3/8/2023
I think each year this is the year I’m going to make time for social media or make time for the website. I make time on my calendar to make these changes, then I sit and think what can I add to promote my business. Is it going to be worth my 60 minutes to create the posts and change the website or can I spend those 60 minutes better some place else? I think you can guess I picked something else to spend my time with. I read an email the other day from a small business owner stating that she was sorry that she can’t keep up with the creative post on social media and running her business. She was very sorry. However, they will update there website every Monday with their new stuff so please check back then or feel free to order any time. She was very appreciated that was so busy because of her customers and was strictly an on line business but she couldn’t keep everything up and had to let something go. I thought first wow she is in a pretty competitive market will this hurt her? So, I emailed her back. I said thank you. I understand this email. I also suffer from this to. I love your store and if I need something I don’t go to your social media I just go to your website to place my order. She thanked me and we wished each other the best of luck.
So, I understand each small business needs to have our name out there in the biggest brightest lights possible. However, what expensive for the business owner? Not the money amount but mentally and our time that we trying to make this happen. It’s hard making these decisions and hard to hire someone when you are a small business. Hang in there small business owners. It’s always a roller coaster ride. I love being a small business owner. I love coming to work every day even on the most challenging days.
11/9/2021
What is like to be a woman business owner in the security industry?
The security industry is currently changing. Each day there is something new to learn. I have been in the business for 26 years. Our business is in a small rural community. In the past some customers just couldn’t belive a woman could understand the security technology. I’m not going to lie I love it when a customer was wrong and I could prove it.(of course all while being polite).
On the weekends when we would get calls, they would be speaking to my husband who managed the fire protection side. He would say let me put my wife on and she can help. Many times they would repeat themselves. Yes, I’m correct my wife can help you with troubleshooting or planning your new system.
I used to go to trainings and be the only woman in the room. This was a challenge itself. It was time to stand tall and put my knowledge to good use.
Fast forward to 2021 there are more women the business. We are still working with almost all male techs but woman as salesperson. Our customers know that they can call in and speak to anyone in the office and they should be able to help them. At least to get their panel to stop screaming.
I’m thankful for other women that have joined the security industry. I love the industry and love keep learning all the new items that are being offered to the enduser.
I love seeing and hearing woman can do anything! I love setting examples for all young adults. Showing they can succeed at whatever they want to do as long as they try!
29 Years of Marriage!
Today Larry and I celebrate 29 years of marriage! It’s just not being married but working together in a family business as well. Being married for 29 years is an accomplished but working together I feel is even a bigger accomplishment. We have survived so much in our lives and we are so thankful for everything life has taught us. Managing and working for a small business is very different from work for a big company. We become family and support each of them through their ups and downs of life. We love supporting our staff and their families. We are so proud of them when they succeed at their goals.
As a business owner it becomes harder and harder to divide your time out. We don’t have a marketing team, HR, IT, purchasing, even a janitor crew. Myself included where many different hats. I have never asked my employee to do something that I wouldn’t do myself. Sometimes I’m the IT person figuring out what is wrong with our network. Other days I’m the janitor crew mopping and sweeping the floors. However, lately most of my time lately is spent doing interviews and trying to find someone to show up and want to work for 40 hours. It takes time and money to find a great candidate and then the money it cost to train an employee. Since COVID it has been harder and harder to find a fantastic employee. I’m still unsure on what really changed. It’s every industry that I speak to. We are all complaining of the same problems. I still don’t know what has changed in our society.
We think back to 15-20 years ago and when we hired someone they wanted to work. It’s not just work it’s they showed up with a positive attitude. Showed up on time. I do understand our line of work is specialized and not everyone understands it. It’s an unique and specialized field. It’s not a trade that can taught at a vocational school. However, why can’t it?
