According to federal statistics, only about 30–35% of small businesses make it past the 10-year mark.
So I consider myself lucky that LinkedIn reminded me this morning that it’s been 16 years since I launched Lenox Consulting.
Being a small business owner is full of twists and turns. You have to be willing to embrace opportunity, adapt quickly, and, most importantly, understand that relationships matter more than transactions.
A few things I’ve learned along the way:
👍 Having a plan helps, but knowing how to work a plan matters more.
I’m not a long-term planner by nature, but what we’ve built at Lenox Consulting is a real ability to adapt in the moment and deliver when it matters most.
👍 Every conversation is an opportunity, but not every conversation should be about a sale.
Some client relationships form quickly. Others take years to evolve from an introduction to a signed agreement. Both paths work.
👍 Relationships matter.
Nothing more needs to be said.
👍 Being a small business owner doesn’t mean you’re your own boss.
My team answers to me, but all of us answer to our clients who trust us with their work every single day.
👍 The end of a contract doesn’t have to mean the end of a relationship.
We’ve grown with clients, evolved with them, and in many cases found ourselves working together again when the timing, and needs, aligned.
I’ve had countless conversations with young people who say they don’t know what they want to do when they “grow up.”
My answer is usually, “Neither do I.”
When I launched Lenox Consulting in 2010, I never imagined I’d:
✔️ Represent one of Ireland’s largest law firms in the U.S.
✔️ Spend time in firehouses across New Jersey helping first responders tell their stories
✔️ Been trusted to help improve communications between local governments and residents in communities across New Jersey
✔️ Launch five hyperlocal news sites reaching more than 150,000 readers each month
✔️ Serve as New Jersey’s voice for economic development in Ireland
Most of all, I’m grateful, to the clients who took a chance, the partners who stuck around, and the relationships that made this journey possible.
Sixteen years in, I’m still learning, still adapting, and still excited about what’s next.
