Lessons learned - Looking back at 5 years self-employment
(comments: 0)
Lessons learned - Looking back at 5 years self-employment
Five years on, I look back and smile about a lot of things, about all the things that I have learned and experienced, about the courage required to stick to my path in order to be where I am today. I had my share of ups and downs, happy and sad moments, hectic and “slow” times. Over all, I would do it again, maybe a little more wisely but certainly more courageously.
Let me share some lessons learned with you:
Nobody will knock on your door to give you business. I learned quite quickly that getting out of my comfort zone and creating opportunities is up to me.
Hesitating and pondering too many options is waste of time. Once an objective is set, devising a strategy and starting the actual work is the best way to get results.
Having a firm business idea is a good start, but giving it room to evolve, take shape, adapt and always working with the bigger picture in mind is THE way forward.
“Aim for the moon even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.” Not only “thinking” big, but also “doing” big helps.
Discipline, consistency, hard work and trust in oneself are further ingredients of moving forward.
Building trust and relationships is key for progress. Establishing and nurturing a network of clients, partners and suppliers is the essence of success.
We learn by falling – having the courage to keep getting up after falling is a MUST.
The outside world is not always a nice and cozy place. There are people who like us and support us and there are others who are just waiting to see us fail. I have learned to stick with the people who share my vision, my thoughts and my values. This is where things start to become amazing.
Assumptions are not enough, although needed at times. Business growth needs facts, figures and planning. Thorough research may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but covering at least the basics is essential.
Branding is essential. It represents who you are and for what you stand for. It needs a strategy, focus and time to develop. Rushing things means that you will pay the price.
I have two big boxes of stationery printed with my logo – this is nonsense in today’s digital world. If I had only listened to the good advice offered to me.
Celebrating the little successes and being proud of any step forward keeps the motivation level steady.
I could have not “won the battle alone” without the support of my friends, coaches, mentors and my husband who keeps reminding me of the hard facts of business life. At this stage a big thank you to all of them.
Let me know, where you stand with regards to your moving forward and what you have learned. Moving forward is not only about setting up a business. It can have so many different facets. I am looking forward to hearing your stories and experiences. Take the courage to get in touch: (Contact me)