Lessons from my younger self.

TL:DR – You’ll always regret the haircuts of your youth, but you’ll never regret the things you learn, doing those intense jobs of your younger years.

As PolkaStays starts the next phase of our business expansion, I’ve been reflecting more on my past and where I’ve come from.

Although I spent a good few years working in the corporate world analysing data, building integrations and administering databases ??, for a part of my life, I worked in hospitality.

Starting out as a pot-washer in a hotel, I could barely reach the countertops in the kitchen. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t old enough to legally be working the hours I was.

It was tough, physical work… and I had to get up for school the next day.

By the time I was 18, I’d worked up to Conference & Banqueting Manager at a Luxury Wedding Venue. With responsibility for everything from the catering budget to the table décor, I thrived.

Using my love of spreadsheets to keep everything organised, and my passion for perfectionism to make sure the most important day in the lives of my clients went off without a hitch, I learned so much.

Looking back, I can’t believe the level of responsibility I had at such a young age, but I took it seriously.

Those early jobs shaped the way I approach business, teaching me tonnes about what it takes to successfully renovate & run B&Bs, Serviced Accommodation and Holiday Lets.

So, in no particular order, here are the most important lessons I learned along the way.

1.??? Attention to Detail is Everything –

When you’re responsible for someone’s wedding going off without a hitch, cutting corners is not an option. Yes, technically I only needed to spend an hour dressing the room, but that wasn’t good enough for me.

Chair covers shouldn’t be creased. The centre pieces should look just so.

The happy couple had dreamt of their day for months, or years. There’d be 2000 photographs of the event circulating online before the cake had been cut. Every imperfection would be there, on a Facebook timeline, for the rest of their lives.

I did everything in my power to take away additional stresses, worries or upsets so they could get on with enjoying the day.

Likewise, now I have a serviced accommodation business, I always remember that my guests might’ve saved for months to come on holiday. They’ve made cut backs in other areas of their lives to be able to afford a break.

I owe it to them to create a homely, spotless, space that’s the highest standard. They should feel pampered and a little bit spoiled.

If I do this, they’ll treasure their holiday memories forever.

2.??? Buy it right, or buy it twice –

There are plenty of products you can buy to make a venue look good for one occasion. But what about when it’s the fourth, fifth or sixth wedding of the season and the crockery is cracked or the serving spoons are stained? What might’ve felt like a clever use of the budget initially, could’ve easily become a spiralling cost.

When we opened our first Serviced Accommodation in Blackpool, it was tempting to furnish the place with basic, cheap furniture. We didn’t have much cash, and had to get bookings to get more coming in.

But my Nanna’s mantra that ‘you buy it right, or you buy it twice’, thankfully, rang through my brain.

Not only is good quality furniture a cost-saving in the long run, it also looks and feels way better than the cheaper equivalents. If we go back to Point One, and remember that guests have worked hard to pay for their holiday, it’s a no-brainer.

Their experience shouldn’t be ruined because of broken bed slats or wonky wardrobes.

3.??? Listen to what guests want

While I had my ideas about what made the perfect wedding, they weren’t always the same as what the couple wanted. It wasn’t my place to force them round to my way of thinking.

It was my job to listen, interpret & execute their vision.

It’s the same with serviced accommodation.

I might want a state-of-the-art coffee machine…

(I do, BTW, I wish they were mandatory in every accommodation)

... that doesn’t mean the frazzled family with three young kids prioritise espresso.

(Although parenting is probably easier after a large dose of caffeine)

This is where analysing the guest profile comes in.

If my accommodation serves families, I add board games, high chairs & non-slip bathmat.

If it’s mainly used by groups on a girly weekend, I add a cocktail recipe book, shaker & plenty of ice cube trays.

Again, back to Point One, attention to detail is everything, but you have to pay close attention to what matters to your guests specifically.

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4.??? It’s hard work, but the reward is worth it.

Working in kitchens from the age of 13, I’ve learned a thing or two about hard graft. Endless supplies of energy were needed to match the fast-pace of the environment.

I earned peanuts - sometimes, literally. I’m sure I got paid in bar snacks and J2Os more than once - but nothing beat that feeling at the end of an intense, well-executed dinner service.

What I’m trying to say, is that building a business is not for the faint-hearted. It’s long hours, moments of doubt, getting your hands dirty and having to learn skills you never knew you needed.

Anyone that says they’ve built a business without time & effort is lying, and I’d advise against buying anything they’re selling.?

When you see Polka now, you see the end product.

What you don’t see is the late nights, early mornings, the risk involved in leaving a well-paying corporate job or the car, train & plane journeys across the country to make sure every property we have is perfect.

And yet, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Like when I’d finished the final clean down, took a breath and put my feet up after a 12-hour shift, there’s no greater feeling than finishing the working week, knowing I’ve given it my all.

We often forget those roles of our younger years, wiping them from our CVs when more impressive job titles take over.

?I’d love to hear about what you learned from your previous jobs, or the skills you’ve brought with you into your work now.

Did your paper round show you the value of money, or your part-time shop job teach you how to speak to customers?

Let me know in the comments, or drop me a DM. Share your top take aways, so we can all learn from them.

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