Starting a business? Here’s my 10 learnings from the first 5 years…

Recruit smart

I’ve always made hires based on attitude and where I haven’t, things have gone awry. In my view, if someone’s attitude is right, everything else follows and skills can be enhanced. After all, we’re all here to learn in this industry. A positive attitude goes a long way to productivity and encourages a healthy culture internally.

Culture on-boarding

This can be quite a shock as our environment internally is different to a lot of companies out there. People who have come from a ‘them and us’ culture of management vs the wider team often need more support to adjust to the idea that we truly do value and give back to the team. I’m not in this for me - we’re all in it together for each other, and for our clients.

Trust your gut

My gut instinct has never been wrong. There are many times I’ve been at crossroads or have had an important decision in front of me and I always bring it back to when things feel right. If you trust and listen to your gut, you can’t go far wrong.

Honesty is always respected

If a client comes to us with a brief, we will often challenge it. Sometimes this process will mean we aren’t aggressive hard selling and recommend a solution that is less in monetary value for us as an agency. But the long term value that this transparency and trust builds with our clients is the most important thing. 

Manage frustrations

Know that if you’re feeling frustrated with your team, it’s a lack of clearly defined responsibilities and expectations. You can’t expect anyone to think in the same way as you and one thing I’ve learnt is to appreciate everyone’s qualities and manage them accordingly. If something isn’t 100% right, whether internally or externally, address is straight away. Hiding away doesn’t solve anything and only increases pressure.

Know your value - and stay true to it

Always place a value on your time and don’t be afraid to let clients know this. Agencies constantly get asked to provide work for free and especially when it’s a large corporate vs an SME, it takes guts to stand up for yourself and know when it’s right to charge for the services you’re providing. Your long term clients who genuinely value you will always stand by this.

Protect your profits

I’ve always had a line of sight firmly on the bank account. Operating between 6 -12 months worth of overheads in the bank is an important part to allowing the business growth over the past few years. If you need to react to changing market conditions or you win a pitch and expand your team, you have the active funds to be able to move flexibility. I’ve also always drawn as little as possible personally whilst growing the business in order to invest in hiring good, highly skilled people being paid good salaries.

Build relationships

Every agency says they care. Not many actually do. Clients will soon get to know whether you genuinely live and breathe your company values and these values need to come from every member of your team, not just from the leadership team. Take the time to get to know your clients…. after all, you work together closely for years on end and you never know when you may need to give or use support.

Don’t hide behind excuses

Whatever your situation, you can always find a reason as to why you can’t achieve something. Those blocks are always in your mind. Since starting KVA on maternity leave, I’ve had a mini stroke, heart surgery, chemotherapy and another child whilst also managing Ulcerative Colitis. I started the company with absolutely nothing, no money or investment - just a woman on a mission! Nothing can stop you achieving apart from your own mind.

Remember the why

Challenging situations always make you question why you do what you do. But when things get tough, always remember the why. For me, the reason I started KVA was to give back to employees and encourage appreciation, do amazing work for our clients and to push them forward with innovation and creative out the box thinking. If you come back to these reasons, you’ll always shift your mindset to keep pushing forwards.

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