10 things I wish I knew that would have helped me quit my job sooner and work for myself full time.

LOOKING BACK AS WE CELEBRATE NEW BEGINNINGS.

Today marks the first day of our 9th year in business as Game Changer Marketing! (Wooohooo!!!!)

I would never have guessed I’d survive the entrepreneurial world this long. The experience is one I wouldn’t trade for anything. Yet it took me too long to step out and step up.

?I left my job as country manager at a marketing agency in October 2013. After working there for several years, for arguably the most challenging boss I have ever endured (challenging but a true blessing in disguise), I was restless to start building a business of my own. For six plus years, I had been slowly losing my joy and didn’t even know it. I was not thriving and for an over-achiever that can be quite hard. ?I was faced with a management style from my head office that I failed to get used to and finally it was a relief to dedicate myself to my own “SME”company instead. Perhaps I was better suited to working with the crew of a smaller boat than steering a huge ship that was taking more out of me than I could replenish.

I knew I’d be facing some challenges, but there were 10 super positive things I didn’t realize I would experience running my own company.

1. I didn’t expect to feel so happy all the time!

Don’t get me wrong; I was very good at my old job, loved what I did and was extremely great at it, but over time, I became deeply unhappy with the surroundings. Something held me back for 4 years longer than it should have. I guess I was used to the regular salary, enjoyed the occasional travel and, most of all, the fear of the unknown made me hesitant to make the big leap. But when I finally did, I felt incredible joy. I felt light, inspired and excited for the first time in a long while.

There is something amazingly freeing and fabulous about creating your own universe at work. It’s a direct boost to your confidence as every little victory rolls in.

2. I didn’t know how critical the first person I ever employed would be.

When I left my job, I already knew I’d need a strong team to help take my new business to the next level. Getting the first staff member on board validated my relationship building skills. I had no client, yet, so for an experienced person with the right skills and attitude to come on board, they would need true belief that tying their fate to mine would lead to success.

I quickly found out that having a great “first follower” can make all difference between standing alone, and getting full buy in and acceptance as a valid entity.

I am forever grateful to my operations manager, Damaris. I know now that getting a First Follower is one of those crucial, first steps to building a business that no one ever talks about.

I recently saw this?inspiring TED Talk?from Derek Sivers, which captures this message so well.

"It takes guts to be a First Follower! You stand out and brave failure, the unknown and even ridicule, yourself.?Being a First Follower is an under-appreciated form of leadership.

The First Follower transforms a lone nut into a leader. If the leader is the flint, the First Follower is the spark that makes the fire.” - says Derek Sivers

Once I realized how important my First Follower was to my success as a leader, giving her a key role in helping take the next steps became a no brainer. Making room for her and her ideas made the magic happen.

3. I didn’t know how hard it would be to pick the right team to help me excel

To congregate a winning team is the hardest thing I have ever done. And just when you think you have it right, changes happen because people are human, with seasons and reasons. ?I needed a team that would naturally love their work, wanted to help clients achieve their dreams, felt the inner drive to excel, took the initiative and needed no supervision.

I made a number of mistakes. Hundreds. But looking back, those mistakes helped me clarify what works and what are ultimate deal breakers. I have learnt the wisdom of hiring slowly, and disengaging fast. But the lessons keep coming with every new season, and the only constant is change.

The pandemic struck and we all went off to work from home. What is now an indelible truth for me is that micro-management never works. I firmly believe that if you must cross check to see if your team is working, then you have the wrong team. If the team excitedly executes on your organization's mission and goals even or especially when you are not there to drive them, you'll succeed.

What I know for sure, it's what my team does when I am?not around?that has been the difference between success and failure.

“Leadership is not just what happens when you're there, it's what happens when you're not there.” - Ken Blanchard

4. I didn’t understand how much time and energy it would take to run my own business

Despite doing experiential marketing for six years at the helm of?a similar business, I had to go back to square one when I set up my own agency. I hired my first employee, developed my own SOPs, and created a business plan and brand from scratch. I was driven to spend every waking hour trying to find and sustain the momentum on the path to success. There was no one else to turn to (except my #1loyal cheer leader Macharia), no one to release some of the responsibility to and no time to rest. I realized that my success was dependent on me, and me alone, and that drove me day and night. ?Still does, though, 8 years into running my multi-award winning marketing agency, I have learnt to let up a little and rely a bit more on my trusty team.

