Going it Alone

I can remember that day back in 2011, like it was yesterday... going to work just like any other day, excited for the weekend and within hours I was unemployed... stripped of my car and my salary and owed lots of commission... Yes indeed.. the Company I was working for had gone into administration!  

The emotions ran high for hours on end , I cried... I was angry... I felt let down but I also felt a fire in my belly... I wasn't going to let this ruin my life... I was good at my job, I had 15 years experience - I'd worked for the biggest distributor in the Industry and had been taught well ... I'd always wanted to set up my own Business but I had children to support, a mortgage to pay, no savings, bills coming in, no car and a laptop that was 3 years old so the odds werent looking good...  However despite all of the negatives I always remember my dear old Dad saying to me ... 

You've always talked about it, so maybe now's the time to do it my girl... what have you got to lose?

Bless his heart... he was struggling with his own emotional battles as my lovely Step Mum had died a few months earlier... That's when I decided I was going to do it ... start up my own Company... and on that day The Little Branding Company Ltd was born...

Those next few weeks were crazy... one minute I was giggling, the next I was crying hysterically wondering what on earth I'd done... doubting myself and my ability... I spent hours on the phone to customers letting them know what had happened and where I was... letting the suppliers know so that could ensure any outstanding orders were fulfilled and delivered without complication and also trying to think of a company name and design a logo... it was a very stressful time but also a very exciting time... I'd work until the small hours and make silly mistakes because I was so tired... one evening I was working at about 11.30 pm and my son said to me... "Mum, why don't you stop now - its so late"  I said "yes okay darling - I just need to finish this spreadsheet..." I'd spent hours and hours inputting all my client info and when I came out  it asked me if I wanted to save the information but I pressed No and all the data was gone... just like that...

A huge lesson was learnt that evening...

During that time though, I had so many calls from friends, customers and suppliers, contacting me to say well done for taking such a huge step, telling me I could do it... saying that I was good at my job along with so many other lovely things... those calls kept me going, kept me focused and to this day I am grateful for everyone's support... I couldn't have done it without each and every one of you...

Steve Prior at WENTA was a huge help too - he helped with so many things ... I was confident in doing my actual job but setting up a business, getting a business bank account, Tax, VAT and all the other Business 'stuff' was a major complication to me...I didnt have a clue... I'd never done it... so a huge thanks to Steve at WENTA - also to Andy Keane at Nat West - he was amazing too ... I still bank with them to this day and its been fabulous, although this year is the first year I'm having to pay charges but that's a good thing and a reminder its going well... 

I can remember 8 weeks after losing my job, I bought myself a little car - my son found it for me, I couldn't afford a lot... it was ￡400.00 - a little Ford Focus that had dodgy brakes, it was a bit scratched but every one of those scratches was mine... and it was my freedom to get out and see my customers... that day was a huge milestone for me... I was so tempted to go out and lease a  brand new car but I knew I didn't want to commit to anything like that until I was sure the business was going to work... after all, my priorities were to pay the mortgage and the bills and put food on the table ...

I would say it was a good couple of years before I really started to relax and feel confident that things were going to be okay - I'd started a business in a recession and it was successful - gosh who'd have thought it was possible?  I even got my lovely brand new car in year 3 and it was worth the wait, it really was... 

Gosh, what a journey its been...  those times seem so long ago and now I'm in my fourth year... business has grown year on year since day 1 and I'm now looking into getting software and a mentor to start the next part of my journey...  I'm so busy and every month I'm bringing new clients on board... I have to pinch myself sometimes because I would never have thought it was possible to go from literally nothing to this... I have my wonderful sons  to thank for being so supportive and understanding, I couldnt have done it without them and to this day they are both my best friends and my constant support - I also have to thank my wonderful Dad for always being there for me - when I was worried about something he would always say the right thing ... my Dad is a remarkable man and spending time with him has proved we are so alike... Also huge thanks to all my wonderful customers and suppliers because without their support, it wouldnt be possible... 

I've written this to really encourage and inspire people to start their own businesses... I would say to anybody who is thinking about it, to stop thinking about it and just do it!  If I can do it, anybody can... it really is one of the best things I have ever done...

I'm going to leave you in peace now but I really do hope you enjoyed my story... writing it down has opened up some of the emotion I experienced in the early days but its made me feel so grateful ...  I consider myself a very lucky girl...

Have a great day !

Jo