We have Lift-Off

Of all the changes in our lives this year, closing down KVH Business Services has had the greatest impact on me.  I opened KVH Business Services in 1989.  For the last 22 years I have been providing bookkeeping and administrative services to sole-practicing lawyers.  It's been a good run.  With Harry's appointment to the bench I had to let all but one of my clients go to avoid any conlict of interest.  All of my clients were defence counsel and would be appearing in front of Harry in court.  I'm keeping the one client that is not a lawyer, but it only requires about 8-10 hours of work a month -- in other words, not much.

So I faced the future with some uncertainty.  I wasn't ready to quit working completely.  I didn't really want to start a full-time position somewhere.  And I didn't want to start working for someone else after 22 years of being self-employed.  With encouragement from family and friends I decided to open a new business doing something I love ... taking care of dogs.

Last Friday, with the completion of the website, Gentle Hands Canine Care was launched.  It's been a very fun and interesting journey starting up a new business.  KVH Business Services had more than enough work simply by word-of-mouth.  I never did any advertising, didn't have a website, etc.  But in today's plugged-in existence it was clear I had to do things differently.  I worked with a local marketer to design business cards and brochures.  Because I'm already a QuickBooks user, I could get a professionally-designed website through their Web Development Services.  Oddly enough, the developer I was working with was actually in Ft. Collins, Colorado!!

I've taken training with our vet to learn the basics of veterinary "nursing" and I've learned how to do massage on dogs.  It's been so interesting!!  Our vet also provided a letter of recommendation to 5 different veterinary hospitals here in town.  I've already had response from one of them.  Yay!

All this comes down to inviting you to have a look at what I'm doing now.  www.gentlehandscc.com

This venture might never take off.  It might be wildly successful.  Who knows.  I'm ready for either.  If it's to be, it will be.