30 Years Later, I Went Back to Class

Thirty years ago, I took my first small business class.

At the time, I was at a very different place in my life and career. I had no idea where the next 30 years would take me, how much I would learn along the way, or that one day I would be building and growing a business of my own.

Several weeks ago, I decided it was time for a refresher and signed up for Start Smart Grow Smart, a small business class offered through the Maricopa Small Business Development Center.

The class is really designed for startups and people who are learning the fundamentals of starting and running a business.

Technically, that's not me. But I decided to take it anyway. And WOW… I am so glad I did!

Sometimes a Refresher Is Exactly What You Need

I've been in business for years. I've spent decades working in marketing, design, production, management, and now entrepreneurship. I've written business plans, managed budgets, priced products, marketed businesses, reviewed financials, and learned plenty of lessons the hard way.

But one of the biggest things this class reminded me is that there is ALWAYS more to learn, and sometimes there is a better or easier way to do something you already know how to do.

Take creating a business plan.

The basic content really hasn't changed that much since I wrote my first one nearly 30 years ago. I even created another one about nine years ago. But the way this class broke down the process made it so much simpler to understand and create.

I found myself thinking, Where was this 30 years ago?! Where was this 8 years ago?!

The class also broke down financials, profit and loss reports, balance sheets, pricing products and services, marketing, and so much more.

These aren't necessarily brand-new concepts to me. But hearing them explained differently, looking at them through the eyes of the business owner I am today, and applying them to where I want my business to go next was incredibly valuable.

Working Smarter Moving Forward

Probably my biggest takeaway wasn't one specific lesson. It was realizing there are things I can do better. Heck, even starting this blog series came of the class. I had all this in my head, and putting it into a blog, this class showed me how to use it as a marketing tool. 

There are also more efficient ways to handle certain parts of my business. There are ways to improve productivity. There are areas where we can be more cost-effective. And there are things I've simply done the same way for years because… well, that's how I've always done them.

Sometimes you need someone to present an idea differently to make you stop and think:

Why AM I doing it this way?

That has been the real value of this class for me.

It opened my eyes to different ways of doing things and gave me new ideas for how I want to operate and grow moving forward.

Making Time to Invest in Myself

As a small business owner, one of the easiest things to say is, “I don't have time.”

There is always something that needs to be done. Orders need to be completed. Emails need to be answered. Customers need help. Equipment needs attention. Marketing needs to happen. And somewhere in between all of that, you're supposed to find time to actually work on your business instead of constantly working in it. Oh, all while still TRYING to run a household, raise a special needs child, juggle his therapy and schedule, and manage a non-profit organziation.

Taking this class meant intentionally making time for something that wasn't an immediate deadline or customer order.

I made time to invest in myself and my business. And I'm really proud of myself for doing that.

Thirty Years Later, I'm Still Learning

The person sitting in that first small business class 30 years ago isn't the same person sitting in one today.

Today, I have decades of real-world experience to connect to what I'm learning. I can immediately think about how a lesson applies to an actual customer, product, expense, process, or challenge we're facing. And sometimes experience can actually make going back to the basics even more valuable.

I walked into that Start Smart Grow Smart thinking class I was getting a refresher. Instead, I walked out inspired, energized, and looking at my business differently.

I'm thinking about where we can improve. Where we can become more productive. Where we can save money. Where we can better understand our numbers. Where we can streamline processes. And where we need to make changes to prepare for the next stage of growth.

It turns out going “back to basics” doesn't mean you're starting over. Sometimes it means you're taking everything you've learned along the way and figuring out how to do it even better.

Never stop learning. Never stop growing. And never stop investing OR believing in yourself. ❤️