5 Things I’d Tell My Past-Self About Running a Business

It’s now one year since I quit my sensible, stable teaching job in order to pursue my own business.

I’d intended to start my business on the side of my full time job, but as I watched the hours slip away, I realised I needed “the fear” in order to do this. The only way I was getting this done was with no safety net and with no other option but to make it work.

When I look back, I am SO proud of all that I have done and built. I have learned so much and loved the challenge.

But it has been far from easy, despite what the gurus of YouTube might have you believe.

Here are 5 experiences that have shaped my business beliefs throughout this year.

Experiences That Shaped My Business Mindset

If you want clients to find you, you’ll have to accept others will too.

My biggest fear was being followed by the people who knew me.

“Who does she think she is?”, I imagined them saying to one another behind closed doors.

And of course, my fears became true. 

My first flurry of followers came not from business owners, excited to use my services, but from family and friends.

But perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised to find out that they weren’t there as part of my imagined witch hunt. They were there to cheer me on and be my biggest supporters.

It’s something I’ve come to accept, and remind myself that the people I am trying to reach to are my ideal customers. Their opinions matter. Anything else is just noise.

Your comfort zone is firmly in the rear view mirror.

Early on, I attended a trade show.

It seemed like a good idea when I booked it- a fun day out for the cost of a train fare. 

I had visions of myself merrily flitting about the stalls, happily parting with gratefully received business cards.

The reality was that most of them seemed confused as to why I was there and why on earth they’d need a copywriter.

I felt sick for the entire day, and it took every bit of courage I could muster to force myself to go up and start conversations.

I ended up leaving early because I couldn’t deal with the anxiety of it any longer.

On the face of it, it was a total disaster…

…except that I walked away with one of my biggest clients to date.

The majority of people you talk to won’t need your services… but that ONE connection can make all the difference.

I’ve heard Ali Abdaal (I know- gurus of YouTube. But on this I think he's got a point) talking about his concept “surface area for serendipity”- i.e. most things in life come down to an element of luck. The more you put yourself out there, the more chance you have of being in the right place at the right time.

Or as he puts it…

“There are so many more infinite possibilities for interesting things to happen when you’re the person who increases their surface area for serendipity than when you’re the person who stays in this little village all their life.”

You have to take action, but which action is your choice.

This sounds so obvious until you’re in the position to take it.

I was initially led to believe that the way to get clients was cold pitching via email.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

Why? Not because it’s not an effective strategy- I would imagine it is probably the fastest way to build a client base if you’re committed and skilled at it.

My problem was... I HATED it.

So I procrastinated on taking action on it.

Aaaand, newsflash! When you do nothing, nothing happens.

Finding excuses is easy.

“I’ll do it when I’ve made my website and perfected my portfolio.”

“I’ll do it once I have more followers.”

“I just need to complete one more course first, then I’ll feel ready.”

At some point you just have to stop shooting for perfection to opt for messy action. That’s the ONLY way progress is made.

Find the actions you’re comfortable taking and the spaces you feel most at ease in, then go all in.

I ditched cold pitching in favour of networking. I have moved from LinkedIn to Instagram, which felt far less intimidating.

There might be faster and more effective routes to growth, but committing to something is better than procrastinating on perfection.

Even in an online world, real connection is everything.

My first client came through a chance meeting in a lift.

I was leaving a networking event, thinking the time for formalities was over, so we casually chatted about our evening and it was only as we both went our separate ways that I learned I’d been talking to the founder of an agency.

I followed up on it, exchanged a few messages, and eventually had my first client secured.

70% of the businesses I have worked with this year have come as a result of some kind of human connection, whether that be through meeting in-person at networking events, or building connections through online networking groups.

It has been rare that I have been contacted out of the blue by someone who has never interacted with my business before and suddenly wants work from me.

These connections take time to build. Posting and ghosting isn’t enough. You HAVE to put yourself out there and talk to people, without the expectation that it’ll come to anything at all.

Running a business requires vulnerability and resilience.

At my first networking event, the only thing that made me walk through the door was remembering the £11 I spent on the ticket.

Speaking the words “I’m a copywriter” just felt like a downright lie.

It was terrifying, but I wanted my business to work, so when it was over, I just booked onto the next one.

Being a business owner means putting yourself, often your name, and, yes, even your face, out there again and again and again.

It means shouting into the void and getting nothing back.

It means putting out content that might never be read by human eyes but counts when it comes to search bots.

The imposter syndrome can feel very real, and is only exacerbated when people doubt you.

To me, the biggest skill in business is having true belief that you are building something for the long term, even if you can’t see the bigger picture right now.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

As I write this, I am currently sitting on 53 Instagram posts, 50 LinkedIn posts and countless DMs. This will be my 19th blog post and 15th email to my mailing list. I’ve attended at least 57 networking events across the year, plus coffee chats, posting to Facebook groups, attending webinars and a whole lot more.

It’s been far from easy, I still feel like I’m only just finding my feet, and very much in the opening stages of my business, with a lot of growing still to do.

I haven’t come anywhere close to equalling my teaching salary.

But when I look at what I’ve achieved, I’m SO proud.

Every penny I have worked for myself. I see my progress building month on month. I have repeat clients and testimonials that reinforce that fact that I have done a great job in helping others in their own businesses.

I have learned an ENORMOUS amount and grown in skill and knowledge. I’ve found the things I love doing.

I’m looking at the next year as a whole new chapter- time to niche down and do things slightly differently. I’m doubling down on the bits that I enjoy, and learning to ignore the voices that say you should be doing things differently.

If you want to follow my progress, the best way is to follow my Instagram for regular updates on where my business is taking me next!