Hard to believe it was 7 years ago this week since hitting the button to launch Starry1HR!
My decision was based on emotion, I was impulsive and completely did not follow the rules about business plans. I was however, very fortunate to hear about a three day kick start in business course in Portsmouth that helped demystify what seemed like a mountain to climb and understand the different sorts of self-employment from Freelance to Ltd company and all inbetween.
I remember sitting late into the night in my home office registering on Companies House whilst “searching” what the Questions actually meant on another screen. Then the networking started in earnest, together with trying to get my non-techno brain to understand the whole website, domain name, hosting malarkey as well as trying to be salesy in a non-salesy way!
I have been so lucky on my amazing journey and gained many great Clients, Associates, friends and been supported by incredible family and a very patient husband. I have been given a lot of free help and advice along the way, names too numerous to mention, for which I will be forever grateful but you know who you are!
I have learnt that you are never too old to change your career and that so much is based on self-belief. The best part of my job is now helping others in blowing their own trumpets and supporting them with their next steps into new jobs that they will love and be successful in.
So, reflecting 7 years on, was it the best career decision I ever made? Totally! Of course, there have been self-doubt moments and hanging on by the fingernails when the phone hasn’t been ringing, my savings depleting with no income, but I’m so glad I got off the roundabout and joined the rollercoaster that is self-employment. As a wise person once said to me….Never look back, you might trip over what you’ve been looking for.
(Photo@Markus Spiske)
