Jake Donaldson
Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit
Meet the alumni:
Jack Donaldson, Method Architecture
Why did you apply to the program?
I applied for the program because, although business was great at the time, I instinctively knew I was missing a key ingredient for future growth. I knew that if I continued doing the same thing repeatedly, my company’s road for growth was limited.
What growth have you experienced since graduating?
While my company has seen steady growth in revenue, employees, new business, referrals, and mergers/acquisitions; I attribute the bulk of my firm’s growth to this new way of looking at my business. I’ve been able to remove myself from the tedious day to day tasks of the business and focus on the big-picture of where I foresee this company growing.
How has that growth impacted you and your business?
The growth has presented a number of challenges. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program gave us great tools to be evaluate, analyze and create a path forward for growth.
How have you, as a leader, grown?
As a firm leader, I’ve felt more confident in taking calculated risks, leading our team towards future expansion and prosperity, and accepting defeat as a normal part of growth.
How would you summarize your program experience?
My experience was both challenging and rewarding. It was hard to make the time to be away from the office and complete the assignments. However, making this time sacrifice also forced me to improve my delegation skills and let go of some operational tasks I had been holding on to. It also provided me with an established time each week to focus solely on various aspects of the business, instead of continually pushing it further down my to-do list.
What advice would you give to the other small business owners preparing for growth?
Actively pursuing growth requires a plan. Determine where you want to be in 5 years, do some research, create some strategies, and then execute. Surround yourself with good people and don’t try to do everything yourself.
How are you supporting the local community?
We believe giving back to the community is an essential part of our business. Our employees participate in regular volunteer efforts through various organizations like the Houston Food Bank. Our leadership sits on boards for non-profit organizations like Spring Spirit. Our firm provides pro-bono architectural services for non-profit organizations each year for companies like Big Brothers Big Sisters.