5. I didn’t realize how much I’d enjoy taking my destiny in my own hands.

When I was finally able to completely dedicate myself to my own small business, building the brand I wanted with the team I had personally handpicked and the attitude we worked to infuse into our work environment, I was in heaven. The more I worked on centering my business in my life and building a work culture that was based on respect, excellence in delivery, fun and true teamwork, the more alive I felt.

The challenges come and go, successes fire us up and my mother’s words keep me going through it all – “All things good or bad, come to pass”. There is no end, and the pleasure of the journey is the actual reward.

6. I learned to go above and beyond for my clients and my team members

As I’ve grown into a business owner, I’ve realized that showing up for my business means engaging with all my clients and all my staff on a personal level. Business is personal no matter what they say. Being present, persistent and passionate has allowed my team and I to go above and beyond. Good enough is never good enough. I have learnt to walk the fine line between micro-management and mentoring, between breathing down my colleagues’ necks and being there to help. ?And by remaining open, determined and willing to engage, we have lived through 8 years of challenging challenges and joyful joys that we are rather proud to have experienced.

Our best moments come when we see the surprise and delight on the faces of our clients and consumers. It’s proven fact that you are only as good as your last job and winning a new award always puts a sparkle into the spirit of the agency.

7. I was shocked I didn’t miss the regular salary.

I took about four weeks off after my last job because once the anxiety lifted, I felt exhausted. When those four weeks were up and I didn’t get my regular salary, it pushed me to put in the work and get things going for my business. Still, I didn’t miss my old salary at all because I was finally focusing on work I enjoyed with people that were a pleasure to work with. And the results started flowing in.

8. I never knew how much “dedicated” social media marketing would matter.

I knew that I needed to get my branding right and set up my website and linkedin profile. But social media was a bit of a mystery to me, so naturally I shied away from it.

I kept telling myself, “You’re going to have to get onboard these social media platforms, Patricia!”

I didn’t know how to go about building my business online, so I studied everything I could find on social media marketing and branding. But the magic happened when I got a full time social media manager in the right “digital- native” age bracket. She broke it down and made the whole process painless. But most importantly, she kept up a consistent presence and community engagement.

9. I didn’t realize how much change I could bring to my own community with my business.

Every time I review my vendor list, I see so many SME and MSME businesses that my business has supported and sustained over the years. ?Consolidated, year on year, the impact is huge in terms of revenue to them.

And the fact that we also employ hundreds of youth on short term contracts means that we are giving a large number of young people their first job gaining experience with us and build up their work credentials. They come armed with only the energy of youth, the attitude to deliver and no previous work experience. Some work for us for years, learning the required corporate delivery standards, behavior and lingo, growing through the ranks to fully fledged managers, whilst others are poached by big brands and given jobs that would have been impossible to access from street level.

10. I didn’t know how much my confidence would improve.

I have programmed myself to believe and admit that I do not have all the answers and that has been super freeing. I have no problem humbly seeking advice, asking the dumb questions, and surrounding myself with as many brilliant subject matter experts as I can. The resultant success has built my confidence no end.

Also, I have found that people tend to hold back on delivering tough feedback to their bosses so as not to upset them. Of-course no one really wants negative feedback and it is even harder to receive it from your “juniors” as we refer to them in Kenya.

Rather, I have chosen to treat my team as valued members. I have also learnt to suck it up and challenge myself to allow my team to always give me their direct, blunt feedback. It may sting in the beginning, but in the end my company is the better for their honesty.

Then asking for help and choosing not to be super woman has allowed me to focus on what needs to get done and what I am best at. You must say to yourself,?"you know what, I understand that I'm going to have to make tradeoffs and that this is not going to be easy and there's definitely going to be sacrifices". Then you get on with seeking the help you need and letting go of the myth of doing it all, and especially, without the guilt.

From running my business full-time, I’ve learned to focus on my strengths, set healthy boundaries and know when it’s time to take a step forward or back. And now, as we embark on our 9th year in business, I am bursting with gratitude, excitement and ideas; celebrating my clients and colleagues in equal measure. Game Changer Marketing thanks you!!!! We are because you choose us every time

As this brand-new year rolls out, allow me to take the opportunity to wish you excellence, success and the joy of doing fulfilling work. We can promise you our A-Game always!

?

?