Lessons from 15 Years in Business

This year was my 15th in business. Over this time my business has evolved and grown significantly. But looking back, I think it’s perhaps myself who has grown, and therefore my business along with me.

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I remember my ‘Why’ when I started, was simply to be able to ‘keep my hand in’ while I took a career break to raise my 5-month-old baby. That baby is about to turn 16 and has recently started her own career in finance!

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As we come to the end of the year, I started reflecting on how my year has gone. Which prompted me to also start reflecting on my biggest lessons from the last 15 years.

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Believing that knowledge is only powerful when shared, I thought here, in my last LinkedIn Newsletter of the year, is the perfect place to share these lessons. I’ll also be digging into many of these on my (soon to be renamed) podcast: The Driven Female Entrepreneur, so keep eye (or ear) out for those mini-sodes coming up between Christmas and the New Year. You’ll find them here.

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Meantime, here are my lessons from 15 years as my own boss. Let me know in the comments which of these resonate with you, and what lessons you’ve learned recently that you feel others could benefit from knowing.

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There is Power in Simplicity

In the early years of my business, I was almost permanently overwhelmed. I had two babies to care for alongside my work, and little support.

I’ve since learned that there is always a simpler way to do just about everything. In moments of overwhelm, I’ll often ask myself “How could this be simpler?” then go for a walk. My brain works on the problem in the background, while I fresh air and a change of scene. Then magically when I get back to my desk, I can see a simpler way forward.

Checking that your To Do list contains tasks - and not projects, and breaking tasks down into smaller pieces also helps me keep overwhelm at bay.

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Sometimes, the simplest way forward is to not do the activity at all, if it just isn’t ‘worth the calories’ in terms of the value it will deliver.

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Productivity is Personal

Through trial and error over the years, I’ve discovered what helps me get things done. But that’s not what works for everyone.

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For example, I’ve discovered that 90-day plans work well for me. I tend to have big visions. So, one month is rarely long enough to complete these. However, planning over 12 months is too long for me to stay focused, and I end up with a trail of half-finished projects. However, 90-days works perfectly. I can accomplish something meaningful in that time alongside my daily activities.

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What works for me has also changed as my family has grown and my perspectives (and energy levels) have changed. Leading me to understand that what works when it comes to building a business changes with each season of life.

The bottom line is: if it works for you, it works!

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Know What Lights You Up and Let That Guide Your Decisions?

When I first started my business, I was a communication consultant for large companies. I built a strong reputation quickly and, after just a few months, I was permanently booked out and had replaced my previous salary. But eight years in I was facing a burnout.

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I realised that while I was great at what I did, it didn’t fill my soul with joy. Many business owners fall into this trap, including most of the 150 I’ve interviewed on my podcast.

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Once you know what lights you up, and where you can add most value, you’ll always feel inspired to grow your impact. And that’s where I am today, thanks to the ‘mistakes’ made in the past. It’s exciting.

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Knowing what’s right for you, also helps you lean into your intuition and feel what’s right. Making decision-making easier too.

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Don't Stay Stuck or Alone. Ask for Help

While there is some merit in figuring things out, it can be tedious. Not only that, it can have a negative impact on your mindset.

In my first business, things would have been very different if I’d reached out for help sooner, or employed a business coach – back then, I didn’t even know such support existed.

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Asking for help and insight is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

If you want to make a difference in the world, you owe it to yourself and your future clients to get out there and start having an impact – and not spend weeks, months or even years going in circles.

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This is one thing that all my podcast guests agree on. We can’t succeed alone. We all need help from time to time from a VA, our friends and family, a coach, experts etc.

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Evolution is Inevitable

As you build and grow your business, you start to better understand where your talents and experiences can have the most impact. You also discover more about your own capabilities. And learn from the experiences of others.

So, where you start in business is never where you end up.

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We rarely get things right first time, and we often start out underestimating just how much impact we can have. For example, I always assumed I was rubbish as sales. However, when I learned the skills and put them into practice, I found that I really it. Done well, sales can be a powerful way to add value and help people reach their goals. ?

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The lesson is – don’t stress over where best to start or what to do next. If you’re not sure, start anywhere and grow from there.

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Mindset is Everything?

