Carpenter Leadership is 1!

It's been one year of Carpenter Leadership Consulting!

Here are some lessons I learned over the past 365 days:

• You don't need it to be perfect before you start. Are there days when I still feel like I am building the boat while sailing?  Absolutely. Early on, I focused on talking to people instead of focusing on getting materials and the website perfect. I promise that you do not need business cards on day 1.

• It's all about making connections. People are incredibly generous with their time and advice.  Others gave me valuable advice early on and spent so much time with me. I talked to so many people! It was exactly what I needed to do at the start. If you are one of those people who were willing to talk and give advice, thank you.

• Your clients don't know you exist if you don't reach out to them. Pick up the phone.  Send the email. Keep reaching out. Does everyone email me back? They do not. (But they should!) Does it stop me from reaching out again? No.

• Embrace failing. Not every proposal is accepted or every client is a perfect fit.  It's an opportunity to iterate and reflect and try again. There were a couple of times this year when I didn't get a job that would have been nice for the bottom line. But upon reflection, it wouldn't have been a good fit for me for a variety of reasons. You won't win every job. It's a great opportunity to get better.

• Surround yourself with like-minded people. As a solopreneur, I need people I can bounce things off of.  If I wondered what platform someone was using or where they learned something, I had people to ask. Same thing when I needed to debrief a call with someone. Find your people since it can be lonely otherwise.

• Keep learning. There continues to be a lot I don't know and ways I want to keep learning.  Continue to read. I also joined a coaching certification program while launching a business. And I am so glad I did. It's pushed me in ways I hadn't considered and has helped me be a better coach for my clients.

• Say yes. Did I end up doing things this year that I didn't expect? Yes. I was interviewed on podcasts, did consulting work with other consultants, and made the leap into retreat facilitation.  Again, it's about making connections.

I cannot wait to see what year 2 brings!