Project (Inspired by Gwen Bell): What project did you start this year? How did it go? What will you start next year?
This year I began an arduous process of bringing my business to a new area. I had already begun working on Electrate Editorials in 2010, but I basically had easy access to potential students and clients in Gainesville. Northwest Georgia has presented great challenges for me, particularly because my target audience is impoverished, undereducated, and generally kept in the dark. I’m astonished that so many people can still be illiterate in this day and age, but we have quite a few illiterate individuals in the area. About halfway through the year, I realized that I needed to offer sliding scale rates if I wanted to make a difference in this community — and get any business. I’m the only person in this area offering tutoring rates as low as $8 an hour at this point in time. Despite my best efforts, it would seem I need to focus on other aspects of my English consulting career, as well as other advertising outlets. Regardless, this year offered me many learning experiences and inspired me to create a service that wasn’t already there.
I’ve also begun redesigning and realigning my websites. Next year I intend to rebrand SailorScorpio.com and bring the fun — and the anime — back. I plan to create a new blog on MeredithShadwill.com in which I will discuss all things English. I have big plans for next year, and I don’t intend to stop until my projects are completed.
