A New Year & Special Anniversary

Greetings in this New Year!

2008 is a special year for me as it marks the 20th Anniversary of my business, Quality Service Marketing.

I began Quality Service Marketing in 1988 for a number of reasons.

Here are excerpts from my notes that year when I contemplated leaving my job in bank marketing. I wrote that I wanted:

  • Less frustration in a corporate environment I was not happy with*
  • More control over my career
  • More opportunity for greater achievement
  • More time and flexibility to be with my family.

*I also found this note: “Reminder: Yes, it really was that bad!”

Making the Big Leap

I weighed the pro’s and con’s of being self-employed (I’m not a risk-taker by nature), talked with my colleagues who had taken the plunge, and tried to figure out how I could start a business focused on internal marketing and services marketing. (Back then, most self-employed marketers specialized in advertising/marketing communications, public relations, or market research.)

My first deliverable was a service quality management development seminar. Over the past 20 years, my client work has evolved to include more marketing training and marketing/strategic planning facilitation – with an emphasis on employee-customer care through internal marketing – for nonprofit and for-profit service-based organizations.

Going out on my own 20 years ago was one of the best decisions I ever made, next to marrying my husband. Seriously, I couldn’t have done any of this without his love and encouragement. (Although he’s getting impatient waiting for the big bucks to pour in … ).

Thanks, Michael. Thanks, also, to Jason (my son and primary source of tech support) and to my clients and colleagues, who continue to teach me so much.

Here’s to Quality Service Marketing’s next 20 years!

4 Comments

  • Sally November 25, 2008 Reply

    Sybil: Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your career and thank “you” for continuing to inspire and encourage young marketers like myself!

  • Sybil January 11, 2008 Reply

    Peg and Toby, thanks for your comments. It’s been a joy to work with work with wonderful colleagues-turned-friends like you!

  • Peg January 11, 2008 Reply

    Sybil – Congratulations to one of my dearest colleagues and someone who has motivated and cajoled me over the years to be a better manager. You’ve taught me so much and helped our office in ways too many to count. I can never thank you enough! Continue fighting for an organization’s most important asset — its employees. In the long run, this is the key for a successful business.

  • Toby January 6, 2008 Reply

    Sybil – Congrats! Twenty years is quite an accomplishment and speaks highly of your talents and skills .. both technical and people-oriented.

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