Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I learned to slow it down, remove the clutter in my life and focus on my family.  Anyone with kids needs to read the book `Last Child in the Woods - saving our children from nature-deficit disorder`.  In the end, whether you are a kid building a tree house or an adult building a business, its critical to drop the hammer a few times from twenty feet and deviate from your plans once in awhile.  I took myself a lot less seriously this year and remember what was learned by building tree houses as a kid.

Great post Rich.

I learned to be more curious. To be geniuely interested in people. It sank in my OLD head that we are all in the human relations business, the people business. I continued on my path that believes ATTITUDE is everything. It it`s not what I want, I won`t say it. Words are previews of things to come. And I learned it is EASY for me to change.

I understand better this year that asking a lot of questions is a great thing. When I ask a lot of questions, I have an advantage. It sank in recently that people like to talk about their roots and their history. Once you get someone started with easy questions, they`ll usually find it easy to keep talking. Be curious.

I learned (and it is sticking in my mind) that I need to make everyone feel important. Always.

I learned that I actually do more for everyone I come into contact with when I do for me.

I learned the importance of ACTION. Take some kind of action every day on your most important goal. Small steps, over time, turn into giant leaps.

I learned that blogging is fun! 

R@

My first daughter I was to adopt was taken one year ago and returned by the Judge to the birthfather (we were together just over two years); the man I thought I was spending the rest of my life with found someone else; my Mom died; my friend dropped dead at age 48; and, my Sister was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer which has metastisized (she`s had surgery and will be starting chemotherapy soon).  In all of this, a new child has come into my life who I hope to adopt.

She reminds me through her sweet curiousity that a 7 month old has that life must be lived making a difference.  We can choose that. 

Have a happy holiday and, if you could, please say a prayer for my Sister Lainie.

Thank you,

Jill

I`ve learned much this year about getting quotes and samples from china.  Been very interesting.  Much different then I thought and at times extremely frustrating.  I have had to learn a new philosphy and needed to redesign product to meet process capabilities.  Very much looking forward to launching product in 2007.  It`s gonna be a great year.  Also learned that nothing happens quick.  5 years into this venture and I feel as if I`ve done nothing.  Glad I didn`t quit the day job.  Onward and upward. 

Wow...2006 was quite a year at the funcave.

The short list:

• 5 weeks off my feet = huge shift in perspective
• Co-host of an SMB-focused podcast series with over 1M downloads
• Struck out on my own

If I had to boil all the highs & lows into 1 thing I learned, it would be this...

if you don`t believe in yourself, no one else will either

Rich,

What a great post! I have learned soooo much this year...it is hard to put it all into a simple post...I will try to cut it down to the main points:

1) I learned that absolutely anything is possible. I can become an executive director of my own non-profit, my son could ACTUALLY start getting better, and my life could generally start heading in a direction that FEELS RIGHT!!

2) Like Chris said, if I don`t believe in myself...no one else will either.

3) It is very difficult to move forward if you are holding onto the past!

4) People can and do change.

5) You can make some amazing and life long friends over the internet...without ever meeting face to face (thank you SuN).

6) Like my parents always told me as a child...I CAN be anything I want to be if I just work hard at it!

I am really looking forward to this next year! I can only imagine all the great things that I will get to do and learn and experience!