With the year rapidly coming to a close it's time to make adjustments for my 2010 business plan.  For ten years prior to becoming an entrepreneur the business plan process for my "organization" was dictated from goals that were set above my level.  Those cascading objectives were created by the leader of the company-who reports into the board of directors, who works directly for the stockholders.  In my previous corporate experience, I was a leader. It was my responsibility to lead the direction of my team toward the vision of the company's founder.

For the first 18 months of being an entrepreneur I used those same skill sets in business planning and leadership within my company.  I found myself frustrated as I tweaked the brand strategy, the brand personality, and so many little things over and over again.  It is only now, entering my third calendar year of entrepreneurship, that I realize that as an entrepreneur I am not only the leader of this company but also the visionary.  There is no one on "the team" that better understands the desired direction of the company.  There is no person on the team that has more at stake than me.  This is a far cry from sitting around the table with my six-figure counterparts with our stock options and flexible spending accounts. At the end of the day we knew that there was shared responsibility for the performance of the company.  Even the CEO reports to the board at a corporation.

In 2010 Toyi Ward Communications, LLC is making a major change in brand strategy-it is precisely the direction I desired back in 2008 when the company was founded.  However, I listened to several loud voices of opposition that discounted my concerns. As a good corporate leader, I listened to the team, built a consensus, and moved forward.  Now, nearly two years later, we have found that the very thing that disturbed me was indeed valid and the brand strategy should have been exactly as I positioned in 2008.  This is where understanding my place as a visionary was exceedingly important. The buck stops right at the pointy-toe of my Prada boots!  It may seem crazy, but it took me nearly two years to realize this is my company. My way is the way we go. I will solicit advice, consider options, and make a decision using not only the facts and figures, but my gut instinct aligned with the vision I've set forth for the TWC brand.

It took me a while, but I have officially become an entrepreneur in mind, body, and spirit. This is distinctly different than driving a corporation forward where I had shareholders and officers who put the box of limitations around how I ran my organization.  As a mompreneur I built this business from the concepts that hit me while my head rested on the pillowcase at night.  The company was conceived and birthed from my vision and desire. Therefore, nobody better understands the direction of this company than me.  In 2010 I'll not only continue to lead the company, but will ensure that every decision we make aligns with the vision I have for the future.  And tonight, I think I'll sleep well from the time my head hits the pillow.