The top 9 things I've learned in the first 12 months of Streifer&Co...

Wow - 2020 has been quite the year. Not only did we have a global pandemic and eight months of lockdown in Melbourne, it has also been a year of astronomical growth for Streifer&Co.

S&Co helps organisations grow and manage their key stakeholder relationships. And we do it well...

But just like the local barber who needs a haircut or a star pavement engineer who hasn't sorted her own driveway, we learned A LOT about growing in the process. We did it by doing the dirty work, day in and day out. So I thought I would offer my own humble experience on what has (and hasn't) worked..in the hope that you can avoid some of my mistakes - and grow in the best way possible. So here it is...(you can thank me later..)

1. Most importantly - A confirmation is not a contract - I hate to give you the bad news first, but here it is - I don't get excited about new clients anymore. Ha! Well - it's not quite true, I still get excited, but I don't get really excited until a contract is signed. People can promise the world all they like, but not every prospective client will be a paying client. That's ok. You might not notice this when you work for someone else, but when it's your own business - boy, do you notice! Don't take it personally. Often it's not about you at all - there are limitless reasons why this might happen: timing, internal and political constraints or not really understanding how you can help, are just a few. Don't fret - your people will find you. You'll get better at explaining what you can offer and 'closing deals'. And you can still get excited when you've signed the contract...
2. Appreciate your champions - There are endless people who can and will help you. If you have fostered good relationships in your life (and you should, because it's the most important thing you can possibly do) - the amount of people who will come out of the woodwork to help you is extraordinary. I get choked up just thinking about it. Many of these people have not asked for a penny (which is helpful as a startup!) and you will remember the ones who helped you along the way when you couldn't give them a thing - except appreciation. Remember these people and be grateful. They are your champions.
3. Get the fundamentals right - You can have the best furniture in the world, but if you don't have the right structure, your house will fall down. Invest in the fundamentals early - a good accountant, a lawyer, even an operations person who will sort your life out (thanks, Jacqui!). It will make you feel much safer to grow. I spoke to a successful startup founder recently who told me that he spent 12 months getting the fundamentals right before he left his full-time job. That was wise. I didn't do that. But getting our structures right has made me feel way more confident to grow - and now we can help clients get their structures right, too. Phew.
4. Hire the best people you can - For heaven's sake - don't do everything yourself. You can, and will, burn out. There are people who are much better than you at basically everything else (thanks Daniel, Tim, Ian et al!), who can do a lot of things that you're not very good at. Identify your weaknesses and then find the best people who can complement your skills. Pay them the most you possibly can. And thank your lucky stars that they are there. You should focus on your zone of genius and leave the other stuff to the experts. I'm lucky that I'm a fantastic delegator (right team?). Train your team and then trust them. You pay them for a reason. Let them help you. And be appreciative. They don't need to be there, they choose to..
5. Not everyone is in your corner - This was a very, very hard lesson to learn. As you grow and have some success, there will be some people who do not have your best interests at heart. Or they might have good intentions, but they are also driven by darker motives, like greed. Identify this early and let them go in peace. Not everyone is your person. That's ok. There will be a lot of people who are your people and will walk with you on the journey. (NB: this is also a very good reason to have a lawyer, seriously...)
6. People don't really know what you do - Even if you know what you can offer (and I've learned that this evolves, as well), people don't really understand what you do. Communicate with current (and potential) clients often and in every possible way. Understand what they need. Sometimes this communication just means having a coffee, sometimes it means getting your social media or external comms right, and sometimes it just means letting your clients speak for you. Don't assume people know what you do. They don't.
7. Figure out what your values are - We help leaders grow and manage relationships to make a significant global impact. We do this across infrastructure, technology, sport, government and NFP. Why? Because it's fun. S&Co's core values are love, fun, leadership/vision and power. These aren't nice to haves. You need to understand your values so you can make sure that you're taking on the right projects and clients. It also helps you get out of bed every day and gives you a sense of meaning. Figure out what your values are and do only that...as much as you can.
8. Take a break - You're not truly of use to anyone if you're exhausted. Take breaks before this happens (and during!). Exercise. Have a day without looking at your business (it's hard!). Prioritise what you have to do and then, take a break. This gives you the energy to persevere, particularly when times are tough. You can't give from an empty cup. And what's the point of having a business if you can't enjoy it?
9. Have fun - People often ask me how I balance work and my personal life. Well, to be honest, I don't. For me - they are a weird and wonderful mix and it makes me very, very happy. This is not for everyone. But for me, the number of clients (and suppliers!) whom I consider friends is magical. I love what I do and I try to have fun with the people around me. Would we get more clients if we were a little more serious? Maybe. But people notice that we're happy and want to work with us. And maybe I'll have a few extra faces at my funeral. At the very least, I'll rest easily and happily when the time comes.

But seriously, still take time off.

It's been a weird and wonderful journey. If you need some help, feel free to reach out - [email protected]. We've got you...