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Become more Effective, Efficient and Profitable

Looking Back and Moving Forward

January 2013

The recent celebration of Ideal Consulting Services’ 20th anniversary has prompted me to reflect on the past and look into the future.  As I reflected on the past, it was clear to me that there were so many people, companies and organizations that have been part of Ideal’s history as well as my life. In looking back over the past 20 years, I can remember some of the old technologies and the many changes that have occurred.  At the same time I see many consistencies and delight in the friendships that have been part of our history.  And, I am pleased to say that we have been able to embrace the changes and are continuing to move forward. 

I invite you to remember with me and look back over your recent history and the changes you have embraced in forming, building and expanding your businesses. 

Going back far enough, I can still picture the rolls of paper coming off my fax machine late one night as one of my clients was sending information to me.  Yes, I am talking about the very modern (now old fashioned) thermal roll fax machines.  I’m not sure if the plain paper fax was even invented then, and very few of us had email.    Now my faxes come to me as email attachments.  Although I did have a computer, it was slow and as I said very few of my clients had email.  This meant I had to fax important documents or my clients would need to wait for the mail or our next meeting. 

Of course, we didn’t have a website, but most likely you didn’t either.  According to an article I just found using a Google search, the first website wasn’t published until August 6, 1991 by Tim Berners-Lee a 36-year- old physicist. “Of course, the only people who actually had web browser software were Berners-Lee and his colleagues at CERN, so the world at large remained almost entirely ignorant of the momentous event that had just taken place. Gradually installations of web servers and the use of web browsers spread, but it really wasn’t until 1993, when the Mosaic browser was released, that the technology really achieved serious momentum.”  Later, the Mosaic browser became Firefox.

Of my memories, the most important are of the people and organizations I worked with over these past 20 years.  The people are my staff, my clients and the members of organizations such as NARI.  As you also look back, I am sure you will realize that there are many people who have been, or are, an important part of your growth.  Whether you are fairly new in business or celebrating a 10th, 20th, 30th or even longer anniversary you can use your history to create your future and continue to move forward. 

Throughout Ideal’s history there has been a consistency in purpose and our basic philosophy in achieving our purpose.  Our purpose is to help our clients achieve a more effective, efficient and profitable business.  

As you plan for moving forward, it will be good to revisit your purpose. My thought is that it may be similar if not the same as it always has been.  It is just the technology and possibly the methods that may have changed. 

I welcome your memories and thoughts.  You can email me at lorraine@idealconsulting.net

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