Owners of CSRA business startups and operating businesses have an opportunity to learn that GPS is not just for road trips any longer.
The City of Augusta’s Compliance Department is hosting “Destination Success: Setting Your Business GPS” workshop. However, this GPS is for Goals, Plans, and Strategy. Dr. Yolanda Jackson, the city’s compliance director, told ABD she thought about how people use GPS to travel.
“So, I use that same concept for business owners; if you don’t have goals, plans, and strategies, then where is your business going to go?” she explained for ABD. “Is it going to grow? Are you going to reach more customers? Are you going to increase your revenue? In order to do all of that, you have to have goals, plans, and a strategy. So, that’s the basis for this particular workshop.”
She said a road mapping program has characteristics similar to a business plan, which all owners need to have. Jackson has been assisting small to medium-sized businesses for almost 30 years.
“What I found is that a lot of small business owners, in particular, are trying to get their business off the ground. I found the inconsistency is actual planning and direction,” she said. “But the end goal should always be for the business to grow not just in revenue, but also in your customer base, to grow strategy. So, I hope when the workshop is over, that’s an analogy that will stick with them.”
The workshop in mid-July will give business owners clarity, direction, and confidence. It will help them develop goals, create strategic plans, and sustainable growth. It will teach lessons to business owners at all levels.
“Whether it is an entrepreneur that’s thinking about starting a business, and even for those owners whose businesses are already up and running,” she said. “We hope that we’re going to provide them with some things that they started out doing but maybe kind of got away from, and so it would be like a refresher for now.”
Another benefit to attending the workshop, in addition to what they will learn, it will also give attendees the chance to meet face-to-face with Jackson and her staff for networking.
“That’s why my staff and I, my certification staff, are all there at every workshop,” said Jackson. “Also, depending on the topic, I will bring in those industry experts to do those workshops as well. While I do have a lot of experience in certain things, there are some areas in which I am not the subject matter expert. So, what I am doing is getting those experts to come in and lead those workshops for us.”
The workshop will be on July 18th, both in person at Accelerate Augusta and virtually. Individuals who register will receive a Zoom link prior to the workshop.
“I’m asking for those who would like to attend the workshop, even if they can’t attend in person, please register, because it is going to be available virtually, so you’ll still have an opportunity to get this information. So, moving forward, we’re looking at making our workshops available in person and virtually, so we can reach a larger number of small business owners.”
The workshop runs from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at 600 Broad Street. Anyone interested in attending can scan the QR code, call the compliance department at (706) 821-2406, or register online at: https://form.jotform.com/253525123265149
