With a final column, we reach a chapter’s end

Editor’s note: For 20 years, Ken Keller has contributed a column to the business pages of The Signal. At first, it was called “On Business,” then as “Brain Food for Business Owners,” and most recently under its current title, “On Business & Life.” With today’s column, Ken concludes his weekly contribution to The Signal. We know his many readers share the gratitude we at The Signal feel for his dedication and insights.

My goal when I started my weekly column was to help fulfill the mission of my business: “to educate, inspire and coach business owners to improve their businesses and their lives.”

It’s been a fun ride, and a long ride, but it’s time to close this chapter of my life.

Since sometime in the second half of 1997, I have been faithfully writing a weekly column for this great community newspaper. This is my last column. Not every column made it into print, but every column ended up on the website, for which I am grateful.

I was fortunate along the way to be contacted by other papers around the country and so I have written a syndicated column as my smiling face and 600 or so words were printed in Georgia, Texas, Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee each week.

I appreciate, even now, the opportunity that The Signal gave me way back when Bill Clinton was president, to allow me to play a role in the community that my wife and I have called home for nearly 28 years.

Don’t worry sports fans, we are not moving from Santa Clarita. My wife still teaches elementary school and I have clients here to advise.

The idea behind the column was to provide tools, ideas and advice to those who lead businesses in this great place where I have spent almost half of my life. (The other half being spent in the Bay Area and three years in Houston before finding my way to the SCV in early 1990).

My background in business was and remains unique, far different from many other consultants or trusted advisors. In Corporate America I worked in management for several large, consumer products companies, making the functional rounds through Operations, Finance, Marketing and Sales before launching my own advisory firm in 1994.

I often used personal experiences and examples from my clients through the years. Some were funny and some were sad, but I thought they were all educational.

As my column took hold, and became established, I would hear from those around town how much they enjoyed my thoughts on this subject or that concern or issue.

Not surprisingly, I got quite a few emails from people who worked in a business who said, “I wish my boss would follow your advice!”

Through the years, I have had individuals approach me and thank me for writing, which was nice.

Someone said to me one time that my columns have adorned more refrigerator doors in the SCV than anything but family photos. It’s nice to know people value my thoughts that highly.

I’ve used the columns for materials for two books I have published. I have plans for a third book at some point in the future.

While I did gain clients from my writings, my larger goal was to help the local business community. Not every column applied to every business owner or CEO, but I had fun telling stories with different foundations: sports, politics, history, movies.

I think I have been true to my original objective set 20 years ago. I’ll end this by announcing to all of you, Mission Accomplished. Thanks for being part of my life for the past 20 years and thank you for allowing me to be part of yours. Happy New Year, and may 2018 be your best year ever.