Dear ABMInsider,
Did you know my business partner – Tonia Hutton – and I have been leading Atlantic Business Magazine for FIVE years already? I know, right? That went by in a blink.
The accelerated passage of time is a very real thing for us. One minute, it’s January and the next thing you know, you’re counting down to Christmas.
Here we are, December 3, with the January 2025 issue already behind us, including the Readers’ Choice Awards for Best B2B Services AND Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada. The March issue is staring me in the face, judges are busy assessing the 2025 Most Powerful Women in Business Award nominees and the deadline for May’s Top 50 CEO awards has passed.
And that’s just the beginning of what 2025 has in store.
In between the July issue with Atlantic Canada’s Employers of Diversity, September’s resource development focus and November’s special edition Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame Legacy Project (micro investments in youth-driven enterprise!), we’ll also organize and host the annual ICE regional marketing awards.
It’s a lot. Taking a deep breath here before I dive into today, I’m reminded of the surprising lessons I’ve learned since becoming a business co-owner. Surprising to me, that is… probably old hat to every other entrepreneur out there.
- Never, EVER say you can’t do more. Don’t let it fester as a thought. Put a boarder wall across it in your mind. And whatever you do, Gentle Divine, don’t say it out loud – the Fates WILL accept that dare with a smirking ‘hold my beer’. I used to think my days were full with six magazines and one gala event a year. And they were. If you had asked me then to take on one more project, I would have said I couldn’t possibly do any more. But somehow I must have managed to fit more hours in the
day because now I’m taking care of six magazines, managing five unique competitions (meetings! nominations! followup! judges!), helping to plan and deliver three award shows (meetings! menus! scripts! décor!), payroll, bookkeepers, janitorial, public relations, communications and a partridge in a pear tree. The treadmill never stops and I’m not losing a darned ounce. I’m grateful for our team – and Tonia, who is just as busy – because I could never do it alone. My spirit is willing and my back,
it is strong. Definitely NOT saying I can’t do more, but …
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Hello, my name is Dawn and I’m a perfectionist. I’ve always believed you should never guesstimate when you can factuate (ok, I might have made that word up). I love spreadsheets and proper punctuation and exactitude of meaning. All great qualities for an editor, but a touch over the OCD line for a business owner. You WILL drop the ball – and it won’t be the end of the world. Five years ago, I would beat myself up over errors. Now I accept them, do what I can to fix them, then move on (when you
‘eff up, you ‘fess up, you fix up and you carry on).
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It’s ok to answer with a hard core, full stop, NO. I used to argue in favour of doing more, more, more. Why can’t we share the story with XX interview subject to post on their website? Think of the links and hits and attention we’ll get from that sharing. That’s a good thing, right? Yeah, not so much. I’m a lot meaner now. Anyone who asks for a PDF of a story (or – grrrr - violates our copyright by copying/reposting content… that’s theft, by the way) gets a stern lecture about what it cost us
to produce, print and distribute that content. Everything we use, we pay for. We simply can’t afford to give it away. When was the last time you walked into a business, stole something – and they thanked you for it? Yeah, never. You want to share something that’s helpful? Tell people why they should advertise or subscribe and share THOSE links.
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Cash is King. A profit on paper doesn’t mean you have money in the bank, and money in the bank is what keeps the lights on, payroll paid and suppliers happy to keep doing business with you. Watch (and guard) your bank account like a hungry harbour rat with a block of grade A cheddar!
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Being a boss means being last in line. You usually take the least amount of time off. You’re the one who takes the cut in pay when money is tight. And you’re the one who lies awake at night, counting strategies instead of sheep. Wondering if this would work instead of that. Whether you’ll finally be able to invest in new tech, or to hire a new staffer, or… the list never ends and I have the dark, baggy eyes to prove it.
Happy Auld Lang’s Syne!
P.S. They say that misery – err, JOY – loves company. If you’re a business owner, I’d love to hear what lessons you’ve learned. Send tales of woe and joy to the email below.
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Dawn Chafe Executive editor & co-owner dchafe@atlanticbusinessmagazine.ca |
