19 Lessons Learned in 19 Years: A Journey with SJ Innovation
Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Fellow Entrepreneurs,
As Shahed Islam and Shahera Choudhury , the co-founders of SJ Innovation, we find ourselves reflecting on the remarkable journey that has led us here. Nineteen years ago, we embarked on a path filled with unknowns, driven by a vision to make a difference in the world of web development. We were inspired by a sense of purpose, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to our clients and team members.
Throughout these years, we've faced challenges that tested our resilience, celebrated victories that affirmed our direction, and grown from every single experience that shaped our story. Today, SJ Innovation is not just a company but a community that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and constant learning.
But this journey wasn't traversed alone. Each step was enriched by the wisdom, encouragement, and insights from our team, clients, mentors, and even competitors. We learned lessons that are universal yet personal, simple yet profound.
As we celebrate our 19th anniversary, we feel a deep sense of gratitude and an even deeper responsibility to share our lessons with others who might find themselves on a similar path. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business leader, or someone curious about the intersection of vision, leadership, management, employees, sales, marketing, and client relationships, we hope these reflections resonate with you.
Here are 19 lessons we've learned in 19 years, categorized into key areas that have defined our success:
I. Vision: Crafting a Path and Aligning with Purpose
Finding Clarity in the Journey:
When we started SJ Innovation, our vision wasn't crystal clear on day one. Like many entrepreneurs, we had a sense of direction but not a defined path. It took time, reflection, learning from successes and failures, and continuous engagement with our team and clients to sharpen our focus. Today, our vision is encapsulated in a simple yet powerful statement: "Employee Happiness Generates Client Success." It's a philosophy that guides everything we do but finding this clarity was a journey in itself.
Aligning the Team with the Vision:
One of the greatest challenges and equally rewarding achievements has been aligning our team with our vision. Initially, many team members didn't resonate with our direction. Convincing them wasn't a one-time effort; it required ongoing dialogue, demonstrations of commitment, and a willingness to listen and adapt. Even now, aligning our vision with our team is a never-ending story. We must continually revisit and "sell" this vision, ensuring that every member understands and feels connected to what we're striving to achieve.
Lessons Learned:
II. Process: From Chaos to Control
Embracing Chaos in the Beginning:
When SJ Innovation was in its infancy, process wasn't part of our vocabulary. We were energetic, passionate, and ready to conquer the world, but without a roadmap, we often felt like headless chickens, running in every direction. This lack of organization almost cost us the company. The chaos was unsustainable, and we knew something had to change.
The Awakening to Process:
Our awakening came from books, mentors, and a realization that we needed structure. We started with what we had - a few PowerPoint slides, outlining basic procedures, and began to formalize our processes. Reading books like "Traction" and "Scaling Up" opened our eyes to why process was vital to our survival and growth. They provided practical guidance and helped us communicate the importance of structure to our team.
Implementing and Adapting Process:
Slowly but surely, we modified and refined our process, aligning it with proven methodologies. Following the insights gained from "Traction," we created a framework that allowed us to regain control and steer the company in the right direction. The journey wasn't smooth; it required patience, persistence, and continuous learning. But the results spoke for themselves - we had a roadmap, and everyone knew their part in the journey.
Lessons Learned:
III. Leadership and Management: Navigating the Ship
Finding the Right Framework:
At SJ Innovation, leadership and management have always been at the core of our business. Early on, we recognized the importance of having a solid framework to guide our team. Adopting methodologies like EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) helped us create a unified vision and move in the right direction.
Building a Culture:
Culture is more than a buzzword; it's the soul of a company. We worked tirelessly to build a culture that reflected our values and mission. "Employee happiness generates client success" became our mantra, and we committed to living this every week. It took time, effort, and constant revisiting to instill this culture within our team.
The Importance of Strong Teams:
Your finance, HR, and middle management teams are the backbone of the organization. Having strong teams in these areas ensures smooth operations and alignment with the company's vision. We learned that it wasn't enough for our middle management to agree with our ideas; they had to believe in them and see successes to fully commit.
Continuous Feedback and Growth:
Leadership doesn't stop with implementing ideas; it's about continuous growth, feedback, and adaptation. We made it a point to talk to team members, gather feedback, and create action plans. We allowed room for mistakes and learned from them, understanding that this was a path to growth, not failure.
