"There’s no better time than now. Procrastination is your biggest enemy." That’s the advice Lubuw Falanruw, president of Digital Mediums, would give to anyone wanting to start their own business.

After all, he began his software company, Digital Mediums, in 2000, right after the Internet bubble burst. Bad timing? Some might think so, but not Falanruw. He saw that as a challenge.

"There are always things out there that companies need and there are challenge resolutions," Falanruw says. "So, as long as we’re taking that basic approach to things, I think we should be fine."

Digital Mediums has been much more than fine. In eight years, Falanruw’s company has grown from a one-man operation into a successful, profitable business with about 15 handpicked team members and a long list of satisfied clients.

"Never give up, always keep pressing forward, and make mistake," Falanruw advises. He says that examining a problem from a different angle yields not only a solution, but also another opportunity. And, as an entrepreneur, he’s ready to pounce on every opportunity."

Digital Mediums specializes in custom software development, Internet solutions and online marketing applications.  One of the company’s biggest continuous clients is the Hawaii Convention Center.

"If you’re working with a company like Hawaii Convention Center, the products can range from automating some of their internal processes like their bidding process, the way they update, manage and track events, and also marketing, such as developing electronic brochures that are interactive and newsletters, virtual tours of the center," he explains.

For another client, Kaneohe Ranch, Digital Mediums designed a website, complete with an interactive map, showing what experiences a visitor to the ranch can expect.  Some clients need a basic website with a strong purpose. Others, need something more involved, where the website is just one small piece of the solution, says Falanruw.

That was the case in Digital Mediums’ package for Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.  Falanruw’s team built a website that allowed the tour booking company to do ticket reservations. But Falanruw says it goes beyond online reservations.  If someone books a reservation on the Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays site, that reservation is available at the tour desk in real time.

"As well as if they go to the vendor, like Atlantis Adventures, they already have their reservation, ‘cause it’s all electronic," Falanruw explains. "Now you’re not only talking just a website, but an internal system for the operation, plus a b-to-b or business-to-business communication system as well," he adds.

So, a solution really is customized.  Falanruw makes sure he is prepared when he meets with a potential client. "You do a lot of research, you do a lot of listening," he says.

Some clients want the company to set up a website system, then show them how to maintain it. Others want the system set up and they’ll provide the content, so Digital Mediums can update it for them.