8 Surprising Ways Businesses Found Success in 2020

Hands up if you’re ready to leave 2020 behind and make a fresh start? ✋ Yep, we hear you. But before we all do that, let’s stop and listen to some of this year’s success stories. 

Trust us, there are several good reasons for doing this. Firstly, it’s a way to take stock of some of the positives of 2020 and end the year on a higher note. 

It’s also a chance to shift our perspectives. When we asked for your 2020 success stories, so many were inspiring – but not in the way that we expected. 

Here's why, according to Michael Hart, owner of Houston healthy living magazine Natural Awakenings:

We have to redefine success. Cash flow is one third of what it was in January but we are still here. That is a success.

Like Michael points out, success for businesses this year has meant many things, often with little to do with sales numbers or profits. Seeing how others define their successes can help us look back on a tough year and focus on what we learned and what went right. Maybe even see successes where we thought there were none. 

Last but not least, it’s a way to celebrate and share in the good fortunes of other business owners. Because, after all, we’re part of the same community.

So let’s take a look at some of the ways Alignable members found success in 2020.

8 Things Business Owners Are Celebrating as 2020 Ends

Here are eight wins from business owners in our community this year. What are you celebrating as 2020 comes to a close? Share in the comments.

1. Starting a business during a crisis

I started my business. That's my success story.

Some of you saw the dark clouds of a global crisis looming – and decided to start your businesses anyway!

The very act of taking that leap and not letting fear get the better of you is something to be applauded. 

“I started my business, ProFinancialFitness.com, in 2020. That's my success story,” says Mark Prokop, who was struggling to take the leap until a board member from a local non-profit gave him the encouragement he needed. 

“I just received payment from our first client,” he says. “Life is good.”

2. Taking a step back

Upon re-evaluating, I came upon a surprising revelation. I was seeking to do business with the wrong people.

Sometimes being forced to stop what we’re doing and take a step back is exactly what we didn’t know we needed.

That was the case for consultant Ron Tabachnick from North York, ON, whose business came to halt during the crisis.

“I had been forced to stop how I was conducting business,” he explains. “Upon re-evaluating what business I was in, I came upon a surprising revelation. I was seeking to do business with the wrong people.”

Ron reconnected with his own traits and strengths and set about finding like-minded clients. “That is turning into more business opportunities than I can handle,” says Ron.

3. Hanging on

Some months, the goal was honestly to make rent.

Sometimes success is simply staying in business. 

“Our first year of business was through 2020 and we survived!” shares Cat Wilson, who runs Family Dog Screenprinting Co. “Some months, the goal was honestly to make rent.” 

Cat counts success as standing by the business’ principles, doing what they could to help others, and offering discounts to those who were struggling. 

“I'm proud we reached out to see what people wanted and needed, and we were able to meet them there,” she says. “I learned how incredible our community is.”

4. Helping others

There's nothing more fulfilling than knowing I've [helped] others through situations they didn't know how to work out themselves.

And speaking of helping others… that’s been one of the strongest, most consistent, and most inspiring themes of 2020. Small businesses are supporting each other and their communities in more ways than we can count.

Bookkeeper Lisa Culverwell says she recently started using Facebook groups to share her knowledge with others. “After three weeks, I was astonished at how many new bookkeepers I had been helping,” says Lisa. 

People quickly started asking her to be their go-to expert.

“So I created a free resource group specifically to help new bookkeepers, providing them with help in process development, tutorials, challenges, quizzes, and answers to all of their questions.” In less than 24 hours, the group had garnered 70 members. 

The fact that her advice has led to referrals and paid work is just the icing on the cake for Lisa.

“There’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing that I've been able to help get others through situations that they didn't know how to work out themselves,” she says.

5. Pivoting

We made up lost revenue, opened new doors, built relationships, and will close the year with earnings equal to the past five years combined.

Pivoting has been a key way for businesses to create new revenue streams in 2020. And while not everyone has had to sharply change directions, it's what brought success for businesses like Mariner Media, Inc. 

“We saw 90% of our marketing work come to a grinding halt in March 2020,” says owner, Andrew Wolfe, who refused to take the setback lying down.

“Working remotely, we refocused on design, magazine production and book publishing, created a new imprint, Whaler Books, and opened a new market helping self-publishing authors produce professional books that can actually be registered with the Library of Congress.”

Way to go! 

Impressively, Andrew says the business “made up the lost revenue, opened new doors, built new relationships all over the country, and will close the year with retained earnings equal to the past five years combined.” 

6. Expanding networks

What I have learned in 2020 will be the steps to my success for 2021.

Learning how to make the most of online networking isn’t easy, but so many of you embraced the challenge in 2020. 

“I have learned to start networking outside my comfort zone and it is working,” shares real estate agent Tyishia Boyd-Hollins. 

Tyishia points out that building up her skillset and tools to become a better networker was a productive way to spend the year, as it lays the ground for next year’s wins. 

“What I have learned in 2020 will be the steps to my success for 2021,” she says.

7. Mastering technology

Learning how to teach an online class was not an easy task. It actually made me a better teacher.

If there’s one thing we’ve all had to master this year, it’s technology. From finding ways to ramp up online sales, to building a virtual business network, to mastering the art of the Zoom meeting… all progress can be counted as a success. 

Margaret Garland from Sew fabulous Sewing School calls shifting to virtual classes a “major move.” 

“Learning how to teach an online class was not an easy task,” she says. But the challenge also came with a major upside: “It actually made me a better teacher.”

Meanwhile, over in Hudson, WI, Amber Alvarado says she’s proud of how well her business, A & S Sewing & Design, has handled the technical challenges. 

“With the help of a couple of tech savvy friends, I learned (and am still learning) how to use technology to serve our customers.”

Amber says they’ve been able to work with vendors to have samples shipped directly to customers at home, to use online payable invoices, and to introduce options like curbside pickup/drop-off and appointment-only scheduling. 

“While we are still working on getting everything set up the way that we prefer, we are thankful for what we've learned and the ability to still do what we love to do,” she says. 

8. Spreading joy

To me success is in making a difference to those in need of compassion and kindness.

Is there any greater success in a year like this one than finding a way to make people smile? 

We love this story from yogi Maryann Tekverk:

“I invented this Halloween Yoga class for adults primarily that combined Asana with Halloween themes and an amazing throwback playlist. It brought out everyone's inner child at a time when laughter can be hard to come by.”

And who could fail to be touched by the incredible efforts of Hanne Selby, who learned how to bake sourdough bread with the simple intention of delivering loaves to “anyone who could use a little pick-me-up.” 

To date, she’s baked with over 940 pounds of flour (!) and delivered 2-4 loaves per day to random recipients. 

“To me success is in making a difference to those in need of compassion and kindness,” says Hanne, a real estate advisor by trade. “It is not always about how much money you make; it’s about making a difference.”

What Was Your Biggest Success of 2020?

As we’ve seen from your wonderful responses, "success is a very personal measurement in this current world," says Donna Chimera from WolfStar Productions. 

Maybe your business thrived this year. Maybe you pivoted or found a new income stream. 

If success for you was simply hanging on, learning something new, or taking a failure in stride, you too deserve a pat on the back. It all counts. 

If you haven’t already shared your story, don’t forget to leave a comment on this post. We’ve no doubt the rest of the Alignable community can benefit from hearing your perspective. 

Read more 

If you’re looking to build up to bigger success in 2021, here are some resources that might help:

• Read about some methods for quickly boosting online sales
• Delve into these excellent content marketing ideas to promote your business
• Check out these ideas on how to create new revenue streams
• And if you’re looking to rebuild after the crisis, here’s some essential financial advice from members