What 10 years in business has taught me.
By Dayna Gilchrist
This month marks Hype’s 10-year anniversary and I must say it’s been a wild ride! If you asked me on my first day of the job where I wanted to be in the next 10 years (you know the top interview question), I would have answered at Hype- growing it to new heights and educating the industry of the importance of having a strong execution partner. I would never have predicted what the last 10 years would be filled with, but I knew that The Hype Agency was going to be around for a long time, and that we would do amazing work for the experiential and event marketing industry!
Running Hype has taught me so much and I am eternally grateful for those lessons. As an entrepreneur, you will win some and lose some along the way. With each of those wins and losses, you feel them personally. As a business owner, the company is your baby- Hype was my first baby, and you make mistakes as it grows, but to be successful you need to learn from those moments and continue to fuel your business for continued growth.
With that being said, I thought I would share some of the lessons I learned to inspire others out there creating their dreams.
Always remain true to your company’s mission.
Times will change and you will adjust to meet different demands, but you must always remain true to what is at the core of what your company was founded on. We have grown up over the last 10 years but we remain focused on our original philosophy, mission and culture. This is what sets Hype apart from its competitors!
Stay lean and mean.
I am not talking about the number on the scale here or knocking anyone out. I am talking about staying “lean” financially. Hype did not borrow money when it was created. We remained smart with little overheard (no fancy offices or big equipment) and carefully took on work that we could handle without working outside our means. This allowed us to grow steadily and in 2014 we were named one of Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies!
Build an army.
Having a strong support system is key to being successful in anything you do. For me this meant employing quality and passionate people that challenge you and add to the growth of your company. Enlist specialists: accountants, financial advisors, HR specialists, and social media gurus- because you can’t do it all and you need people with experience! Finally, arm your personal life with people that believe in you and are supportive of your dreams.
For me, I couldn’t do any of this without my husband. If I have a business trip that I can’t miss or a late night in the office, he has never once made me feel bad about that, instead he’s in my corner cheering me o! He once told me that he fell in love with me because of my drive so he knew what he was getting into. So build your army, because you will need others to fight for you when you can’t!
Do you what you love and love what you do.
This is a mantra you will see all over the walls at Hype. Think about all the time here on earth you spend working…you better enjoy it! Even if you are not the owner of the company, you are still creating your own path and making your own mark where you work. Find what you love most about your job, build on it, and make it your own. You can only truly be successful at what you are doing if you love it (or at least like it a lot)! For business owners, promote this within your company. You will find employees that show up excited to work and customers that keep coming back!
And with that, raise a glass with me:
Cheers! Hype, I love you and can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring us!