I was just reading an article on Inc.com called “12 Things You Need to Really Get Rid of in the Next 12 Months.” #3 leapt off the page at me, but not entirely for the reasons the author likely intended.
Stop thinking you’re on your own.
When friends and family have asked me in recent months what I do now that I left my full-time job at a university, I typically respond by saying “I’m on my own now, consulting.” That couldn’t be the furthest thing from the truth. Yes, I am consulting. Sure, I am my own boss (when my clients are the boss of me). 🙂 I don’t have employees. I am single. I don’t have children. I live alone. However, I am anything but on my own.
This fall I decided to start my own company and offer consulting services in marketing and communications to higher education and small businesses in large part because of the community and network I have been privileged to be part of for twenty years. This is a community like no other. I have friends at various institutions and companies around the country who have been so kind to reach out, take a call from me, and connect me to others in their network. Because of them (you, since you’re reading this!), I have had a very successful and happy first several months as an official LLC. My many strong leads for the new year are from this incredible network.
So, I’ll repeat it again — I am anything but on my own now. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Thank you to my close friends and family members who have stuck by me and supported me through this crazy journey of a year. Thank you all for being part of my early success as a consultant. Cheers to a happy, peaceful 2016, full of projects and opportunities that make us flourish.
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