The Teen Years

13. Thirteen. I can't believe I have another teenager! Nearly 5,000 days after I walked into the Travis County Clerk's office and filed a DBA to create JHL, today we celebrate 13 years in business.

How do I possibly capture the emotions and vision forward in this anniversary blog? The traditional gift for a 13th anniversary is lace. There is no way I can reference anything so fragile as I reflect on building a small business. My 11th anniversary blog about steel is much more appropriate.

Somehow 13 seems the exact right age for JHL. Teenagers are not still babies, have learned the basic skills to survive yet still need people to surround them with encouragement and guidance. Teenagers have learned to put energy and effort into what matters and what's important to their future. By thirteen, a teen knows that not everyone can be trusted and if it seems too good to be true, it is.

Not still a baby and not yet an adult, JHL is just now really hitting our stride. The public affairs, communications and event planning projects we take on are fascinating and rewarding. We don't have to accept every project that comes our way yet we are constantly trying to build more business and look ahead to what's next as we continue to grow.

The year ahead holds the promise of unknowns and brand new projects. The promise of ups and downs. The guarantee of crazy schedules and sleepless nights. I wouldn't have it any other way. By now I can confidently say that JHL is the very best at what we do. Happy birthday to us!