Happy Business Birthday to me!

As I sit here to write this blog, it’s my businesses first birthday. I can’t quite believe where the time has gone; it hasn’t quite sunk in that I have made it to this milestone! I know a lot of statistics say it’s the first three years that count to the survival of any new business but making it through the first year is no mean feat!

I guess now is a good time to stop and reflect. What have I learnt in the last year? The answer is “Oh so much!” More than anyone would want to read in one blog.

I think most people acknowledge running your own business is more than just having a service or a product to provide. I am not going to bore you with all the areas I have had to learn from scratch.

I think by far the biggest thing I have learnt, are about personal development. Especially the fact that you can learn new skills and improve things about yourself that you didn’t think you were capable of. Yes, of course it’s hard work and it doesn’t happen overnight, but anything is possible if you’re willing to go outside your comfort zone.

I have spoken before about how I had never heard of networking until I began Busy Keys, and this most definitely took me outside my comfort zone on a personal level. I remember hating any kind of presenting or speaking to a group as far back as primary school. Over the last year I have slowly grown less fearful of my moment in the spotlight. My introduction pitch is never slick or perfect and I can improve on delivering a clearer message. What I have learnt clearly from networking is that patience and perseverance does pay off. It has been a really nice feeling to go to some events in the last couple of weeks and know plenty of people in the room or meet someone who has heard of what I do through word of mouth!

This brings me to my next lesson learnt, that being self-employed doesn’t have to be lonely or isolating; selecting and surrounding yourself with like-minded and positive people that motivate and inspire you means that support is always there if you need it.

Needing support and not knowing everything about everything is also OK too. This lesson was harder to accept and it wasn’t a sign of weakness. We are all human and asking for help with something unfamiliar is not a sign of failure; I like to try and think of it as a sign of good decisions about doing what’s best for the bigger picture in your business.