Trick or Treat - sink or swim?

Is your business drowning? Take action now ready for a Prosperous 2017! Halloween Treat

Cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel? I was there in October 2015 and know the feeling of desperation. I was nearly closed by the FCA and had to turn a corner within 6 months or bail out – throw in the towel? Don’t despair or suffer in silence seek help it is there I found it. When you are on the rock bottom as I was, you can only rise – survive and turn that corner.

Returning from London on a cold and damp late October 2015 with a severe cold – had lost my voice because of the stress found myself up at Hospital Causality on 3 occasions with a chest infection that developed into Pneumonia.

The person that issued me notice to quit was another woman much younger than me and she enjoyed every moment of that power. Did I cry? Yes, not there but going home on the train.

I arrived home late that night and instead of bouncing through the door with the City adrenalin I crawled in crying my eyes out. My husband was cooking dinner and even his creative Chef’s culinary skills could not arouse me. I cried out, ‘it is all over – gateway2enterprise is finished’! He calmly told me to come in the warm – get comfortable in the warm and inform me that he had a new pasta ready to be served and just like that informed me ‘that I had been there before – we had survived and I would do it again – after all I always do’’! Great vote of confidence which is so needed.

I was given a ‘life-line’ by one of my Mentors who I saw after this devastating meeting. Actions Adam shouted – here are your options as there are always options:

1.      Walk away now and move onto something else you have been there several times

2.      Take the positive of what they gave you – fight them and work with them – bring in their monthly consultants and work to a new business structure – so shut down temporarily create a new website and team and move forward and relaunch.

3.      Pay 150k legal fees and obtain a full FCA licence.

I took the middle road. In Sep 2016, I relaunched. I had to find investment to support a cash flow and developments.

1.      Downsized my home

2.      Took out a personal loan

3.      Max out on credit cards and overdrafts

4.      Trimmed my business model

5.      Reduced staffing closed offices

6.      Used my pension pot re investment

7.      Nearly took a personal loan from family

What did I do with the investment?

1.      Invested in new website

2.      Invested in new systems data software etc.

3.      Brought back SEO/PPC

4.      New web developer team

5.      During down time did what else I am good at and know for as my MENTOR advised Events Management – Business mentoring etc. – souring finance/investment for other businesses and business development for others

This is a crucial time of year to make sure you are ready in January 2017 to rock business with a healthy cash flow – investment opportunities with a sound business structure and that includes having sales funnels in place – contacts – leads for future sales.

You cannot do this alone another pair of eyes that is outside of your business will see more.

Bring in a Team of well experienced Business Consultants. Not like the Public sector do which cost millions ￡ and deliver little but do the job and save you money.

I have just that Team with a wealth of skills, experience and expertise to support your business to flourish in 2017.

Arrange a complimentary Conference Call before January 2017 for a Mini Appraisal on us for Christmas as your treat.

We even in Aril 2016 opened a new arm of www.gateway2digital.com of our brand and was TOP TEN FINALIST of Virgin #voom new tech business. So, you see if you stay positive bring in the Calvary there is that silver lining.

Karen Melonie Gould

www.gateway2enterprise.co.uk

[email protected]