What a difference year makes huh? This is our "girls" photo from our recent staff meeting....ya that would be the one where we all patted ourselves on the back about how smoothly everything was going...then we had a big glitch the NEXT DAY!! I knew that was going to happen though, I heard the voice in my head say, or yell "DON'T JINX IT"...again, thanks Oprah, I know I know!! (see next post for the "guys" that work here photo)
So, this 2006 photo is taken exactly a year ago at our "JPD Open House".
What a difference a year makes, Three people from the photo are no longer here, there was actually one other artist missing from the 2006 photo who has also left the company.
JPD has grown; we have stayed the same; we have changed procedures; we do somethings over and over again....We continue to add sales channels, expand our line and to explore new revenue channels. We hire new people, we change job descriptions, we laugh and we cry (okay we all know who is doing the most crying).
Mostly looking back at a photo taken last year reminds me of how far we have come and it makes me wonder what 2007 has to offer:
Biggest Improvement:
Get out the conch shell, or the horn or something that sounds important, drum roll please.........The office can run itself without me, no no I swear it's true! Things chug along quite well without me due to my blackberry I am sure....great, fantastic employees and a fearless leader? No, uh last one I am a little biased on. But I actually own a business, I do NOT think the business owns me (though it used to).
Biggest Change:
Production & Processes were changed drastically and streamlined, improved would be more like it. The way we produce our products has greatly improved. You can NOT rub anything off the tile. We do NOT hand paint. It is a time less keepsake for families to cherish...
Worst Thing:
Mostly, I miss everyone that used to work here, I want to call them or email them when something new happens. I want to tell them, "Hey remember that person?" or "You will never believe who wants to carry our products now?" Even though everyone who has crossed through this door, or my garage door has moved on.......I am still here. In fact I should really get up, I have not moved my butt in hours in fact.
The last one, the only one, I am still here! Which brings me to a song I heard (or a speech put to music) on the radio the other day...Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen by Mary Schmich http://www.bondon.com/sunscreen_song.html
"Understand that friends (or co-workers) come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle (or work style), because the older you get, the more you need the people (or co-workers) who know you when you were young (or successful)."
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