Before heading into 2017, take a quick look back for all those lessons learned!

On Facebook there is a post that says, “This is what 2016 was for me” and then shows a video of someone tumbling down a steep hill bouncing off of trees rolling forever. This year has been chaotic for most (election) and also one where I know many who lost parents, friends and family (bringing great sadness). Many feel drained and ready to leave 2016 behind.

I am in the category where the time ahead in life is shorter than the time looking back! I say that not to be depressing but to be intentional with my life and my business.  That also puts me older than most in my industry, and I need to highlight the strengths of my experience and perspective. Using self-awareness to understand who my ideal customers are in growing my business.

Here are my three lessons from 2016 for my business

1. Coaching is often more important in the process of creating a website than the actual designing process.
2. Search Engine Optimization (tactics that get a website found without paying for ads) wins over a pretty site every time.
3. Matching the right tools to the right clients is key.

And some other observations and approaches to business

I want to be elegant in life and business. What I mean by that is to be graceful, dignified, and also concise and simple. Having tendencies to try too hard, I believe words have great power.  Power to influence each one of us. Taking the time to understand what people are saying beyond the words they use! Communicating better. Looking for different perspectives.

Valuing people and relationships and knowing when to get away from the computer. Real life is not on Facebook or in the number of likes to a post. Taking the time to take care of myself through exercise and eating right. In reality, time spent there is most important.

And finally, do not worry!

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Mathew 6: 25-34

Thank you to the many people I have met and worked with through my business in 2016. It has been a good year. And look forward to what is ahead entering into 2017!