I just got back to my office from this mornings breakfast with Jeremy, and I have a very bright outlook for this week. I have an opportunity in front of me that will grow my business very quickly, but I am in need of financial support to do it. Jeremy gave me the number to the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, an organization that helps stimulate business growth here in the Northland. He also encouraged me to step forward and call the bank, which I had been thinking about.

One of the things that really struck me today as I talked to Jeremy, is that I need to take action. I’ve already given God control of the steering wheel to my life, but I still need to hit the accellerator to move forward. God can’t steer me in the right direction unless I’m already moving. I need to step forward in faith, and God will open or close the doors that will send me where He wants me.

In the past few weeks, Utaria (my business) has exploded, and I have to give God the credit. It isn’t anything that I’ve done, but a series of things that has happened that can only have come from God. I started working on a consulting contract for a local company, doing some wireless networking. That project has really taken off and has brought a lot of work. I also have 2 more companies lined up to do networking/consulting for that I will be meeting with tomorrow and Saturday. The consulting jobs are really nice, as that will 1) bring in more business revenues, and 2) give Tim (one of my employees) more work. Right now, Tim is working about 10hrs a week for me, and I’d really like to see him move to a full time status as soon as possible.

The ARCO Coffee website was launched a few weeks ago, I’ve mentioned it in the past, but since it’s launch, it has already been getting orders and enquiries through the site. I’m very proud of the work we did on that site. I have to say, that their site is one of, if not the best web development creation I’ve done so far. Now we get to try to out-do ourselves again with Patriot Water’s website. That site is currently in progress, so I can’t give any previews yet.

Since moving into our new offices, business has picked up, we’ve received a walk-in ‘potential’ client. I still need to meet with him sometime next week to go over his needs for a website. It has also allowed us to be more productive. For one, Tim now has his own desk with workstation that he can use for his projects. So he can actually get work done when he comes in. The same goes for me, I no longer have kids from the game center coming in to ask me to help them with their game etc. I can also meet with clients without having to be distracted or interrupted by kids yelling in the game center.

I just purchased a new system for the office yesterday. I picked up a Mac Mini, with 19″ Dell LCD monitor. It’s a really nice system, and I’m actually making this post from it. I bought it for Jason and/or Jill to use when they come in to do web development. That way I can provide them with the software and tools they need to work with, rather than having them use their own computers, or use not-so-legit software.

Actually, just this morning, I met with Jill, and we had a good conversation on what our business relationship was going to be. Since she already does web design herself, and has several of her own clients that she would be bringing over with her etc. All in all, I think we worked out a really good deal that works well for both of us. I want her to be able to succeed and do well with this business. I’m excited, because Jill brings a set of skills that I myself am lacking in. One of those is technical writing. One of the things she is working on is writing up user manuals for the MXR content management system that we use for website development. The other is her network of business contacts, and her ability to sell.

In the past 3 weeks, I’ve been running around non-stop for my business. It’s a little draining at times, but it is also so relieving to be caught up in all my bills, and know that I am financially set for the next few months. Both personally, and as a business. God has really blessed me this summer. Just like 2 years ago when He allowed me to buy Integra Hosting. Sometimes I just can’t help but sit back and be amazed by His glory, and how much He pours into our lives, whether we realize it or not.

So I’m going to call them back later this week, and figure out a time early this summer when I don’t have class to go out to North Carolina for a week and get a feel for what they are doing, and how my skills can be put to use serving with them. If that is a route God wants me to take, I have faith that He will provide for me. I would need to sell my house (I’m planning on this anyways), grow my busines to a point where I can support myself at least minimally, and have a good establishment here in Duluth with an employee or two to make sure the day to day operations keep running smoothly. Then I can do everything I need to do remotely.

I’m excited about this. Ever since last fall, I’ve been getting the itch to travel, and this fits in with what I have been thinking about where I want to take my business.

Sunny asked me to help him get a Saturday night service started for College Students, so I helped him get that going, and have started really getting involved with the church more. Since I lived at home with my parents this last summer, when I came back to Duluth I didn’t feel as connected with Lakeveiw Covenant as I was before. I hope now that my commitment to Intervarsity is lessened, I can start getting involved with the Youth Group at Lakeside.

One thing I really learned this year being on Exec was that even though I have the gift/talent for administration, when it comes to serving in a Ministry, it isn’t my passion. Being the Large Group Coordinator was more of a job for me, and I missed working with the youth group at Lakeview. God showed me more of where my passions lay, as well as more of His plan for my life this year.

In other (business) things….

When I was back home for spring break, I mentioned to my mom that there was a Kit on Sitepoint that I was thinking of getting, but needed to wait until I had spare cash to buy it with. It was a “Web Design Business Kit” written by Brendon Sinclair, owner of one of the leading web design firms in Australia. Well, my mom asked if I thought it would be a wise investment, and I said I thought it would be. So she bought it for me! Thanks mom! I’m still amazed that even though I’m an Adult, living on my own, my parents still offer to help me when they can.

So I received the business kit in the mail last week, and I have since been going through it. Brendon talks about some really good points in running a web design firm, from getting sales, to maintaining customer service. I’m almost done reading the manual, and then I’m planning on going through it all again, only this time taking it slow, and writing down/applying it to my business. I feel that applying this knowledge will really help me take my business to the next level.

All in all we spent probably 5hrs out there working, digging logs out of the snow/ice, cutting them, and stacking them. My arms, legs, and back are pretty sore, and I know I’ll definately be feeling it in the morning. But I enjoyed the work, I need to get more excersize, and there is just something about doing physical labor outdoors that makes you feel that much more alive. Plus, I like Caleb’s family, they’re all pretty cool. Plus, they cook really good food.

After Calebs, I went to Church at 6:30, Pastor Sunny preached out of Ephesians, and we talked about ‘predestination’ and what it really means in Ephesians 1:5. Too many people look too deeply into what Paul meant by ‘predestined’, when all he was trying to say was that God loves us so much, that he chose us, and chose to save us, even before he created us.

Well, after church, a bunch of us went up to Country Lanes to go moonlight bowling. I didn’t bowl, and just watched/hung out with everyone. Now I’m back home, thinking to myself that I need to invest in a Hot Tub to relax my sore muscles.

I guess I’ll just have to do physical labor more often to get myself in shape, so I’m not this sore afterwards…