I’m baaaaack!
I hope everyone had great holidays. I did…and I’m dragging a bit this morning because of it. I was getting used to sleeping until 7:30 every morning!
Because it’s the first day back for many of us, this isn’t going to be a heady blog post.
I have a feeling. I think 2012 is going to be a very good year. It’s going to be a good year for the economy, for business, and for a lot of us personally.
In October of 2008, the bank called our line of credit without any warning. I remember taking that phone call and I cried. I CRIED! I even said some things to our banker that I still regret having said.
Then, during the holidays of that same year, I received three certified letters from clients saying, because of the economy, they weren’t going to be able to continue working with us.
I spent my holidays with our managing director as we decided who was going to have to be laid off that first week of January.
2009 continued that trend. We lost two more clients, but were able to maintain enough to continue making payroll for a handful of us.
2010 wasn’t much better. Although we had a full year of doing business as an integrated marketing communication firm, business was stable and not growing. We cut as many expenses as we could and continued to survive.
2011 saw something I didn’t think was going to happen: We almost went bankrupt. We did what we could, but most companies still weren’t outsourcing their marketing or communication. So we continued to cut expenses, including my salary and our office lease. Yes, we now are completely virtual, freeing up significant cash flow to really make it work for us this year.
But this year. This year is going to be something special. We won’t hit our 2007 levels quite yet, but Arment Dietrich added four new clients the week of Christmas (it was a little nuts).
The book, Marketing In the Round, that I’m co-authoring with Geoff Livingston comes out in May.
Spin Sucks Pro will be out of private beta soon (very, very soon!).
And being virtual has afforded us the opportunity to really expand our networks, in a way we didn’t know possible because we were handcuffed to our desks.
Just like I know many of you have done in the past three years, the foundation is set and it’s time to begin building again.
We’re going to kick the butt of 2012. Who’s with me??
Hi Gini
All the best for you in 2012. I am sharing you optimistic view of the New Year and I am looking forward, that the economic success for you and your company will be the same as this wonderful blog of yours.
Kind regards from Germany
Hansjörg
@HLeichsenring Happy New Year, Hansjorg! Hope all is well on your side of the world.
@ginidietrich Yes, thanks, all looks like a great year 2012
Wow, Gini. Thanks for being so transparent about where you’ve been and where you’re headed. I think it helps people realize their not alone when things don’t go their way. After all, entrepreneurship isn’t all rainbows and unicorns.
I agree with you – I think 2012 is going to be a stellar year! Im excited for all that you’ve got gong on, Gini. I think you’re gonna do great! Here’s to a happy, healthy and successful 2012!
@lauraclick I wish it were all unicorns and rainbows. Alas. I remember a few years ago, a business advisor said to me, “Have you ever really failed? I mean, really failed?” At the time that answer was a big, fat no. Since then, however, I’ve made some really bad decisions because of my lack of experience that have created failures. We all continue to learn, but experience is really the only thing that makes us wiser. Because of that, I think the last three years is making us all look at business just a little bit differently and that’s why I think 2012 is going to rock. Happy New Year!
@ginidietrich I think we sometimes need failure or stumbling blocks to better appreciate the successes. It sucks when you’re going through the rough stuff, but it feels pretty darn awesome once you’ve overcome it all. I know I do!
Amen. I’m happy to leave all the panicked moments of 2011 in the rearview. There’s a fire in my belly to make big things happen in 2012. I’ll be the first to tell you that I’ve certainly had my share of cataclysmically bad decisions over the past year.
@jasonkonopinski Bad decisions only make us smarter…assuming we’re willing to learn from them.
@ginidietrich Oh I’m learning. Big time.
I sat down over the weekend and had a few meetings, and I gotta say, I’m really feeling good about 2012. And I honestly think it’s going to be a good year for a lot of people. Not just a gut feeling, but based on a lot of what I’m seeing and hearing. A lot of the small businesses I deal with are feeling it as well. Let’s do this!
