Over the holidays, my daughter, Emily, decided to attend a local production of the Nutcracker ballet with her boyfriend, Pablo. She forwarded me the link to purchase tickets and I started clicking away on my computer.

The first link took me to a page that was difficult to navigate. It was four or five more clicks before I actually got to the page where I could buy the tickets. I put in my credit card, chose the seats and clicked “Buy.”

But when I forwarded the confirmation email to Emily, she told me I had bought tickets for the wrong date! 

I called the local ballet school and explained that I had made a mistake. Eventually, after much negotiation and resistance, they finally allowed me to make a change, despite their “no refunds or exchanges” policy! Ugh.

In the end, it was a lot of unnecessary work on everyone’s part, all because the school’s system for selling tickets was too big and too complex (and probably too expensive) for their needs. Not only was it not helping them sell tickets, it kept them from easily accommodating my simple request.

The right solution for the right problem.

I see this kind of problem frequently with my small business clients. They are often looking for a “solution they can grow into.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for planning. But implementing a solution that far outpaces the current situation only makes things worse!

When I first started RocketGirl Solutions eight and a half years ago I had two clients. I used spiral notebooks to track my client work – one per client. This worked fine until I had six clients. Then it became unworkable.

When I added my 7^th client I started to use Asana, a simple project management tool that provides checklists. It was free and could move easily out of my notebooks and into Asana. Now I could also access my lists from an app on my phone (a big perk!).

When I reached twenty clients and the work became more complex, I went looking for the next solution: TeamWork and moved all my work into the new system. I’ve been using it daily for about six years and it has plenty of room for growth. In fact, it’s easily able to accommodate my 55 clients with no end in sight.

Yes, it took eight and a half years to get here, but if I had tried to use TeamWork in the beginning, when I had 2,6, or even 10 clients, it would have been overwhelming.

When it comes to tech solutions for your business, look for what works today and a little bit beyond. You can always ramp up as needed, but if your solution doesn’t work right now, you’ll never get to that next level!

This morning I woke up with a terrible toothache. The whole lower right side of my inside gum was red and puffy. Not a great thing to happen on any day – but the day you’re leaving for a road trip to Kentucky that you’ve planned since December (including very expensive non-refundable tickets to a big horse show and a tour of Secretariat’s home) is enough to stop almost anyone in their tracks.

I made my way out to the kitchen, gave Greg the news and he immediately said, “Call Dr. Stebbins.” He glanced at the clock and said they were open.

I called right away, explained the situation and the receptionist asked if I could come at 9:00 AM. I was in and out of the office in 45 minutes (following a little “procedure”), a prescription for antibiotics in my hand. He was so efficient that I didn’t even have to miss my pre-vacation pedicure (you know these are a vacation requirement, right?).

Dentistry is just one area where I rely on a bunch of amazing professionals. Together, they help things go smoothly and effortlessly (and often, painlessly).

Here’s who’s on my dream team:

1. Michael Katz, of Blue Penguin Development who helps me with the words I need to successfully articulate my message. My website, my newsletters, my emails, my presentations … if it involves words, he’s touched it.

2. Mark Tatro, my amazingly talented graphic designer. For almost eight years now, Mark has produced beautiful, sophisticated and elegant graphics for RocketGirl and for all of my clients. Websites, business cards, ads, logos, anything that needs to have a special touch and a thoughtful eye.

3. Barry Shuchter is the best web developer I’ve ever met. I’ve worked with Barry for almost eight years too. I’ve come to appreciate the thoughtfulness that Barry puts into every interaction, every solution, and every piece of code. He helps me provide my clients with stable platforms for their websites so we can meet their business goals. He’s there when I need him and has never let me down.

4. Lisa Corrado, my amazing accountability coach who facilitates the mastermind group that I’m a member of. Our group is comprised of five entrepreneurial women who spend two hours, twice a month, plotting next steps for our businesses, working out issues in our path, and generally planning world domination.

5. Ellen Mullen, owner of GoodFit Darien, who keeps me strong and fit with fabulous workouts in her stunning studio. After an hour with Ellen I feel like the smartest woman on the planet for working hard and keeping myself in shape.

There are others on the professional team too. Plus my friends, Greg, and Emily, for sure. They keep me on my path and help me achieve my dreams and goals. I’d be lost without them.

Who’s on your team? Take time to fill in the holes now (you never know when that next toothache is coming!).