more. (more…)