World leaders are often assessed on what they have achieved in their first 100 days in office. It made me think that it would be good to share some of the things I have achieved and learnt over my first 100 days as a start up.
I jumped……
Taking the leap from secure employment to running your own business is a big step. For me this was compounded by the most common response I got when I told people of my plans “You are so brave.”. I’ve worked in finance for 21 years, held roles at Finance Director level and worked across a variety of sectors from the legal sector to manufacturing. So with all that experience do you think it was brave or risky to go it alone offering my services in Financial Strategy support?
Well I did it anyway
And in 100 days I’ve achieved
Variety I’ve managed to achieve one of my main drivers for setting up and have secured clients in professional services, retail and the legal sector.
Satisfaction When a client repeatedly thanks you for your support you know you’re on the right track. One client said to me “I always felt better after our meetings as I know what I need to do next.” It’s not just about the numbers but helping business owners to achieve their goals.
Client Success When my client won 100% of a stream of work from a public body based on an innovative pricing piece I produced it made me do a little jig of delight.
Personal Well-being Doing a job you love brings improvement to your personal well-being. I don’t need any Monday motivation quotes to get me going at the start of a week. Being in control of my own workload means I sleep better, I exercise more and I can easily cope with those days when my 3 and 6 year-old are fighting over the same piece of Lego.
And I’ve learnt…. (not an exhaustive list)
Be realistic Unless you have a number of contracts lined up when you leave then it’s likely your earnings will decrease in the first couple of years. Being realistic about what you think you will achieve in year 1 and 2 will mean you are positive when you hit those milestones. Planning to ensure you have enough money to pay the bills will give you peace of mind too.
Build your network Build a support network around you of people who will give you advice, be supportive, may even face the same issues as you and not just people you think may send business your way.
Find the right networks There are a wealth of networking events out there, at the start when your workload isn’t as high make the most of this time to go to as many as you can. You need to find the right ones for you in terms of the right people, the right format and of course the right time. Breakfast meetings are great for me but the reverse might be true for you if you’re not a morning person.
Be a sponge So many people in the Manchester business community have been willing to spare me an hour for a coffee to pass on advice. Take it all in – that’s not to say I haven’t received conflicting advice at times but each meeting has given me at least one little nugget to help me.
Look back as well as forwards Take the time each month to think about what you’ve achieved. It’s strange to move from a role where you had a heavy workload and could see immediate results of what you’ve achieved to one where you are putting in the groundwork but may not see results for a few months or longer. I was recently told to track the meetings and events I’ve been to which has proved to be great advice.
Be yourself, remember why you jumped and enjoy it.
If you are thinking about starting up or are early on in your journey and you want a chat, then give me a call on 07960 564203 or drop me a line at helen@176.32.230.27
