Sustaining a Business for 20 Years

by Jason Ogden | Jan 14, 2025

We recently reached our 20th anniversary in business and are officially celebrating. As we mark this milestone, I am filled with gratitude for the journey, for the lessons learned, for the memories that make me smile and for the incredible people who we’ve worked with and the companies we’ve served. 

Two decades. It’s a major milestone for any business, and for me personally, it’s a moment filled with reflection. Having joined 15 years ago, back when we were still finding our feet as “Eyespeak”, I’ve witnessed firsthand the evolution of this company. From leading revenue generation to serving as Managing Partner, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to our growth and navigating the complexities of the business landscape.

While there are countless lessons learned along the way, these three stand out as fundamental to our sustained success.

There is no “right time.”

In the pursuit of growth, there’s a desire to wait for the perfect moment – the mythical alignment of internal and external factors. The truth is, that moment rarely, if ever, arrives. Whether it’s internal challenges like surging demand or a wave of new hires, or external pressures like economic fluctuations or shifting market dynamics, there will always be some source of friction. 

The key lies in recognizing that timing is rarely ideal. Instead of chasing the elusive “right time,” we must become adept at identifying the wrong times – those periods where risk is amplified and the potential for disruption is high. This requires a deep understanding of our business’s vulnerabilities, its interconnectedness with the broader economic climate, and the potential impact of internal team and client pressures.

Adapt for people. Be rigid in your values.

Staying attuned to the evolving needs of our clients and our team is essential for ongoing success and relevance. We must cultivate a culture of listening, feedback, and responsiveness, embracing change not only as a given but as a driver for improvement. 

However, adaptability should not come at the expense of your core values. These values – the principles that define who we are and what we stand for – serve as our compass, guiding our decisions and shaping our interactions. They provide a framework for evaluating opportunities, filtering out those that don’t align with our mission, and ensuring that our growth is sustainable and meaningful.  Whether your business continues or ultimately fails, values are the thing you live and die for.  

Sustaining yourself is central to sustaining your business.

Leading a company demands resilience. The pressures are immense, the weight of responsibility can be heavy and the things you need to consider are many. As leaders, our roles may evolve, but our importance to the overall success of the organization remains constant.

This reality underscores the importance of prioritizing our own well-being. Sustaining a business requires sustaining ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally. By cultivating healthy habits, managing stress effectively, and prioritizing self-care, we ensure that we have the capacity to lead, inspire, and navigate the challenges. Our well-being is not a luxury; it is an imperative linked directly to the well-being of our company and our team. This is one thing you’ll have to choose to take to heart and prioritize yourself. Nobody can do it for you.  

As we move into the next chapter, I am proud of what we’ve done and energized by what we intend to achieve. Though much is unknown, I am confident that these 3 lessons will be as true in the future as they have been in the past.