Happy Anniversary!!
What a Year its Been
Well, this February (2021) marks one year for AME Consulting. As I write this, I think back on the last year and count my many blessings that I have received. Let’s be clear, it was not all wonderful. I began the year with leaving my corporate position and quickly made the decision that after all these years of not having the time to do what I wanted, I would finally get around to starting my business. It had been a dream on mine for many years, but other things always seemed to get in the way. Off I went with the research on what I needed to do to start a small business. I was so excited and set off full speed, having no idea, but I was determined as this was my time! The business got registered, I bought myself items for my new office and began to figure out how to market myself. As you know I am in the HR Consulting business, but I am also a Certified Coach, that was going to be my focus. I spent many, I mean many weeks building my website (because it just was not good enough after 30 so tries, lol), so I kept at it. I reviewed the many stock photos offered, but none of them represented who I was and what I had to offer, so it took me some time to figure that out. I finally landed on something because I really needed to launch it and get myself out there. Oh, and by the way, I still mess around and change things to this day on the site. I discovered the small business center in my community and tapped into their wisdom and offerings and I was on my way. I began conversations with a couple of clients who had some work they wanted me to do and I was ready. Then the lockdown came! Those clients now had other things to do with their own businesses and I was left hanging… for months as it turned out. I have written that originally, I thought 2020 was the worse time for anyone to begin a business, with all the uncertainty about the virus and all we still did not… do not know about it. Everyone was too busy to speak with me about my business offering and I was not allowed to go into workplaces do any work. How was I going to get my business up and running in this climate?
The journey had many rough days as I navigated with the rest of the world through the pandemic. February 2020 was the beginning of uncertainty, many of us had no concept of how it would change our lives, and for some, permanently. Like everyone else, I learned to adapt. Although not new to virtual meetings, I now had to get used to virtual everything!! Working from home became the norm for many of us, and still is to this day, and for the foreseeable future until we get this virus spread under control. My concerns went from how to get my business out there to figuring out my Zoom background, working with a headset or earplugs all day, and screen sharing. Oh, and my spotty internet… living rural is not great for internet, I cannot tell you how many meetings were interrupted due to the low bandwidth. It was definitely an interesting journey!
Fast forward one year later and things are becoming more and more normal in the virtual, pandemic world. The business is thriving… ok those my words, I am a glass ½ full kind of girl, and like to see the positive in everything. But to be completely honest, the work has picked up and I am super busy. I have had the pleasure of working for a few businesses now offering HR consulting services and have coached some incredible people this past year. I must give credit to the amazing support I received from my family and my community of colleagues, businesses in the Quinte area, and many others. Thank you all for sticking with me, looking forward to seeing what year two has to offer.