Well, it's certainly been an interesting year for us, and I expect, for many other small and medium businesses.  While the "big guys" were making the headlines with bailouts, TARP payments, and all the rest of it, entrepreneurs and small business leaders have been burning the midnight oil to keep the doors open, with unfortunately little help from the top.

But hey, if there's one thing we know how to do, it's persevere. It's part of our DNA.

I'm proud of a lot of things that we accomplished here at Orion Creative Group in 2009, but I'm even more proud of what some of our clients have accomplished.

Some of our clients are in the industries hardest hit by the "Great Recession" - yet they've hung in there while many of their competitors have faded. For example, there's our real estate client who has been a power player for decades. He still is. In fact, he's probably better off since most of the fly-by-night competitors that showed up during the housing bubble have gone away now that achieving success requires more than just showing up.

I've also been blown away with some of the startups we've had the opportunity to work with this year - two software-as-a-service companies; a greentech company providing wastewater treatment; a manufacturer of healthy, eco-friendly sports bottles; an interior design studio; and more. These entrepreneurs have had the energy and determination to launch their new ventures even in the midst of a daily deluge of "bad news" in the popular press - and the best part is, they're making sales, expanding and positioning themselves for explosive growth as the economy continues to pick up.

Perhaps that's why I'm a bit of a startup junkie myself - surely it's not the high pay and short hours that attracts us to these projects ... there's great inspiration in helping to shape a new idea and find a place for it in the world, and then watch it begin to grow. 

I'd like to share three things I think that businesses of any size can learn from these startups.

Don't get distracted by bad news, especially the generalities.

Our economy is fundamentally an agreement. But this agreement is not simply made between individuals acting independently - our point of view is often shaped by major media who have a financial stake in keeping us glued to our TVs to see when the next financial calamity will strike. One thing I've learned about successful entrepreneurs is that they don't have a problem being "out of agreement" with the general point of view. In starting and growing my business, and helping others do the same, I've needed to maintain an almost surreal degree of optimism. Know success is coming, ignore the bad news, and things will come out all right. Sounds too simple? Give it a try for a week or two and see if you don't find things straightening out around you.

Market yourself with enthusiasm, creativity, and vitality - even when there's no budget.

You are always the best promoter of your product. I say this even as a person people hire to promote their products. In the end, nothing pulls in market share like an engaged, enthusiastic founder who will stop anyone on the street and pitch them. If you've got the funds to run a full-fledged campaign, that's great. If not, write emails, make calls, take people to lunch, get active on social media, and in general keep communicating. And be patient - it usually takes twice as long as you think to see results, and most people fail, when they do, by becoming discouraged just before things would start to really work.

Go ahead and be unrealistic.

Most people live in a world of what they think is "possible," "realistic," etc., setting attainable goals and doing their best to meet them. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not a path to disruptive innovation or major success.  In growing our business we've accepted any number of impossible tasks, from ludicrous turnaround times to projects we had no earthly idea how to do ... and most times, we got them done anyway. Even the ones that failed were huge learning experiences and added to the competencies of myself and my staff.  I've seen the same thing with my favorite startup founders. Go ahead and pitch that Fortune 500 company or set your quota for 1000% growth. Why not? The worst that can happen is that you miss the mark - but I guarantee you'll learn more in the process than you ever would by aiming for mediocrity.

I hope these points will be helpful in promoting a positive mindset - let's work together to make this coming year our most innovative, successful and prosperous one yet!  

Thanks again to all our clients and friends who have made us a part of your endeavors this year - and best wishes for a great 2010!

Sincerely,
Harley Orion and Orion Creative Group