Monthly update from Go Green Go: Challenges, Goals, Accomplishments!
What are the challenges, goals and accomplishments that a new business like Go Green Go faces? Sometimes the challenges, goals and accomplishments are all the same thing! Example - Decision Making! Last month I wrote about the decision making process that I went through while developing the company. The longer that I continue to develop the company, I realize that decision making will always be a part of the process. The challenge is to make decisions, the goal is to make decisions and the accomplishment is that decisions were made. Then we start all over again with a new set of circumstances. I’m probably not telling you anything you don’t already know! One of the decisions that I committed to early on in the development of the company was that this was going to be a “Grassroots” type of company.
Decision to be a “Grassroots” Company!
Great! – So what does that mean? It can mean many different things to many different people. To me it means “not going into debt to start this company”. After all, the motivation to start Go Green Go was to be able to fund WorkcampNE. (The non-profit organization that provides home repairs to the elderly, disable and under-resourced in New England.)
What good would it do to have a huge amount of debt that would need to be paid off before any profit could go to Workcamp? None!
So, it means using free, or almost free, resources that are available to start the company. It means months and months of laying groundwork, networking and just plain connecting with and talking to people. So, how does this look in the business world? It looks SLOW and it feels SLOW. But that is the way it’s going to be and that is what I’m committed to.
Effects of the IDEA CAFÉ grant!
Winning the IDEA CAFÉ grant has allowed me to go forward with my “grassroots” business plan. How have I used the money? I hired an artist to put my ideas onto paper and design the first T-shirt in the series of eco-friendly activities. I compensated a student to revamp parts of the web page (I use Go Daddy – Website Tonight - $4.95/month) and I contracted a screen printer to produce the first few batches of shirts. Finally, I’ve joined a few organizations to help promote the company, one of which is “New Hampshire Made” (www.nhmade.com).
Oh, I almost forgot that 10% of the grant money went directly to WorkcampNE.
Along the way, I have incurred a few small expenses – but, from day 1, with each T-shirt that sells 10% of the profit goes to Workcamp. Those in need cannot wait until I reach a certain “sales level” before I donate to Workcamp – they need the help now!
What Challenges and Goals does Go Green Go face next?
I think it would be fair to say that the next greatest challenge that I will face is that of being PATIENT. Waiting, waiting, and a little more waiting for “things” to happen – but that’s part of the game that I’m willing to play – the benefits will far out way the sacrifices.
I will be patient, I will be patient, I will be patient….I will, I will, I will….until next time remember
Together We Can Make a Difference!
Susan Jenkins is the founder of Go Green Go, a T-shirt business that promotes eco-friendly activities, such as walking, hiking, biking, sailing, etc. To learn more, visit http://justgogreengo.com/.
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