My time as a Business Owner and Why I wouldn't change a thing!

Ever since I started working at 13 years of age for McDonald's, I always had it in my head that I wanted to do more then be an employee for my professional career. After a few false starts, time spent working at places I didn't want to, or for people that lacked the necessary leadership skills their role required, My wife and I decided to take the plunge and start our insurance brokerage in October of 2017. As we approach 3 years of business ownership with AJ Insurance Services, I felt like now was a great time to share a bit of my story, as I build stronger relationships with my connections and customers through social media.

I left my last Insurance employment position in June of 2017 right before the birth of our first child, Adrian. At the time, I wanted to start the brokerage, but we spent the next few months getting on top of all the changes at home before we threw ourselves head first into a brand new business. In terms of work, we knew I wouldn't be able to support the family with the wage we derived from the business. We didn't want to put that pressure on myself, Amanda or the business and with basic savings and no external funding, I decided to work for a great mate of mine who was also our first customer. He owns Australia Post Parcel Contracts and unlike most, employs all his staff and supplies the expense paid vans. I had the added benefit of working from 5am until Midday unless it was extremely busy, which despite the long days, gave me the flexibility to work on the business.

The first 12 months of the business was a baptism of fire, with no established revenue streams, lead generation techniques, marketing spend, a new born, a Full time job and Amanda returning to her employment full time late in the year of 2018, we were really up against it! It was an absolute shock as to how easy it was being employed as an account manager at established broker, where the leads would role in through the phones, emails and website, be divided up equally amongst account managers or for specialist clients passed on to the right person. This was our first under estimation when starting the business and something that still presents a challenge to not only myself, but other businesses in the industry.

We were hanging in there, I maintained my full time employment until October of 2019, and continued to fine tune my service model, offering, lead generation skills and avenues. We built our very own website which is still a continuous Work in progress, as well as researching effective marketing methods on social media, people and associations of influence and the like. After the first 12 months and the challenges it presented, we set a target for me to be full time employed by the business before our second baby was due in November 2019, which we achieved.

We now stare down the barrel of FY20/21 off the back of an incredible year from a business and professional stand point with enthusiasm and confidence in a business that has been built on the foundations of the very basic principles I learnt during my time at Australia's highest rated McDonald's as a teenager who was at the time, working his way up into management positions well before his age group. Those principles being that customer come first, regardless of the reason. Our customers are the ONLY reason I'm able to be at home and support my family whilst I'm there! They are the ONLY reason I'm able to call myself a business owner and they are the ONLY reason I have a business.

I am able to support my family because business owners, home owners, investors, and the like, support my business, with the promise that if shit hits the fan, I will do absolutely everything I can to support their businesses, their families and them through it! Some people would say I was crazy to have a startup company whilst being employed as a parcel delivery driver, working full time, and have two children under the age of 3, but those factors are exactly the reason my business is still here! Without those factors and the support of my amazing wife, there would be no business, and instead I'd still be another number amongst many at a large broking firm.

I've had a basic education and a lot of work experience with some really great mentors along the way, but I'll finish by saying this... If you have the desire to do something, just bloody do it! Don't let regret ever be a factor in the life you choose to live. Get amongst it, take calculated risks and do all you can for yourself, your family and your life!

Joe