2011 is coming to a close and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have another year over as a business owner.  The past year has been interesting and BUSY to say the least.  I would like to think I have had my fair share of failures in the past year as a business owner and in my personal life.  (I’ve been told to call them “learning lessons” so going forward I will.) Although I have learned, and implemented what I learned, I continue to find it difficult not to dwell on my learning lessons.  I am including a list of learning lessons as a way for me to get them out and move on.  Here it goes!

 

I have learned…

my initial instinct is to micromanage.

I want things to be perfect.

the 2 points above make me a not-so-perfect boss.

centerpiece mockups should be done (FREE of charge) for even medium sized events.

I can’t work 80 hour weeks and expect to cook dinner every night.

I can’t work 80 hour weeks and have a decent relationship with my husband, family or friends.  Sorry everyone!

Heck! I can’t even work 80 hour weeks and keep my sanity.

my hands don’t need to be in everything when it comes to daily operations of the shop; everyone is perfectly capable of functioning without me.

I don’t like selling; I would much rather give.

I didn’t meet my goals for 2011 (probably because I don’t like selling.)

I like to bite off more than I, or my small shop, can chew…pretty sure I get this from my mom.

there is a specific dollar amount that the shop can handle with its current size and maintaining quality standards.

the dollar amount must be enforced.  Sorry Brides, we do get booked and must turn business away.

bringing on more people to “help” doesn’t always help.

I’m much cheaper than my customers.

I have tried to make things cheaper to the detriment of my customer’s satisfaction.

I have priced and sold product below the cost of creating them.

weddings and events get cancelled.

rented items get broken or do not get returned.

the 2 points above mean I should have a contract.

I CAN’T DO EVERYTHING ON MY OWN.

candelabras that appear to be made for taper candles are not always made for taper candles.

dripless candles drip with a small breeze.

even though we verify table counts the week of an event, far too often there are more tables when we arrive to set up.

flowers don’t always arrive to us as I ordered.

petals will not stay on an aisle when there is a breeze.

even though I don’t like baby’s breath used in the traditional way a LOT of customers do.

I realize that there are many more learning lessons to come but I really hope that I got through a large chunk of them this year.  I would like to say sorry to everyone who has experienced any of my learning lessons and THANK YOU to all of those that have stuck with me, supported me and the shop, and kept me going when I didn’t think I could go anymore.

I am excited for the upcoming year and I have lots of plans and goals that I WILL follow through with.

Thank you for a wonderful year filled with learning lessons.