1.5 decades
15 years
180 months
780 Weeks
3900 weekdays
That’s a chunk of time, to be sure.
15 years ago I was sitting in the backroom of our townhouse at 1741 McKenzie preparing to take my new found skills to market. I was brainstorming business names. I was considering my hourly rate. I was carving Smart Dolphins into a shingle. I wondered who I could approach first. Smart Dolphins was preparing for launch. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was young and figured now would be a great time to give my own business a go.
We have all heard the stats about business survival rates. 80% fail in five years. Another 80% in the next five years… or something like that. I’d like to say I was one of the rare business gurus that beat the odds. I failed WAY sooner than five years and many times since. There were many times when I just had an expensive hobby. Other times were better, but in reality, I had a “job” without a boss (and not a particularly good job). I might have started Smart Dolphins 15 years ago, but I believe the real business was born much more recently than that.
Today, Smart Dolphins is a “real”, IT support business. We have a consistent profit. We have great Vancouver Island business clients. We have loyal A+ Players united by a powerful culture and directed by slick process. We continue to grow our revenues and professionalism. The business doesn’t need me during the day to day, nor does it rely on any one super hero Dolphin. We have a distinct competitive advantage and we have great plans for the future.
Smart Dolphins is a living entity on its own in the business universe.
Hmmm… Cool.
May 1st marks 15 years of work behind Smart Dolphins – most of it done by others. I have so many people to thank for getting Technology with Porpoise here. My family has been core to our success, of course. Obviously I need to thank all our long standing Dolphins – Jesse being the longest standing for nearly 11 of those 15 years. I have so many business colleagues who have been super-supportive of us in so many ways. No bills get paid without customers, but importantly, our Customers deserve medals for their patience and loyalty through the many bumps and learning we’ve gone through together.
It takes a village to raise a business. Thanks Village.
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I am confident and passionate about our future. Smart Dolphins is improving lives through business excellence and the leveraged use of technology. We’re denting the universe. I can’t wait to see what we can do with another 3900 weekdays.