Building and Grooming Stakeholders:
Our stakeholder team wasn't just a business necessity; it was a symbol of our commitment to mentorship and training. We took the time to groom and guide them, providing them with the tools and knowledge to succeed.
Lessons Learned:
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IV. Employees: The Heart of Our Organization
Investing in Career Growth:
At SJ Innovation, we've always understood that our team's growth is synonymous with our success. We committed to invest 10-15% of our resources toward training, seminars, reading, and classes. This not only fostered individual growth but also enriched our collective skillset.
Learning from Mistakes:
Allowing our team members to make mistakes was an essential part of our growth strategy. Even if that meant losing a client or revenue, we recognized that these were opportunities to learn, adapt, and grow stronger.
Remote Team Engagement:
With a diverse and widespread team, we recognized the importance of regular engagement with our remote members. This was more than just virtual communication; it was about understanding their needs, their growth, and how they fit into our larger vision.
The Focus on Basic Principles:
In our 19 years, we learned that the most basic principles about work or leadership are often the ones that are easily forgotten. We needed to remind ourselves and our team about these foundational aspects continually. This helped in creating a unified understanding and appreciation for our core values.
Lessons Learned:
V. Client Success: Building Relationships and Delivering Excellence
Doing Everything for Client Success:
Our mantra "employee happiness generates client success" was not just a catchy slogan. We worked tirelessly to make our clients successful, recognizing that their triumph was our triumph.
Knowing When to Let Go:
Not all relationships are meant to last. We learned to recognize when it was time to part ways with a client, especially if they didn't respect us or our team. This decision, though hard, was vital for maintaining our integrity and team morale.
Meeting Regularly with Remote Clients:
Just as with our remote team, we realized the importance of meeting our remote clients regularly. These face-to-face interactions built trust, understanding, and a more profound connection, translating into long-lasting and successful partnerships.
Lessons Learned in Client Success:
VI. Sales, Marketing, and Business Development: Navigating Growth
Knowledge Is Key:
Investing time in reading and understanding leadership, sales, and marketing concepts has been crucial. This constant learning curve kept us abreast of new trends and strategies, enabling us to evolve and succeed in a competitive market.
Weekly Review of Sales Pipeline:
A regular weekly review of our sales pipeline ensured that we were on track to meet our targets. It allowed us to identify bottlenecks and opportunities, adjusting strategies as needed to align with our goals.
Engagement with Local Community and Students:
Our belief that we were always "one talent away from success" led us to engage with local students and the community. This not only enriched our community relations but opened doors to fresh and innovative ideas.
A Consistent Approach to Building Online Presence:
With the creation of a forum with 24k members on Facebook, and consistent posting on TikTok and YouTube using AI tools, we established a robust online presence. This consistency, combined with a blend of automation and manual effort, drove leads and enhanced our visibility in the market.
Lessons Learned in Sales, Marketing, and Business Development:
As we reflect on our 19-year journey at SJ Innovation, we find a path filled with triumphs, challenges, and endless learning. From the clarity of vision to the precision of process, the integrity of leadership to the structure of management, every lesson has shaped us and helped us grow. We realized that our success as a business wasn't just about reaching milestones; it was about nurturing our team, honoring our clients, and never losing sight of what truly matters. As we celebrate this significant anniversary, our heartfelt gratitude goes out to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Together, we've built something extraordinary, and we're excited for what the future holds. Here's to many more years of innovation, collaboration, and success. #EmployeeHappinessGeneratesClientSuccess
Shahed and Shahera
16th Aug 2023
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1yShahed Islam congrats on the 19 year, success and growth. Wonderful to see the "overnight success" of 19 years.
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1yCongratulations team SJ Innovation LLC 👏 Shahed Islam sir you have been a great leader and a true inspiration for local tech companies in Bangladesh. Thank you for always helping and inspiring us. 🙏
HSBC Political Action Committee Board Member and VP Head of Insurance and Annuity Product. Providing leadership and guidance for all strategic partnerships and Insurance product and sales strategy |Private Banking|Wealth
1yCongrats Shahed and Shahera!! To many more years 👏