A big change to EQ came this past month. It has come with lots of emotions, but the overwhelming feeling is of excitement!

TL;DR, I started a new job, full-time, as a Project Manager for Barkley Project Group. Where I’ll be working with First Nations communities to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

In the spring, I knew I needed a different strategy for generating revenue. Sales and marketing are two of the most important facets to doing business. They are also the aspects which I am worst at and which drain the most energy from me. I asked myself, could I find enough business through partners, referral programs, or contract work instead?

On my original business plan, I gave myself until June 2023 to break even on my expenditures (life and business). Maybe this was too ambitious, but it was the target I was comfortable with. This would be just shy of exactly one year since striking out on my own. Coming up a bit short, with only a few small prospects on the horizon, the financially conservative part of my brain started whirring. The trend had been going in the right direction, with July looking even better. But after that? Things were a little less clear. 

The opportunity to work for Barkley Project Group this month came as a most pleasant surprise. Joining the company was a no-brainer.p, from their values, to their core business, and then meeting a few folks on the team. I said in early July, “I don’t know what the next 12 months will bring”, and that’s still true. But there is more certainty and focus now, which I am grateful for. I thought it would take years to build relationships enough to work with and support Indigenous-led sustainable energy. And I know there are many more years of learning, relationship building, and hard work to come.

What’s next for EQ? 

A few changes. On the logistics side, I will no longer be consulting, as I’m focusing on my new role 100%. I am continuing with start-up coaching, blog writing, and volunteering, when I have time. As well as my newsletter! Which takes priority. I also have the first pieces laid out for a hobby project, but this will probably take years before seeing the light of day. Until then, I encourage you to keep sending me your thoughts and ideas about what you want to see me write.

I’ve had many friends and colleagues over the past 12+ months providing encouragement, advice, and sounding boards. Thank you to all of them for supporting my entrepreneurial journey! I hope we can all solve many more problems together in time to come.