The crazy life of a small business owner…
Being a small business owner has its triumphs and struggles and it’s a way of life like no other. If you’re a small business owner, you know exactly what I mean. Undoubtedly, you’d tell others that it’s awesome because, if it wasn’t, you’d be doing something else. The rewards are usually great but they come with high risks. The path to success is not a straight line. You might have more failures than successes but if you learn from each failure, your chances of success are much greater.
Success is not a straight line. People often see the end result but rarely see the path taken to get there.
One of the keys to my success as a small business owner is that I view myself as a member of the team. I don’t ask my staff to do anything that I would not do myself. Sometimes, I’ll even do their job for them. The reason for this is twofold. On one hand, I like my staff to know that I’m in it with them. On the other hand, it’s good practice for me to stay connected to the day-to-day operations of the office. If one of my employees is out sick one day, I might find myself without a sales department or a service department for the day. Having the skill set to sit at their desk and do their job almost as well as they do for a day is critically important for the business.
Many people just think that I’m the auto insurance and home insurance agent in Clifton Park and that I give people insurance quotes and claim advice all day. Although I do those things, I also do a lot of stuff that isn’t part of the day-to-day customer facing operations of the office. For example, in addition to being the President of the company, I’m also the Maintenance guy, the IT guy, the Landscaper, the Marketing manager, the Purchasing manager, the Compliance guy and the HR manager. I’m sure I’ve left out a few other titles that I could give myself but you get the point. Everything from mowing the lawn and changing light bulbs to running payroll and purchasing advertisements are my responsibility in addition to everything related to customers and their insurance needs. If you drive by my insurance agency on a sunny day, you might catch me outside wearing a grass stained t-shirt mowing the lawn or taking the trash out to the dumpster, because hey, somebody’s gotta do it.
I’m also a volunteer Ambassador for the Capital Region Chamber because I enjoy working with and helping small businesses. I have over a decade and a half of experience being a small business owner in Clifton Park and I absolutely love connecting with other people who have the entrepreneurial spirit. Many times, I can provide advice or help them in an area where they’re struggling. Sometimes, helping them might just be promoting their small business on my social media page and trying to help them get more customers. Other times, I might help them make decisions on advertising and marketing. Usually, when I help another small business, I learn something that helps me run my insurance agency.
If you’re a small business owner in Clifton Park, Ballston Lake, or the surrounding towns, let’s connect. I’d like to learn more about your business and tell you more about mine. Please contact me to schedule a time to grab a coffee or lunch.
John Lofrumento, CFP®, FSCP®, RICP®
President, The Lofrumento Agency