At the ’13 Riding Instructor Work Shop, I met a really neat trainer whose stable and name, I had seen in the magazines, for several years—but I never had a face to put to the name. Darlene DeBlois, owner of Dar-Col Stables, immediately struck me as a smart and savvy trainer and instructor. In our first conversation she told me, she was in her third “Do-Over”. I thought “Do-Over”? She informed me that while she was at the same location, she was re-vamping into a completely new business. She was working on being smarter and building her “new business” into a success while keeping her happiness and sanity in the forefront.
So I’m in a “Do-Over”.
Sometimes I suppose our paths twist, turn and even end. Then you must find and choose a new path to take. So this is where I’m at – a “Do-Over”. For several reasons I’ve found myself and my business at a new facility, new location and new area.
For years I’ve given hints and advice to other trainers and instructors on building and increasing their riding lesson programs. Now I find myself searching for ideas, advice and building a new program. I don’t think I’ve ever had so few riding lessons scheduled on the weekly book. Relocating and moving the entire stable and business does certainly shake things up.
For almost six years I had planned and worked out a very specific marketing plan to draw in lessons and clients into a specific facility and location. I had a vision of where the business was headed, the path I would take to get it to its full potential—but it wasn’t meant to be.
Sometimes dreams simply can’t be fulfilled—sometimes dreams have to be changed, turned around, even turned upside down and inside out. Sometimes they turn into nightmares. But even nightmares end—and then you can step back and re-evaluate, re-think, re-design and do over the dream.
My “Do-Over” is a new facility (originally a rodeo arena!), and while I’m still less than 15 miles from the former location, the new location is slightly off the beaten path.
Re-Evaluate, Re-Think, Re-Design and Do-Over
With the move and transition to a new stable and location it does shake off some burdens (both financially and time-consuming) and with the new path the LEC is travelling down allows me to focus on what has been successful and even enjoyable. I am going to keep a journal of all the adventures and challenges that are coming with this new venture.