Times Have Changed

As a small business owner, do you ever feel like you'll never know what it will take to change with the times and stay in business?

We all go through those tough spells of heart ache when everything in life feels impossible. Especially, in a small business owner's life when the world sits on your shoulders. You don't want to answer the phone and you don't want to pack your own lunch before work. Just last month you had all the motivation you needed to get through the day, but now days, it's feeling pretty hopeless.

You aren't alone my friend, I have been involved in a small family business for a long enough to know that sometimes being in a small business sucks. It's all on your shoulders and it's all up to you. How long have you been at work anyways?

Times Have Changed

Not only does the daily buzz of life in a small business get overwhelming it can be downright  de-motivating to continue your small business. The way of marketing and getting business has changed way too fast for most people. Lucky this new generation is to have grown up with the buttons, knobs, screens and keyboards. Most reliable service businesses that have been around for over 20 years, have owners that have been alive for 40. And most aren't quite sure how to keep up with all the changes just in the last 5 years alone!

We see the way that advertising works in our world, how Taco Bell meets Doritos and McDonalds has their little monopoly game and children's Happy Meals with the free toy. But how in the world do you make your small business more exciting and new?

There's so much talk about Facebook and this concept of Social Media Marketing, but where in the world do you start when you can barely even manage a website or email account?

I Can Relate

Well, hi. I'm that too-smart-techy grand daughter that comes over and helps you send a stupid email or pay a bill online because it's required. I grew up in a business that didn't want to change or grow. Times changed too fast while life was throwing wide, hard curve balls at the family. When it came down to crunch time down the road, the preparation had not been done to adequately improve the business to today's standards to stay in business. So here I am.

What If…

I can't help but wonder what would have happened if someone like me had come along and knocked on my grandparent's door and offered to help explain the basics of how the world of doing business has changed in the last 5-10 years so dramatically. If someone could have said, "I know you know nothing about Facebook, but this is what you need to know to get started and here is some information and resources to learn more. It's very important." Or someone to have to them that Yellow Pages Printed Ads are just, not the way to go anymore... To explain the importance of getting a structured website up and running properly for clients. 

Someone other than the business partner, husband or granddaughter involved.

What if this person was only around for a short time? No long term contracts or fees, just briefly visited to teach and inspire a small business owner once again?

Would you, as a small business owner, take that help to improve your business and inspire your life? Could you stand to be innovative and creative in your business plan and life dreams?

Would you?
Please, leave your thoughts behind and make a difference.

Read More...

In my journey through discovering the destination of my family's business, I picked up the book The E-Myth Revisited : Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Micheal E. Gerber. 

This book helped to give me guidance and learn about myself through my business. What the changes that needed to happen in myself and my future business, as well as how to do those things. It is easy to read and the narration follows a business woman and an adviser conversational relationship. It's really a huge step in opening yourself up to the possibilities of your business. And you'll know what you will start to have to do to get to success in your small business.

Introduction ! Who Are You?

Hey, I'm Caylene Hornibrook!

There's always those kinds of girls that aren't girly, but are totally unaware of how much of a girl she really is? That's me. I have always had a good number of close male friends growing up and most often was in a long term relationship. (Think Donna from That 70's Show, I'm even a redhead!) 

Like now, I have been with Bowden for over four years now. I'm keeping him! I have been a go-to person for relationship advice, life resolutions and sometimes techy computer/online/website/research help from those who know of my interests in this, those who know me best. 

I spy with my little eye someone...

I'm a natural red head so you can imagine the Fire Lady I can be when I'm passionate about something. I'm also an Aquarius, so my motivation for helping people and spreading word through advising, really turns my soul on.

I see things better big picture. My brain doesn't hold single images well, I have an easier time seeing things from many different angles. I also happen to believe I am blessed and cursed with an ability to feel people, sense peoples inner feelings and in return, feel them myself. Or maybe it's something everybody has? But that's a different story. 

I grew up with a separated family. I grew up with Dad in Washington, while my mother and two younger sisters live in California. Thus since I was 10 years old, I've traveled a lot. I was highly exposed to the world yet, kept and influenced by a caring, Christian, and separated family. I realize now as an adult, that this lead me to become highly adaptable. Which has had it's confusing and troublesome feelings about 'who I am' and when. 

In the recent years I have spent even more time traveling and exploring the world. I feel that I have accomplished a path to Spirituality within myself and my way of life. Thus, I have found faith. I also have realized how endless my potential in this life can be, if I want it bad enough. 

Being Actively Alternative

I realize that to some, but not all, of the outside world (everything other than myself), may consider my way of life, spirituality, way of business, composure and appearance is completely Alternative. And I hope that they do, because it is. As you follow, I'm sure it will come out in the articles and photos. Hopefully people understand my love for the world, and for people. That my self expression is because of my past experiences, just like their own has lead them to believe a different perspective. I love this above people. So hopefully I can make people think, learn, explore and express. 

Hopefully.

? Questions ?

But what do I want?

I have an idea & a will. But where is the way?

Why has life lead me here?

Where to next?

How?

What to Expect

My passions behind the blog experience...

Since my early high school years, I was a personal journal writer on LiveJournal.com and often was part in communities. Because of my family's small business, I was also the HTML website creator and all of it's content, in 2006 (8th-9th grade) until 2013. My father and I loved to spend time together hiking and photographing nature as well, interests in Photoshop and online sharing was of high interest to me as well.

I became the Office Assistant for my grandparent's carpet cleaning small business (one truck) which I worked for off and on for the last 6 years. Reorganizing, systematizing, structuring, processing and finally recently it all came to a climax. I almost became the owner. Although I believe I could have done it successfully, my passion is not to be a carpet cleaning company owner. 

I have a passion behind me for small businesses and most members of my related family have been in business for themselves. Some successful, some not. My experiences are leading me in a direction to help more small businesses. And I want to be in business for myself... So what's going to happen?

Last updated this entry 9/9/13

FOLLOW AND FIND OUT
Please, leave your words of hurt at the door, and bring forth words of encouragement.