Lessons Learned From My First Year As An Entrepreneur

First of all, I never wanted to own or start a company. I charted a career aligning myself with the business of the businesses I worked for, driving talent, engagement and best in class employer experiences. I chose builds, and challenging roles. I was content.

My role had changed at my last employer, and while one could view it as a stretch role in which I was delivering, I lost the components of my role that I was really passionate about, and good at, and both the company and I suffered for it. It was time to move on.

I had two really solid CPO roles I was in final interviews for prior to heading to TED2017, and it was there that my perspective changed. Almost everyone there is a successful entrepreneur, who hack products, processes and services and reshapes them to what the market wants, or in some cases, didn’t even know they needed. I was inspired, and some fellow TEDsters, including Lucy Rose, Shawn Neely, Rodrigo Martinez, Mike Morardi, Marleen Laschet and Lucy Farey-Jones encouraged me to start my own business, because what I really wanted to do, and what I was really driven by, did not exist. They may never know how much they impacted me, and how grateful I am for their wisdom and support.

I returned from TED, and with the support of my family, resigned from my job-which frightened the heck out of me. I began planning a business that drives performance from the inside out through Talent, HR Advisory and Employee Communications. No one had considered starting an agency with that dedicated people-focused lens. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a fantastic partner, and really great consultants, and before the website was finished we had our first client.

I have learned a lot in this past year, and given how many people are thinking about starting a business, I thought I would share some key learnings you may find useful, in no particular order. I can tell you while I am still overwhelmed at the response to what we do, and pinch myself every time we review six month planning, it is real, and we are doing it. There is no such thing as perfection; every business has a unique thumbprint and the journey is an iterative process. Oh but what a journey, and in that journey you can find incredible joy, gratitude, humility, community and your own definition of success.

• It’s scary, and that’s ok
• Start with a hedgehog concept to find the nexus of what you are best at, most passionate about and drives your economic engine. It really is the best way to stay focused on who you are, and who you are not
• Develop a purpose statement that includes your values. Your values, culture and purpose are the core of your business
• Practice self-care. I walk every morning between 8-9am, when I either listen to podcasts or my latest music vibe. I do not take or make calls during this time. I make time for family, friends and pets. It’s not easy, but this may be the most important thing you can do
• Honor the ceremonies and rituals. Everyone works a different way and has a routine they find works for them. There is no one way, but in sharing the rituals and routines, everyone can learn new approaches
• Socialize ideas with your team, and with your peer community. The best ideas are the ones that are challenged and tested.
• Communicate with your team, and communicate again. We have a connected remote culture; there is no office. We have to work hard every day to make sure we have levels of touch through video, Slack, text, email and phone calls with everyone.
• Not everyone is going to want to work with you, or you with them, and that’s ok. Be it client or team member, be at peace with that.
• There will be versions 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 of your offerings and approaches; change is good
• Find joy every day. Share a laugh, a story, play with your dog, get excited about that new approach or new client. There is joy in that.
• Actively learn new things and read, as much as you can.
• You will have failures, but every failure teaches a valuable lesson and there is grace in that
• Slow down. Focus on getting it right, not just done.
• Delegate, you will not be able to do this on your own. Learn to let go and trust.
• Management by OKR, or objectives and key results, is a great way to shape a culture of commitment and purpose
• Say thank you, a lot. You will have a lot to be grateful for.
• Ask for help, people will want to support you.
• Give help when you can, it’s more important than you know.

I hope this is helpful, I would love to hear your story. I am happy to share any key learnings you may find useful, the good, the bad and the rest. I could share how we bootstrapped Cheer Partners, and could tell you marketing do's and don'ts, and how to brand your business, but you are likely better at that than I am. It’s still scary, and surreal in so many ways. But I wouldn’t change this past year for anything, and I look forward to the future with gratitude, hope and excitement.