@KenMueller A lot of people are very optimistic about this year. It just feels different. I was dreading 2011 at this time last year. While my travel schedule leaves something to be desired this year, I think we’re all going to rock it!
@ginidietrich I was pretty optimistic last year, and the first half of the year was great, but things slowed down. A lot of the small businesses started circling the wagons. But this year I also feel it more. I think part of it is that I have a better/stronger support group and support system in place.
@jocmbarnett It does feel different this year, doesn’t it?
@ginidietrich Feels better than 2011 so far. But cynicism is a character flaw of mine, so I’ve resolved to be more positive for 2012 😉
@jocmbarnett LOL! I think cynicism, combined with your sense of humor, is kind of fun.
Welcome back Gini! I’m very excited for 2012 (you know some of the reasons why). I think it will be a great year and excited for the possibilities. Had a great meeting yesterday that was a good start.
Here’s to a great year for everyone in the Spin Sucks community!
@adamtoporek Bwahahaha! I love being in the know! I can’t wait for you…I think we’re all going to have great years!
@adamtoporek Want to know how me and many others became our own boss and made 4k a month in 3 months time? mymoneyjournalsite .com
Great blog post to kick off the year. Helps me get moving too after a couple of down weeks. I love your story and can’t wait to see you and get the book in May.
@MichaelBowers You’ll even get a signed copy! I’m not going to lie – my eyelids are very heavy right now. 5:30 came waaaaay too early this morning!
Dear Gini
Yes if the world does not end it will be a banner year in the US. If it does end…well then who cares let’s party. Even the housing market is picking up. Maybe we will even see 85% of congress tossed out for better Government (well that is too much to ask).
The one thing I think will help is if the economy continues it’s upward trend Big Business (even if they don’t want it) will at least expect Obama to be re-elected and that will give them at least stability/certainty in knowing what will be happening for 4 years. Which is a positive situation. Obviously chaos would occur if any of the GOP front runners wins because they are all calling for radical stuff which while business might like some of it (like getting rid of the EPA so they can pollute like crazy) it gives a lot of uncertainty vs the opposite. Sorry to shock those that hope for this to happen.
Plus now with the twitter having 20-30mil daily active users in the US we can all save money on PR/Ad spend giving significant cost savings all around. So we can hire like gangbusters.
Sincerely
The Alien Economist
@HowieSPM Oh that’s right! According to the Mayan calendar, this is it. Well, let’s make the best of it!
@ginidietrich@HowieSPM Bring the mescaline. And the Singapore Slings, too.
Here is to a great 2012!!! Your transparency is so refreshing! It takes great strength and confidence to move forward and survive! Congrats on the four new clients!
@sydcon_mktg Let’s all rock it this year! I’ll be here for constant reminders. 🙂
@ginidietrich – Happy New Year Gini, all the best for 2012
G- I want the “working virtually book” next- seriously.
@faybiz We’ll see how it works. It’s been two months and, so far, it’s going really well. I still do all my meetings with my team in person (if they live in Chicago – Skype for those who don’t) and we do video for our staff meetings. I’m working about two hours less a day. Which is pretty significant.
Here’s to a wonderful 2012! Let’s rock it! And congrats on signing new clients over the holidays!–what a great start to the year!
@gwenmorrison Let’s rock it, is right!!
Good luck & best wishes, Gini!
2012? Bring it on!!!
@TMNinja Let’s do this!
I’m with you! I’m in the final stages of recovery from 2 1/2 years of groundless TM litigation, from which I had to close one of my companies. During that time, I kept my mouth shut, my emotions to myself and my struggle private. Now, as 2012 begins, I’m on the doorstep of letting it all go…the injustice (for as we know, law and justice are two entirely different things), the unfairness and the reality that money wins. Hmmm…that felt good:) I’m over it. I’m on to my new reality And I’m with you on the kicking butt! Cheers! Kaarina
@KDillabough Atta girl! Here’s to more 40 mile (or minute) runs and kicking butt with our businesses!