Henry Ford said it all when he stated that: “If you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”. I’ve seen time and time again with myself and my clients that if you don’t cultivate a positive mindset, it will work against you. Often without you even knowing it.

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When I started to consciously work on creating a success mindset, so much more became possible for me. Without having to work harder or get new skills.

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In fact, the impact was so powerful, that I’ve since trained as a Mindset Coach and co-founded the Mindset Success School to help more people cultivate the right mindset, behaviours and habits.

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In this article I share some simple ways you can start to build your own success mindset.

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The Importance of The Right People

It’s commonly stated that surrounding yourself with the right people is essential for success. And I now know this to be true. Those times when I’ve struggled most in business, have been those times when I’ve flown solo, without a coach, mastermind or ‘in the know’ friends to support me. I now know better!

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When you are surrounded by people who understand, believe in, and support your vision, there is no limit to what you can achieve.

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Self-Respect and Compassion is Vital for Success

Without self-respect, we don’t put in place the boundaries we need to protect our time, resources and sanity. We give too much of ourselves to others and too little to our own priorities.

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While I’m all for showing up with generosity and kindness, we must be kind to ourselves first. This means working on our own health and priorities first, and then showing up for others.

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Self-compassion gives us the right mindset towards failure. It helps us to forgive our mistakes and learn from these. It helps us rise to challenges in ways that feel right for us. And enables us to ask for help and guidance without seeing it as a weakness. I had a great discussion about this with Tom Cleary on the podcast.

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Networking is Better than a Google Search

Growing up a ‘shy girl’, I never thought I’d say this, but I love networking. For many years I struggled to feel confident walking into a room of strangers and actively avoided any form of networking event.

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But once I reframed networking and created a vision around what a strong network could do for me and my future, things started to change.

I created what I refer to in my book as my VICTORY Formula. This formula helped me to move away from how I thought I ‘should’ approach networking, and create my own rules. As I did, my confidence grew – and so did my network.

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Thanks to my network, I’ve been able to start three businesses quickly, spoken on stages around the world, published and contributed to five books and made many great friends in the process.

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A strong network is one of the best assets you can create. You never know what opportunities it will bring you, but I promise you they will be worth all the time and effort you’ve put in, and some!

You can get a copy of 'A Shy Girl's Guide to Networking' here

(It also makes an inspiring Christmas gift ??)

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If You You Think You Can, Go For It!?

There are several things I’ve felt the urge to do over the years where, if I’d stopped to listen to others, instead of myself, they would have told me I’m crazy.

My Dream Clients Summit this Spring is a great example. So many people told me I should wait or not do it, but it ended up being a big success. Many participants even told me that they learned more than they have from paid programmes!

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And there are times when I’ve felt I could do something, but I didn’t trust myself and ended up regretting it. Although I've since decided not to let feelings of guilt stand in the way of my progress - it's such a waste of time and energy.

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Learning to believe in your own vision and trust your instincts is the one lesson that all my podcast guests agree on too!

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Promoting Yourself is Hard, Showing You Understand and Care is Easier

Despite having two decades of marketing and communications experience, I quickly realised that there is a big difference between promoting a company, and promoting yourself, your value and your ideas.

However, finding ways to add real value and help others through your marketing and content is far easier. And far more rewarding and enjoyable too.

This has always guided my work in helping women identify, communicate and sell their true value, so they don't end up with a hobby instead of a thriving business.

This year, my approach gained an official title: Value Whispering. And I'm looking forward to doubling down on this concept next year.?

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There is a lesson in every experience

My podcast and guests continue to prove this. We’ve spoken about practical lessons around sales, email and marketing. As well as sharing the kind of wisdom that only comes from experience, like in this recent episode with Sally Jackson.

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Whether things go perfectly, or not quite as planned – or fail to materialise altogether – there are powerful lessons to be had.

The key is to give yourself the space and the grace to reflect on your experiences, good and bad, extract the lesson, and determine if and how it will help you in the future.

There have been so many more wonderful lessons I've had over the last 15 years, but these are the ones I keep learning, or keep feeling grateful that I've learned.

Which lessons have resonated most with you?

And what lessons have you learned the hard way that you feel everyone would benefit from knowing?

Let me know in the comments.

Finally, if you've found this content, then do subscribe to this newsletter and share it with your friends and network, so they can learn and grow too.