Key Theodora Achievements in 2023

So much has been and is going on at Theodora, it is hard sometimes to keep up with it. But if you think of your child growing and growing in its capability and maturity that is exactly what we are seeing with this project. The list below is something I sent off to my Boards of Director members today. It will give you a good picture.

Personal Growth – Change in attitude from ‘faking it’, from ‘tell me what to do’ to ‘I will (genuinely) figure out how to do it-.

This has led to an expansion of capability far beyond what I estimated was possible. Examples include using AI tools to improve quality of writing, and develop content, learning how to promote clients via podcast scheduling, executing and getting results from lead generation systems such as email drip programs. Further there is a maturity on the part of all team. Whereas in 2022, there was no shortage of ‘drama’ between various team members, as well as an us versus them attitude between the initial group and the second group, now there is a true sense of team and joint effort and support. I think this is captured by two of our senior members who both told me of their lives being so calm, their enjoying just going home, relaxing, gaining their energy, so they could come back to work.

 

Ownership Attitude – Change from the typical employer/employee attitude to beginning to gain an understanding that their efforts and performance are what will provide the well-being and reward they seek.

 

Examples include their coming up with a fair, overall compensation reduction plan in early 2023 to get expenses in line with revenue. Also coming up with a program to reduce occupancy expense short-term by increasing virtual work while maintaining a system of physical meeting to keep collaboration and team building going. (Note: this proposal was initially challenged by key Ghana advisors Jonas Ayi and Todd Holcombe. However, the team convinced them both of the logic behind the decision.)

 

Capability Growth Leading to More Focused Sales Referrals – Through the attitude change mentioned above combined with new volunteer training, and client demands, we have seen a surge in the capability we are offering, particularly in the areas of e-marketing, social media, and lead generation.

 

The application of this new capability is producing definitive results for clients. This, in turn, is causing clients to refer more business to us. And the business they refer tends to be very specific in terms of the prospects’ needs based upon the experience of the referring client. The team is getting more and more confident in their abilities in this area. They will be more proactive with clients, even pushing back if clients are not willing to use what they (the team) are recognizing as proven best practices.

 

Achieving Breakeven and Profitability – The combination of all the above has led to a surge in new business.

 

We covered all our expenses and made a small profit in January. We were even able to return a small amount of money to Podolny Group International. Based upon the business we are scheduled to close over the next two weeks, we should have similar numbers in February and March.

 

Potential for New Major New Business – We’ve been given three opportunities, anyone of which has the potential dramatically increase Theodora’s standing in the competitive world of virtual work.

 

One is a new CRM product rolling out that is requesting that we become their outsourced customer training and service arm. A second is an AI firm developing customizable training avatars. It also wants us to become their customer training and service arm. The third is a start-up cyber security firm that is looking to hire up to three FTE based upon our ability to provide very high standards of service turnaround and business development.