Gini,
Last year was a tough one for me even though we had a big win with Livefyre. But I realized that what I’ve been doing all along is planting the seeds for something big. There really are no big breaks in any of this. It’s just years of hard work eventually coming to fruition. I’m reminded of a great story that Zig Ziglar shared about the Chinese Bamboo tree. He said that for 4 years it gets watered and doesn’t grow. But in the 5th year in the span of about 6 weeks it grows 90 feet. That’s incredible.
@skooloflife That Zig Ziglar is a smart man. This is definitely a marathon. You have to prepare long and hard to win the race. I think a lot of us learned that lesson in the past three years.
Dear 2012,
You’ve been warned.
Love, Jeannie & Gini
@jeanniecw That’s right, 2012! We began preparing last year. Bwahahahah!
Chuck Norris-style butt kicking is ON like Donkey KONG till the break of DAWN!
@ifdyperez LOL! You just made me snort. Were you sad to give Carl back to his rightful owner?
@ginidietrich You’re a snorter too?!?! We need a support group because most ppl don’t understand us (sigh). And yes, Carl was so happy to see him this morning. They had a moment.
@ifdyperez Oh yes. I don’t snort often, but when I do, it’s because it was REALLY funny!
I really, really needed to read this today. I’ve felt out of sorts for the past couple of months, as though I’m the only small business who’s running slow. It’s comforting to be reminded that we’re all in this together and the main thing that’s going to get us through this economic cluster, is our ability to take names and kick some ass.
@KristenDaukas Oh you’re not in it alone. At all. It’s hard because we see a lot of stories of seemingly overnight successes and we try to measure ourselves against those. We sometimes forget this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Also, my nieces LOVE my blanket. Ava (5) said, “Oh Aunt Gini. This is so cute and warm.”
GD, imagine me on one knee with my elbow resting on the other, fist pressed against my forehead in silent reflection that you are correct.
P.S. – I am not holding a football helmet or dressed in tight pants.
@John_Trader1 I don’t know why you must do this to me. You know I can’t stand him. And it’s not because of his prayer position.
@ginidietrich@John_Trader1 My guys are donna wipe him off the planet for you Gini.
@Sean McGinnis@ginidietrich@John_Trader1 Who’s donna?
@KenMueller@ginidietrich@John_Trader1 G. D. Same thing. And this is when I start wishing Livefyre would allow me to edit my comments. GONNA!
@KenMueller@ginidietrich@John_Trader1 Also, Donna is Troy Polamalu’s female alter ego. See, e.g. – http://www.nflpassers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/troy.jpg
@Sean McGinnis@ginidietrich@John_Trader1 Oh…i thought Donna might be Gini’s nicer alter ego
@ginidietrich I believe that there is an unwritten Spin Sucks community clause somewhere that says one of our jobs is to say things that make you snort in both happiness and disgust. Just trying to achieve a balance for you.
@John_Trader1 That didn’t make me snort. At all.
2012 is going to be our year.
@TheJackB Yes, it is!!
In.
@Sean McGinnis Holy crap, He commented, he commented! Not just a drive-by ‘like’. 🙂 @ginidietrich @lisagerber
@jasonkonopinski@Sean McGinnis I’m not sure that counts as a comment.
@jasonkonopinski@ginidietrich@lisagerber Hahaha! I’m snorting Grape Nuts through my nose right now…. #Painful
@Sean McGinnis@ginidietrich@lisagerber Mission accomplished. Good work, all.
I am with you.
@MimiMeredith YES!!
@ginidietrich I’m so ready that by the end of 2012, no one is going to know it was the year of the dragon.
In.
HTFU by the way.
@ryanknapp After reading about those guys that rode UP 200,000 feet, I’m pretty sure I’m a wimp of epic proportions.
I’m with you!
Thanks for sharing, as you always do, in such a straightforward and honest way, Gini. It sets the tone for true leadership and it levels the playing field. We all have struggles; we’ve all had to become quick, nimble, lean and mean (well, not really mean, but you get my meaning). Cheers to a fantastic 2012. Mine is already rocking and rolling!
