A Challenge: Deciding on a business name is hard

I love a challenge. Nothing gets me excited like a new challenge. I especially like one that is just a little too hard, too big, and too complicated. I dig in, figure it out, fix problems, and make improvements where I can. As much as I love it, it is a path that leads to quite a bit of inevitable frustration. When I fail, when things are REALLY hard, I question myself.

"Can I do it?"

"Why did I ever think I could do it?"

"Should I give up?"

Ultimately, I let these thoughts come. I let them go. Then I do the next right thing.

STORY TIME: Deciding on a business name is hard

I've been casually considering what I would name my business for a long time. However, once I decided to make it official and complete the required legal paperwork, I knew I had to quit waiting for the perfect name to magically come to me and finally figure it out.

I wrote down a bunch of words that I thought represented my business (data, analytics, healthcare, storytelling, design, visual, strategy).
I asked family members for ideas (Analytica, Cassell Consulting, Haven Consulting, Almitell).
I used online name generators like Looka Business Name Generator and plugged in words that were obvious (data, analytics) but also words that represented who I am as a person and the things I like (flowers, gardening, homesteading, family).

I was sure this would result in the perfect name for my business, and I landed on Data Bloom. I loved the name. The URL wasn't available but I found a work around using datainbloom.com. FINALLY!!! It was perfect. I knew what the logo would look like. I had the perfect color scheme in mind. I could even visualize the website. The last step before making it official was to search the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), where I tragically discovered that Data Bloom was trademarked to Data Bloom Consulting LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OHIO 10 Fieldstone Dr. Terrace Park OHIO 45174. I was devastated! I couldn't imagine starting over from stratch. I didn't think I'd ever come up with a name that I liked more than Data Bloom. I really needed to move forward and establish a legal business entity with the local, state, and federal government, but how? I couldn't even come up with a name for my business.

A few more days passed and I started to get over my disappointment. I consulted my children and told them that I had the perfect name, but it is already taken, and I needed their help to brainstorm ideas. I know the unlimited creativity of children. Hello Analytics was my favorite of their suggestions.Our brainstorming car ride didn't produce the perfect business name, but it did force me to explain to a 13, 11, 8, and 5 year old the nature of my business. I explained, "I want the name to reflect the concept that data, being merely a series of 1's and 0's, can be transformed into something valuable and useful to an organization."

A few more days passed. Every day my 8 year old would come up with a new idea or ask me if I had it figured out yet. I think she'd become as invested as I was in figuring it out. I continued to reflect on the explanation I'd given the kids a few days prior, merely, transformation, value, useful.

What was at the core of the transformation?

How did the transformation occur?

Where does the value come from?

IT COMES FROM YOUR DATA STORY!!!

I had the name! I nearly jumped out of my seat! But I didn't get too excited, yet. I held back. This time I knew to do a through check before I got my hopes up. I almost couldn't believe it as every check I made turned up available. The only thing more exciting than finally having the perfect name for my business, was telling my children, "It's Your Data Story!"