12 Years Stronger

ten24 turns 12 years old this week! Here's an article written by Dave as he reflects on this milestone: 

It has been said a million times already, but this is an unprecedented time for businesses, owners and employees. But for me personally there are many parallels to when I started ten24.

This week is the 12th anniversary of when I left my job and hung out a shingle for ten24. It was April 2008 and the start of the worst economic downturn since the great depression, not the ideal time to start a business. I was working from home, had two young boys and my wife had been out of the workforce for eight years.

I felt alone on an island, worried about finding revenue, paying the mortgage, helping take care of my family. There was a lot of uncertainty about the overall economy, how bad would it get, would federal stimulus help, when would things get back to normal. I would sit at my kitchen table and try to focus on the task at hand and shut out the thousands of other concerns rattling around in my head.

The crisis we face today is certainly different, the 2008 financial crisis was not a matter of life and death, but many of the business and personal challenges are the same. The biggest difference for me is that I am not alone, ten24 has over 30 employees and I now have two great business partners. We are all working from home, sitting by ourselves at our kitchen tables (or with an assortment of kids and pets), but we get together as a team twice each day and try hard to maintain a sense of community and collaboration.

The business is also 12 years stronger and in a better position to withstand these challenges than it was in 2008. I am extremely grateful for my team and how we have pulled together and proud of the business we have built. I believe that if we continue to work hard for each other and our clients that we will make it through this challenge.

I know everyone’s experience over the last few weeks is unique and our small business struggle is insignificant compared to many fighting this virus. But I am hopeful and know that I am not alone.

This article was previously published on LinkedIn.

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