@EricaAllison Atta girl! And so are your kids (still laughing at the New Year’s resolutions)!
I think you should do a virtual session with JB… extra Bauer Power.
@jacque_PR I don’t know if I can get him to sit long enough to do it. Maybe while he’s sleeping?
Four new clients over Christmas? That’s awesome, miss, congrats – clearly very smart people. 🙂
@DannyBrown Before Christmas. Before. And you act like you know nothing about any of this. Bwaahahaha!
@ginidietrich Like I said – clearly very smart people. 🙂
@DannyBrown Ohhhhh. You were talking about the clients, not us.
@ginidietrich Well d’uh… 😉
PS – looks like your BufferApp share button is missing from the sliding share box?
I AM SO IN!!! Here we go!
@Lisa Gerber Woo hoo!!
@Lisa Gerber Me too! (LOL, I can’t say those two words w/o thinking of Gini and birthday greetings *giggle*).
@CristerDelaCruz@Lisa Gerber LOL!! It’s “from me too!”
@ginidietrich@CristerDelaCruz hahah, c’mon Crister, get it right!!
@Lisa Gerber@ginidietrich@CristerDelaCruz
Jeez…
You are the epitome of transparency my friend and by “walking/talking the talk” inspire us all. I’m with you as always. Here’s to an uber-successful 2012 for us all. Cheers BFF,
Andy
@DonovanGroupInc Let’s do this!
G’Day Gini,
Go get ’em. Have a wonderful 2012!
Best Wishes
Leon
@Leon And…we’re going to have fun, too!
Happy new year, Gini! I’m 100% with you! 2012 is going to be a fantastic year for all of us.
How did I not know that you went the virtual route? Congrats on making the move! I’ve been living in a virtual world for the past 10+ years and love the opportunities it provides.
@JodiEchakowitz This is the first time I’ve publicly mentioned it. We didn’t know if it was going to work so I wanted to see first. I don’t know if my team likes it as much as I do, but I love it!
@ginidietrich I have no doubt that if they don’t love it just yet, it won’t take them long to realize how fabulous that flexibility is. Congrats again!
@JodiEchakowitz@ginidietrich I love it!!! Except when my husband calls me a shut-in… LOL.
@ginidietrich@JodiEchakowitz Wait – you’re virtual? Does that mean we’ll have to have our meeting in the hotel bar later this month?
@DannyBrown What? You don’t want to meet in my living room?
Looking forward to a great year, rocking the book!
@geoffliving We’re totally going to rock it!
All the best for 2012 Gini and congratulations on your new clients. Your move to a virtual office made me think of ‘Simplicity for success'” could be a key to enjoy this year.
@susanoakes I like “simplicity for success.” A lot. Plus it gives me an extra 30 minutes every morning to ride another 10 miles. 🙂
Thanks for being so refreshingly honest, Gini! 2011 was a year filled with major life changes for me: I lost my dad, lost my job, got married, went on my honeymoon, moved to NYC and started a new gig. I echo your sentiment that 2012 is going to be a great year. Cheers to you!
@ericajmoss Holy crap. That’s a lot of life changes at once. You’re only supposed to experience one of those in a year. Cheers to YOU!
Wow Gini – you’ve been through the ringer! I’m glad this Christmas was better for you than the Christmas of 2008 – yikes!
I’m with you – I believe this is the turn-around year! We didn’t feel the effects of 2008 until 2009 😉 but we felt it full force in 2010! 2011, though, miraculously was up a whole 2% LOL Not much, but it is up! I expect even more from this magical year!
So yes, count me in! Happy 2012!
Lori
@Lori The best thing it’s taught me? I’m not afraid of going bankrupt. Which is super freeing. Now I’m less afraid to take risks or make decisions. Because what’s the worse that can happen? Oh yeah. I have to start over. Practically have had to do that anyway. So we’re totally going to rock 2012!
