5th Birthday
This month marks five years since I started my business!
That sentence still feels a bit surreal to write, especially since around 60% of small businesses don’t make it this far. I don’t share that statistic to boast, or to pretend I’ve cracked some secret code. I really haven’t. But I do think it’s important to stop and acknowledge what surviving actually takes.
So what gems can I share? Well, for me, there was no magic formula for getting this far. There was no master plan. There also was no financial support. No savings to use to get me going. And no partner covering the bills while I “followed my dreams”. I’m a single parent, with a mortgage to pay.
What I have had is:
An attitude that there is no room to “fail”. This simply has to work- I have to keep a roof over our heads.
A very high risk threshold (probably higher than average, and yes, I do wonder if that’s linked to my neurodiversity)
A tendency to get bored easily, which means I pivot a fair bit to keep things interesting.
A deep need for autonomy, and deep gratitude at being able to choose my direction, even when it’s hard.
A commitment to being values led- which means I pay attention to whether work feels aligned or not.
Spiritual practices such as affirmations and gratitude to help me overcome the doubt when that gets a little shouty.
Support- from coaches, mentors, friends, people I’ve worked with who refer me to others, and communities I’m part of.
And what does five years really mean to me?
It means:
Resilience.
Overcoming the cringe, awkwardness and embarrassment of posting on social media to grow a personal brand.
Choosing again and again to stay in the room.
Adapting, pivoting, recommitting.
Building something that fits me and my life.
Authenticity.
Finding courage and energy even when neither seem available!
Fun.
Learning, my God, SO much learning about business, about my subject areas, about myself.
Personal development on steroids!
Being committed to myself and my work and my values, rather than being committed to working for someone else.
FREEDOM.
If you’re in business, or even just thinking about it, please know this- its so worth it! Remember that the work you’re doing creates ripples far beyond what you can see. For me, working in the Third Sector, this is my greatest motivator- knowing that my work impacts so many more lives now. The ripples travel so much further than when I was an employee.
And if that doesn’t motivate you, remember that at least you won't have to deal with office politics anymore. Woohoo!
With that, signing off with love and gratitude.
Thank you so much for being part of my journey.
**Normal service to resume at the end of the month, sorry! Next newsletter will be looking at why organisations struggle with the difference between safeguarding (small ‘s’) and Safeguarding (big ‘S’), not knowing where duty of care finishes and safeguarding obligations begin.
