My first 100 days in the Bevic Office.
They say time flies when you’re having fun, or in my case launching a new business.
100 days have passed in a blink of an eye since Bevic Marketing Services Ltd officially launched. There’s been some brilliant days when I am so grateful to be in this position: Being in charge of my own time and making a living doing what I love. From client wins to launching and designing my own website, to seeing my PR stories in the media and working on some really exciting projects with fab people and brands have been just a few highlights.
But there’s also been some not so great days: When it all seems a bit overwhelming and the realisation that everything really does start and end with you. I’ll admit I’ve felt the pull of a going back into the corporate world on more than one occasion.
So, what’s happened in the first 100 days in Bevic Towers? Here’s my top 10 highlights, lowlights and discoveries, that have all made the journey that bit more interesting.
1) You are not alone. I have been flabbergasted at the number of people self-employed and can truly see now why SMEs and the self-employed are the backbone of the British economy. Everyone you speak to has their own interesting and personal ‘Why’ story. The number of networking groups out there to support you is great and it’s really a case of finding the tribe that fits with you as a person and what you want to get out of it. I’ve been a guest at a few different groups but the one I became a member of was GTG with their great online community and sense of celebration, collaboration and empowerment.
2) You are more resourceful than you think you are. I’ve gone from being the head of one department to now being responsible for HR, IT and Finance as well! It’s a big jump and can be stress inducing at times but it’s amazing how much you can work out through the aid of Google, videos, forums and just asking for help off contacts.
3) Relationships count. When I first announced I was going to launch my own business, colleagues and suppliers I’d worked with previously were so generous with their advice, time and expertise. From the offer of free creative work, to printed business cards and a friendly ear over coffee catch ups, all were really appreciated and a true reminder how important it is to be nice to people, what goes around, comes around!
4) Finding time to work on your business, rather than your clients’ is hard. Allocating time to update your website, write blogs, work on SEO, attending network events, complete finance spreadsheets are all really time consuming but have to be done. When you are working on your own or with a small team these tasks can often end up at the bottom of the pile and it takes real discipline to move it up the priority list.
5) Perseverance pays off. If you don’t hear back from someone straight away, don’t be sacred to follow it up, especially with a phone call instead of another email. I’ve learnt that if I can’t work something out straight away, or something isn't working out the way I originally planned, I take a breather and come back at it after some time out. Over the last 100 days I’ve definitely learnt that perseverance is a much of a virtue as patience!
6) Flexibility is the Queen. There’s no bigger plus point than the flexibility working for yourself gives you. I’ve been able to attend Harvest Festivals, doctors appointments, unexpected pick ups, and avoid horrendous rush hour traffic because I’ve had the control to manage my time. I feel as though I’m working harder than I ever had but it’s on my terms and for that I am grateful.
7) You won’t win them all. When you win a new client it’s a brilliant feeling and I’ve been lucky to have had that a few times since launching Bevic. But there has been a few times when the pitch hasn’t come off, and that’s fine. Like any rejection it is hard initially but there’s lots of positives to take away from it. I’m a believer that these things often happen for a reason and it’s a case of dust yourself down and move on.
8) It’s all about a growth mindset. Having been accepted on the Natwest Pre-accelerator programme, the first thing that hit home was the need to have a growth mindset if Bevic is going to grow and thrive. Unknowingly I’d created a fixed mindset around various aspects of the business and realised quite quickly I had to work on these in order to go on to bigger and better things.
9) Always look out for opportunities. Although it’s important to remember you can say no to things, saying yes can lead to some unexpected surprises. I’ve accepted to invites, gone to events and meetings and connected with people I might have otherwise thought better of, but all have opened up some great opportunities for me, along with developing my confidence and contacts.
10) Know when to switch off. Running your own business is all consuming. There’s always something you could be doing. Plus working in marketing, I’m often scrolling my phone through social media for clients. However, I know it’s so important to set time aside, put the phone down, stop sending emails and be in the moment with my family as ultimately they are the very reason I started out on this Bevic journey!
I went into the self-employed world with my eyes and mind wide open. It was a world I’d never been part of before, nor one I ever thought I’d be in. But here I am, a self-employed, entrepreneur running my own business alongside brining up two young children and I think I’m making a pretty good job of it. Here’s to the next 100 days at Bevic Towers!
To read about how Bevic first started, you can read my first blog here