@ginidietrich wow gini, you have been through the ringer. You’ll love going virtual! Happy 2012!
@AjntB2Sli I love it so far!
I’m ready to kick the butt of 2012. Been a long and tough road, but reinforced with stubborn will power and some leap of faith, you can get through the bumps in the road. Very good, honest post. Love that about you. Let’s kick 2012 and drink champagne through the year celebrating each success together.
@debdobson62 You definitely had a rough 2011. We’re all going to kick it this year!
Another hand up!
Gini, you’re a survivor and it sounds like 2012 is the year for greatness from Armernt Dietrich and Gini Dietrich. I’m looking forward to Marketing in the Round. I’m sure you’ll love being part of the virtual workforce.
Happy New Year and all the best for 2012!
@EdenSpodek Happy New Year! I’ll likely see you next month.
@ginidietrich Thanks! So I hear, so excited you thinking of making the trip back to @PodCampToronto again this year. Rumour (aka Rumor) has it we may be seeing more of each other in 2012 too.
I have the same feeling about 2012 @ginidietrich and am really looking forward to seeing this develop! Happy to hear of your optimism (you know I want to be just like you if I grow up!). 😉
@allenmireles You are going to kill it this year. I know of some of your plans and I just know it’s going to happen.
@ginidietrich Hi gini. Follow you from France. Great Stuff. Yet i feel you deliberately omit the crisis and thé fact that it CAN get worse.
@ensino I think it can get worse, but we can plan for the things we can control. And growing a business is something we can control.
@ginidietrich excellent job !
Yes I feel the same about 2012. It’s all upwards from here. Thanks for sharing your experience.
@SocialEyes_ Yes! Upwards is a great way to describe it.
@TheOnlineMom Yeah!!
You were dealt a rough hand, played to win, and 2012 will be your year! Thank you for sharing!
@rhonda hurwitz You’re welcome! I look forward to seeing you have more success this year!
@trishuhl You in??
Yikes, and I mean yikes. If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger, right? I don’t envy you as that is not a pleasant way to grow strong. As a board of director at LUI, I knew who was going to go but I didn’t have to pull the trigger. It still wasn’t any fun……….
Having said that, I’m all in; 2012 is going to be huge. I am flat ready to rock n’ roll; let’s make it happen.
Meet you at the top.
@bdorman264 Somehow I missed this when you wrote it. Shame on me! I was revisiting the blog post to see how we’re doing against it. Are you killing it, now that we’re nearing the end of Q1?
I’m with you – it’s going to be a great year! I think people underestimated the impact the economy had on us fiscally and psychologically… but here we are – optimistic and ready for new challenges. I know 2012 is yours!
@martinwaxman I know you guys have a seen a big uptick in new client business, too. It’s fun working like this again!
Happy New Year, Gini! I never knew the scope of the pains you all dealt with. My hats off to you on leading through it all. Best of luck…..err…….intention on a great 2012!
@JoelFortner We’re nearing the end of Q1 and we’re killing it. How is the year starting off for you??
Gin, you are one badass chick. If there was anyone I’d NEVER bet against it’d be you. Nothing but big things in 2012. I’ve always got your back.
Kev
@kevinfawley Thanks Kev!!
Hey Gini
Thanks for sharing. Your story, industry leadership and perseverance are inspirational to all of us out here trying to keep things going. Cheers and all the best in 2012!
@Brent@Echelonseo.com We’ve seen a big shift in companies outsourcing their marketing needs again. I hope you’re seeing the same.
[…] we hit the streets to find a bench to do Gini’s first guest video post (with moi, ahem) which we had to repeat and giggle through. It was after […]
Well I think you know how I feel about your 2012, so I wont reiterate. I have to say you do a damn impressive job of not letting us see you sweat. Looking forward to seeing all of your damn hard work pay off big time in the new year.
Thanks for the honesty, btw. Few people share that side of things.
