Starting a Business? You need this first

One thing you need to think about is who you have around you in your circle if you decide to start a business. Think about this. Who do you have to support you?

1. Family or Partner
2. Networks
3. A mentor

I’ve been really lucky as I’ve a really supportive husband who works in a totally different world to me. He is a taxi driver (Best one in Wexford I might add) and he is patient and understanding and always ready to step in if I need to speak abroad or attend a meeting at a weird time.

Support is crucial as it’s not great to be inside your own head all the time. We are humans so going into our heads alone can be a muddled up place when we are stressed, so it’s always good to talk to someone else and ask their opinion before making major business decisions.

Going into your head alone is like going to the Bronx alone - Can be dangerous!

A good advisor or mentor is essential. My mentors (you can have more than one), have been so kind and so patient with me and they are always there for me. A good mentor will point out things that you might not want to hear but usually it’s for your own good and to help you.

I always let my husband and daughters know what is going on, as any decision I make affects them too. So keep this in mind. Support outside of your family and friends is so important that is why there are so many networks to support business owners.

Find the right one for you. Perhaps you want to go to a weekly meet up. Or there are others that meet up once a month. Online networks are growing and mine is the Women’s Inspire Network so if you don’t have time to go to events then this one could be the right one for you.

Always make sure if you join a network that you are using it. Be active, take part, attend events they hold and help others along the way.

Go with your gut when it comes to who you surround yourself with in your support network. Usually your first instinct is the right one. But I always give people a chance anyway. I was once at an event I was running and someone didn’t turn up at the desk to check people in, so I hopped in and took over. A Woman came over and checked in and she was very offhand with me and didn’t smile at me or anything. So later on that day, I was walking out the door and she ran over and said ‘Oh I’m sorry I didn’t know that was you on the desk’ …...well it was too late, I already experienced her so wasn’t exactly going to be sending her business any time soon!

Support is so important for anyone who is in business. Most leaders in Business even have a mentor or someone who they can bounce ideas off. So take the support that is there. Use it, Listen to others who are more experienced, and reach out when the going gets tough. It's a roller coaster but it's a fun journey.

If you want to join my network you can join here