I decided to kick-off my new blog* by answering a question I’ve been getting from a number of close friends of late. Many have asked, “Eli (my nickname – pronounced like Eli Whitney), where have you been?”.  And then they continue, “Are you having any fun these days?”, “Your ‘business’ seems like an awful lot of work – why do you do it?”.

Since early 2008 when The ESM Group was founded, my goofing-around response has been, “Because I’m unemployable anywhere else!”.  All kidding aside, I would probably die a slow and painful death, much like that of my former house plants, working in some of the companies/organizations in which my wildly successful friends work. In truth, I don’t tend to follow rules for the sake of rules or color within the lines very well.

My serious response?  I’ve only ever worked in/with companies that are agile and readily able to innovate and I LOVE that.  I am also passionate about service-based business models (not unlike my own) and my years of experience working in leadership roles within them during highly competitive business climates, have taught me how to help them realize new opportunities for growth.  In fact, not one day goes by when I’m not thinking about process improvement as it relates to business development, in one way or another.  The ability to ideate, innovate, visualize and re-engineer my way through the obstacles placed before me is my gift.  That is, God-willing of course, and not without a healthy serving of humble pie.

So in answer to your question, my dear friends… “YES!” I am having fun and lovin’ every minute of it!  Most days my work doesn’t even feel like “work”.  I am that passionate about helping fellow service-based companies grow.  And it’s the same highly focused, yet seemingly organic synergy, that will help The ESM Group flourish for years to come.

Thank you for visiting my new website and blog.  Please come back again soon!

Elizabeth “Eli” Mansfield
Activator } Strategic } Futuristic } Ideation } Woo
Founder and Principal Business Development Consultant
The ESM Group

*This blog was created because I find writing about my passion personally and professionally therapeutic. In the process, my goal is to provide an informal knowledgebase for my fellow subject matter expert’s and biz dev-minded follower’s consumption.