Shana Bryant Consulting continues to grow beyond anything that I could have ever dreamed of as I started this journey eight years ago. The projects that I’ve worked on have allowed me to collaborate with fantastic organizations that are impacting communities in and around Boston, as well as beyond the borders of the Commonwealth. Some of them include the City of Boston, the Boston Main Streets Foundation, Boston While Black, Friends of the Children-Boston, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and the list goes on.
My vision for the future is squarely focused on growing my business, and a big part of that will be taking the Open Streets concepts to communities throughout the United States. I grew up in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, and the tight-knit communities made a lasting impact on me. Open Streets is rebuilding those community connections for a new generation, and I’m excited to think about a future that sees that concept in communities large and small.
Additionally, I continue to grow my team. They make the work possible, and I’m grateful to be blessed with some of the best collaborators anyone could ever find.
On a personal basis, I’m also learning how to be a CEO who also values self-care. I’m not a believer in work-life balance because I believe that you can never truly find balance with them – there will always be imbalance. It’s up to you to purposefully make time to relax and breathe, and I’m finally doing that. When you care for yourself, you’re able to become the business owner you need to be to make your business the best that it can be.
None of us know what the future holds. Life is a journey without a roadmap, but that’s what makes it so exciting. As I enter another year as the CEO of Shana Bryant Consulting, I’m grateful for all the twists and turns my journey has taken. It’s made me the business owner I am today, and I’ll never forget the lessons I’ve learned. Those will help to shape the next eight years and beyond.
Some of Shana’s greatest lessons:
- Know your numbers!! Get an accountant and bookkeeper.
- Have solid contracts that protect you and your business. Get a lawyer!
- Implement processes and procedures. Use systems like Asana, HoneyBook, Slack, Fireflie
- Ask for help because you aren’t meant to be great at everything. Hire an admin, project manager, marketing support, sales team, COO, etc.
- Build a braintrust or something similar. You will go farther with a network that’s working together to support, build, and grow.
- Remember you will hear “No” than “Yes.” Never get discouraged or give up. Keep going!
- Celebrate the smalls wins. Remember it’s the tasks and little goals that allow for the major wins.
- Remember a closed mouth does not get fed. You have to tell people what your up to, some of your goals, and what you do. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to know everything, but if people don’t know what you’re up to, they won’t think of you.
- Your family members are not your clients. DO NOT go into to business expecting your family to support YOUR dream. It’s nice, but they won’t understand because its your dream.
- Understanding your WHY!! It has to be so strong that it keeps you up at times. You will sacrifice and miss important family and friends events, but it’s all worth it. Mine is FREDOM of TIME. I promise you it’s all worth it when I can take a day off, start my days at 10am, or even work remotely from paradise with some of my favorite people while traveling the world.