This year has been unbelievably BOMBER so far, from the starting gun of the Made in Montana Tradeshow to right now at the halfway point. (Christmas season is the homestretch.)
I have had many, many opportunities to work with some amazing people I'd never met or heard of before - the new metal guy cutting my Montanas down in Bozeman (hell yeah!), the VFOB crew, the #livemontana program put on by the state, so many new vendors I met and forged new relationships with at the Tradeshow.
Part of the fun of this business is the marketing, the mingling and the cooperative mindset. I have found that many people and their businesses are more than willing to share advice and knowledge. I love that now that's it's not "my first rodeo", I can share information that will help others starting out. I love that it's not a competition, it's more of a collaboration.
I love donating to organizations for silent auctions and benefits and meeting the people behind the benefit - the ones who truly believe in their cause and work hard to make the world a better place for others. Some are individuals, some are large non-profits.
I learned long ago that I will become better if I surround myself with those who fight to be the best and have high standards; conversely I will stagnate if I surround myself with the unmotivated (and we don't have much in common).
I am associating with men of good quality, and by doing that am making myself and my business better every day.