10 things I've learned in 10 years of business

10. Life changes a lot in 10 years! When I started my business, I was a Community School Coordinator in Baltimore and working on my doctorate part-time. Now instead of working all week and studying on nights and weekends, I’m working all week and mom-ing every night and weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Life has a way of working itself out, and I am grateful for the twists and turns mine has taken. 

9. You never know how the seeds you plant will grow. Sometimes it takes time for people to warm to the idea of using data. Or maybe they’re just not sure how to get started. But when we model for them how to think about our work differently and use data to make more of an impact, they start to see its value. 

8. People will surprise you! You never know where or when you’ll find a champion for your work. Those people who took some convincing may be your most reliable data trackers or most ardent advocates. Show them how much you appreciate their growth and support. 

7. Working in service of families and communities is complex. Even the most skilled data user or the fanciest spreadsheet can’t account for human factors. When life keeps life-ing for the families you’re serving (or for you!), just know that your efforts to understand the work you’re doing, make data-driven decisions, and improve the lives of others aren’t in vain. 

6. Sometimes you need to pivot, and that’s okay. How you originally want to track your data may not always work, and you will need to adjust. Maybe a new policy or funding change has determined what you can or can’t do … or maybe you’re just getting frustrated with your spreadsheet (Certainly been there!).  It doesn’t mean that you’ve wasted your time or that you’re behind. It just means you had more time to get familiar with your data! (This one probably applies to a lot more than data tracking.)

5. But it’s also okay to stick with what you know and love. It’s probably not breaking news to announce that I still love data. It energizes me to see how people react to new insights about the things they do every day, just by looking at it a different way. It thrills me to help organizations – especially those that are community-based – tell their story and get to grow their work. And it feels authentic to me to get to do this work that I love!

4. It’s incredible how relationships can grow and adapt. Just last week, I collaborated with two colleagues I’ve known forever – one from here in Columbus, pre-pandemic (i.e., a lifetime ago), and a former community schools buddy from Baltimore. It was so exciting to not only introduce them and see how their work could mesh, but also to be in the company of longtime friends and colleagues. Lean in to those coworkers and colleagues you really enjoy. 

3. Remembering your “why” will never fail you. It’s easy to get discouraged in the work that we do. It’s easy to feel helpless or ineffective. But remembering my belief system – that all kids and families deserve to thrive – keeps me motivated to look for new solutions and strategies for my work. 

2. There are so many people out there doing amazing work for families. It’s always inspiring to hear about the commitment of people across communities, cities, and states who just want the best for kids and their families. Sometimes we feel like the only one pushing for a new initiative or to make our processes better. Knowing that so many others are out there working on the same things in our own little circles makes it easier to keep going in a world where the news tells us otherwise. 

1. We need to keep going. Families and communities across the country need support and solidarity more than ever. And at the same time, finding funding and opportunities is harder than ever. If you need help proving why you should keep doing what you’re doing for families, I’m here.

Here’s how I can support you so you can keep supporting others.