Thursday, 03.14.2002
The best business partner. I admit, my entries have been pretty sparse recently. This is mostly because I have been working on other things that will hopefully result in some financial gain -- as opposed to this site, which is basically done for love (not for myself, despite what you may think -- but for life in general and the desire to document it).

Here's what I wrote in the Blog last night as a quick recap: 

Donna: For Sale. [Blogged 03.13.2002, 10:31 PM HST] Tonight was my first business meeting in which I was tasked with having to "sell myself" to a board of about 10 officers and directors. This particular group was an alumni association with a membership of about 700+. My services ranged from web site design and newsletter publishing to mailing services, database management and personalized desktop software training. They were getting many of these services for FREE in the past (at least the newsletter publishing, mailing and database management), so trying to convince them that they needed to PAY someone (me) to do this posed quite a challenge. 

After 45-minutes on the hot seat doing my presentation and answering questions, I left them with the handouts and my brochure that I had painstakingly slaved over for the past week -- hoping for the best.

Looking at the bright side: I truly believe that no experience in life goes to waste. If the board decides to stick with the FREE services, then so be it. At least I had the experience of making a presentation to potential clients and came out relatively unscathed. With each passing experience, I will be less green and will eventually feel more comfortable trying to sell myself and my services. I need to build more confidence in this area (I hate sales) and hope that someday talking with people about my business will become second nature.

The board is now deliberating over my proposal. Keeping my fingers crossed, but leaving the outcome in God's hands. After all, Father knows best, right?

Yes, indeed, Father knows best. 

I promised myself that I would not worry needlessly over something that is out of my hands -- at least for now. The business meeting was over. I had made my presentation. In hindsight, I know that I could've said more about the benefits of the services that I was offering them; I could've emphasized the cost savings more; I could've told them more about how the web site would not only save them money -- but could actually generate money for them. Could've, would've, should've. 

There was no sense in torturing myself over something that I couldn't do anything about now. Beating a dead horse never helped anybody. It was in the Board of Directors' court now -- and ultimately, in the Lord's capable hands. Whatever happened would be in my best interest. I had confidence in that fact and was ready and willing to accept whatever the outcome would be. 

I slept quite fitfully, pondering these could've/would've/should've thoughts for only a few minutes before I fell into a peaceful slumber. (Tangent: I dreamt a vivid dream about running into Candice, my best friend during my Jr. High years and having a warm reunion with an old friend.)

Today, I went to the Big Island on business again. When I returned to my office at around 5:30 pm, I saw my voicemail light blinking. 3 new messages. The third one was from my business contact. I didn't expect her to call me back so quickly. I tried to extract the answer (yes... or no?) from the tone of her voice in  the message. "Donna, please call me when you get a chance." The message was nebulous (as Derek would say) at best. With anticipation gnawing at my stomach, I dialed her number. The phone rang four times and went to her  voicemail. I left a message, trying to sound positive and chipper, all the while wondering what the nature of the call was. Was she going to let me down easy? Was she going to tell me that I could get started on the job? I was dying to know.

I answered a few important e-mail messages at work and made some notes on my To-Do list on my Visor, then decided that it was time to go home. I made sure that my cellular phone was turned on, waiting for that call back. Yes... or no?

Just as I drove into my garage at home, my cellular phone rang. I answered it and was pleased to find that it was her. She graciously thanked me for attending the meeting last night. I was half-expecting to hear the, "...thanks, but no thanks" spiel, but was pleasantly surprised to hear the contrary. They were going to give it a try -- to "see how it goes."

I was given a chance to prove myself! I had to quiet my excitement as I continued the conversation with her and answered some of her other questions. I knew that the products that I would provide to the organization within the next month would be crucial to the continuation of my services to them. I hoped to exceed their expectations and prayed that this was just the beginning of things to come.

I became even more excited at the prospect of actually getting my business off the ground. What started out as a distant dream, a brilliant brainstorm (thanks, Arnold!) -- is looking more and more viable, slowing inching its way into reality. 

Of course, I won't be overly optimistic, but hope to be objectively realistic. I know that clients never come pounding down your door; instead, they must be sought out.  Business will come slowly and not without hard work and perseverance. This is something that I will need to keep in mind when discouragement threatens to hamper my spirits and squelch  my excitement for the business.

I am thankful to the Lord for this opportunity. Without his help, surely I wouldn't even have gotten started in this endeavor. I continue to entrust this to him, knowing that he is the best business partner one could ever ask for.

.top.

::Byte Me::
Breakfast: None
Lunch: Oyster Sauce [battered & fried] Chicken with [crispy] Cake Noodle (Not quite what I was expecting when I ordered it!)
Dinner: Miso soup, salad, and teriyaki chicken

::Bits 'n' Bytes::
Moving: All over the Kona side of the Big Island (*ahem* In a car, mind you.)
Feeling: Optimistic & so blessed
Hearing: The sound of my hard drive crunching as my anti-virus software does a full scan in search of virulent activity.
Tasting: Oolong Tea served cold and a Slim Fast Peanut Butter Crunch Snack bar
Pondering: Praise God! He's so good to me! :)

::Gratitudes::
Today, I'm thankful for God's hand of protection over us during our travels.

::God Thoughts::
I drove all the way home, listening to Pastor Ralph Moore (Hope Chapel Kaneohe) on KLHT-1040 AM talk about showing "acceptance, love, and forgiveness" to all people -- even what he called "those people" that you normally don't want to associate with because of your stigmas about race, social status, or lifestyle. He challenged his congregation and radio listeners to realize that Jesus died for everyone, not just the well-to-do, the attractive, the well-educated. Everyone. And we, as Christians, are to extend acceptance, love and forgiveness -- just as Jesus extended this to us. Sometimes this is easier said than done. We all have our own personal prejudices. Overcoming them is the difficult part, but it's so necessary in order to live in such a way that is pleasing to God. 

::Show your Love::
Please be a dear and  indulge yourself in a few grains from the rice bowl before you leave. Your clicks help to rank me higher on the Rice Bow Journal directory and that makes me happy. :)