Reflecting on 2020

I want to say “thank you” to Taylor for my favorite gift of this holiday season. He suggested writing a year-in-review article, and even prepared a list of questions to help me reflect on our progress at True North Technologies in 2020.

 It took me a while to remember what True North Technologies looked like back on January 1st, 2020, but once I settled into the mental exercise, the milestones kept adding up. I’d like to share some of my most memorable moments and achievements with you.

 Can I just say we had one hell of a year?! Though at times it felt like we were trudging through quicksand, other days simply flew by without delay. It’s easy to feel like you’re not making daily progress, but I kept telling myself that by showing up, the consistent work would eventually turn into growth. I recently heard at a Live to Lead conference that “consistency compounds” and “no one ever quit their way to the top.” I’ll never quit. We will adjust, and we will prevail! This was a recurring theme for us last year.

When 2020 began, I had one employee, Dylan, our Head of Web Development. Together, we worked diligently to launch our first products: websites and mobile applications for businesses. In February, I brought on Alex as Creative Director, as well as a few part-time associates. We’re now entering 2021 with 9 employees, new services like SEO and branding, and a complete marketing strategy for the year.

I sincerely appreciate the efforts of Brooke and Cat from SCC’s FOCUS Suites. They made time for me, even on the worst days, listening and offering support every step of the way. Words fail to express my gratitude for their selfless commitment to entrepreneurship and professional growth.

After adding 4 offices at the FOCUS Suites, we hosted the greatest ribbon cutting to date in conjunction with the Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA). My team, friends, and family all stood beside me to experience the incredible outpouring of community support. That day is unforgettable, and I began to fully realize that my lifelong dream of owning my own company was coming to fruition.

I also feel extremely fortunate to have partnered with TapOnIt in 2020. Launching this fantastic platform in Lincoln provided our local businesses with a unique marketing opportunity during this challenging year. We’re thrilled to support our community with innovative technologies.

We had 450% employee growth and created 7 new positions. We added 5 new products and incorporated recurring monthly services. We completely revamped our website, revised our logo, and with Jen’s help, we also implemented a powerful CRM and migrated to Microsoft Business 365. We sponsored our first marketing event, were featured on Kinetic by Windstream’s national podcast, created a mobile studio setup for YouTube and Facebook Live, and were featured on the cover of Strictly Business magazine!

Looking back, I can’t explain the abundance of passion and positivity I’ve witnessed this year. Countless new friends and fellow business owners from different industries and walks of life have renewed my faith in humanity. I’m convinced that, together, we can accomplish anything.

Every business decision I made in 2020 was a terrifying gut check, but that didn’t stop me. If this year has taught me anything, it’s to not let fear control you. If you’re unhappy with something in your life, change it! Just start by putting one foot in front of the other, and every day, do one thing that moves you in a better direction. You’ll be surprised at how quickly and drastically situations can improve through small, positive adjustments, and when you look back, you may even be amazed by how far you’ve come. I know I am.

I presented my team with a challenge to wrap up the year. I asked them to prepare for strategic planning with goals for 2021 and to share a list of what they would need to accomplish them. I encouraged them to finish strong, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results! We’re going to do even more this year, and while that may seem impossible, 2020 set the bar high! If we can do all of that during a pandemic, watch out world! Thanks for supporting TNT! Let’s go, 2021!