Devoted to women of color in business

I've had the flu for the last few days, so I've done nothing besides sleep and drink hot liquids.... and THINK.

This has been a good time for me to think, brainstorm, and analyze. I've read that we should always be allocating time to Research & Development and new product development/service offerings, so these last few days have been an excellent time for me to think about the following:

1) Productizing/focusing our efforts
For the past 12 months, my web design company has been doing a fair amount of customized work. We are trying to focus more on products we offer: standard modules, checklists, menus, functionality... and this has been a fruitful endeavor.

2) Expanding our customer base
I've found that when we focus on a particular market (or idea, or process, or whatever), that particular item tends to take up more of our time and energy, as well as our end results.

So, our plan for 2006 is to get to know other more decision-makers, like those in membership organizations, mid-sized businesses, local groups and associations.

This has worked well for us in the past and I'm hoping we can expand our referral base this way.

3) Rest and Relaxation
As women, especially women of color in business, we may find ourselves always with an "on" switch when it comes to making more money and expanding our base.

This year my goal is to take a series of mini-vacations throughout the year so I can sustain our growth and make decisions with a clear head.

I'm sure there's a lesson somewhere in this flu-addled brain of mine.