@MSchechter I’m not a complainer (unless I”m overly tired, but I keep that inside my house) so no one will ever see me sweat. But I have zero problem talking about it later, if it offers lessons others can learn.
Gini your success is only exceeded by your generosity to your peers. I for one thank you for simply being you!
@MarkCRobins Thank you, Mark!
Sounds like the new year has already started to sparkle! Congrats on your recognition as 2011 Social Media PR Woman Of The Year!
@Collectual LOL! Thanks!
I know I’m the latest guy here, but I hope you know there is no bigger cheerleader for your success in 2012 than me. I think you’re an amazing person Gini, and can’t wait to see the magic happen.
Marcus
@Marcus_Sheridan I’m ashamed I missed this earlier this year. Thank you, Marcus!
Gini, I have to say — when I read this, one thought came to mind – and that was *grace under pressure* . What you’ve survived in the last few years is the stuff that can break the spirit to the point that it’s impossible to swallow it down. But you’ve not only somehow managed to cope, you have succeeded – parallel to impending doom – to send out a positive vibe so real, that no one would have guessed what was happening to you. That ability, the ability to keep moving forward, step by step, even when anxiety and fear and really scary things are happening to you . . . well that says a lot about your character. Your clients are lucky to have you, and I hope that 2012 proves all of that grace you have shown as having been worth every minute. xo
@DianaStrinatiBaur Oh don’t get me wrong. It broke my spirit. Last summer I didn’t know if *I* was going to make it. I was really considering packing up my family and moving to the mountains of Colorado, never to be heard of again. But I’m always reminded of Confucius, when he said, “It’s not in that we never fall, but in how we get up when we do.”
Gini, thank you for sharing the story of last year. The first half of the year was very tough for me but I’ve learned that being Lean is a good approach to take and really embraced having a virtual set-up. Clients are sometimes a bit weird about it but more and more I find that it’s the way to go. If necessary I rent office space for a meeting, but most of the work is done in the cloud.
We use Basecamp and Asana to run things and good old Skype, of course.
At some point I’d be curious to hear how you manage your own virtual set-up.
@jonbuscall I LOVE being virtual! It’s been nearly four months and I’m mad we didn’t do this sooner. It’s been a little bit challenging, from the perspective of coaching and mentoring my team. But we’ve figured out a system that works and still allows me to grow the business.
2012 will be epic. I feel it! Carry on!
@AirPacInc And, so far, it is!
I was still Vermont so missed this SORRY! You are so like me Gini in that you have a lot of self confidence in who you are and share things that most people would not. I mean anyone who read my nancyd68 guest blog post might of been taken a back. But it also earns a lot of respect because people know who have guts and who is an adapter/survivor. Yes going to be a good year.
My story is funny. My image is way beyond reality in terms of earnings when I share my struggles of getting my business cranking people say two things….surprise…then…’How can I help’.
Grats on the new clients. I can tell they must be really sharp businesses to make such a good decision!
Somehow I missed this, blame @Marcus_Sheridan for bringing me late to the party. We needs to talk. This is yet another reason my resolutions post is a weeeeeee bit tardy: I could write something VERY much like this except… not. I AM fired up to make changes, but no more so than any other year. I have, do and will continue to work my ass off – so many ways – to stay strong in the struggle. I could rant, rave, write so much more, but rather than a blogjack I’ll just say this:
Watch out 2012, Gini’s gonna kick your ass. 🙂 FWIW.
@3HatsComm And somehow I missed your comment. I’ll blame @Marcus_Sheridan too! 🙂
I was just revisiting this to see how we’re doing against it and I see a bunch of comments I never responded to. I’m so sorry! On my way to do that now.
[…] run and market our businesses. In her blog, Gini has spoken with ruthless honesty about some of the challenges she’s faced in her […]
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[…] was a terrible year for us. I really thought we’d have to shutter the doors. They say strength comes from crisis and, though it didn’t feel that way at the time, it […]
[…] week I had dinner with Ken Jacobs who said to me, “I was shocked to see you almost went out of business last year. What […]
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