If you could start all over again...

[RSL]

Hi guys,

I've been fully self employed dor 10 months now and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm still quite young at 24 and figure I have a life time full of lessons to learn! There have been some tough times and quiet periods when I do wonder what the heck I'm thinking but I know its all worth it. Even with the launch of my second business which has been well received things are starting off slowly and a very tiny voice inside is starting to panic. However I'm going to keep on trekking. If I could start it all over again I'd probably have started sooner! Become self-employed I mean!

What do you think you'd have done differently?
What lessons have you learnt?

:-)

[Jayne]

Ask yourself the same question in 12 years :lol:

No, I was young too when I started in business. I would have left it a little longer before starting now, could have got all my hols out of the way. :D I don't think now I could work for someone else, I like to use my brain how and when I want to, not because I have orders to do this that and the other. I think I would get bored in a 9-5 job.

It's very hard and stressful sometimes being self employed, but it's worth it, just for the freedom you get to be yourself :D

Jayne

[www.sitepal.co.uk]

i think it is best to keep a part time job for peace of mind in the early days.

now that i am doing it full time i do miss being around people due to my business being all internet.

giving up work has given me more time to focus on the business

i am designing sitepal.co.uk at the moment so its good to work whenever i like

best

tony

[RSL]

I must admit there are moments when I also miss working in an office. When I chat to friends about their days at work and the gossip that ensues I get a bit nostalgic...then they start to complain about how crap the job is I remember why I made the choice!

[Rob Holmes]

I've found after a few years there are some key 'friends' I have online and on the phone - even if we don't meet up much - we still make an effort !

If I could do it all again.. I wouldn't change a thing - I really believe I am doing the right thing and have had to walk a certain path to get here.

I have learnt alot - things nobody could have taught - just the school of self-employed survival.

Maybe I would have read some key books earlier - maybe I wouldn't have been ready for them.

Rob

[daveashton]

Yeeks Tony. A BIG opposite for me. More focus and more time taking the business forward. We new we could sell so what was the point is messing around and having a part time job.

Other big lessons for us.

I wish we had spent more on web strategy.
I would have not partied so much before I started and hence would have been less under funded. You can grow a business by increasing sales but cash flow was until 3 months ago a major issue in expanding so fast.
If you have a business partner they need to be in the same financial possition as you to maintain equal focus.
Do not listen to any government advice, if they were any good they would be running thier own business.
Plan more, implement less.

[Jayne]

Yeeks Tony. A BIG opposite for me. More focus and more time taking the business forward. We new we could sell so what was the point is messing around and having a part time job.

Other big lessons for us.

I wish we had spent more on web strategy.
I would have not partied so much before I started and hence would have been less under funded. You can grow a business by increasing sales but cash flow was until 3 months ago a major issue in expanding so fast.
If you have a business partner they need to be in the same financial possition as you to maintain equal focus.
Do not listen to any government advice, if they were any good they would be running thier own business.
Plan more, implement less.


I loved the government bit :lol:

Jayne

[stagetec]

I thought the government bit was great too, very true as I know from bitter experience!

Andy

[DuaneJackson]

Ditto on the government bit. "Those that can, do. Those that can't - teach" (Oscar Wilde I think?)

I'd agree with Rob about certain books I wish I'd read before and also wonder if I'd have been ready for them.

Certain concepts I wish I was aware of a lot earlier - perceived value is the first that springs to mind.

Wish I'd learnt about NLP before I did, then I'd have had the time to dedicate to learning it properly.

[daveashton]

Sorry need to add another.

Beanies should never run a business either. I am now the owner of BIZAL and this is because though he was a great beanie he did not help the company grow!

PS Is it not a shame that we all agree about the governments lack of help and misleading advice.
My mum is setting up and they told her to spend daft amounts of money on several things that do not help the business.