This is the last day of the federal fiscal year. As the head of a firm that does federal contracting, it’s when I look back and assess how well my federal marketing efforts worked over the past year. Not good. Hate to say it, but by any objective measure I was not a successful marketer this past year (at least as far as government contracting goes — we did good in the private sector).

My shareholders — wife, three kids, and a dog — are not going to be happy.

Our business remains strong. And yes, I can come up with all kinds of excuses — federal appropriations were very late, a new administration is still filling jobs so spending decisions have been postponed. But ultimately, I have to tell myself, “Blogenberg, not so good.”

I could delude myself. I know lots of business owners who do. Delusion may feel better, but it doesn’t help me figure out how to make my business stronger.