As a woman in business…
As a woman in business, my advice to others is...
… If there is one thing I have learned since starting my own law firm 6 years ago on Monday, it is to surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you – and, support and encourage other business owners and entrepreneurs, male or female in their ventures. My second piece of advice is to speak to and mingle with as many business owners as you can – the majority will be very happy to pass on their experiences to you. You’ll also soon realise that the many stumbling blocks along the way have been there for everyone else too.
It takes a lot of grit, determination and ‘digging in’ to get a business off the ground - and even more so to keep the momentum going, especially on days when you feel like you’re giving 100% but not getting anywhere near that back. It’s also very tempting to convince yourself that despite the grind, you’re just not getting where you want to be fast enough – I know that’s how I feel every day. And, truth is, of all the business owners I have ever spoken to, the vast majority feel the same. Take a look back over the months or years though, and you’ll soon see that plenty of progress has been made.
By virtue of being a business owner, you’ll likely want to keep improving things; quite simply, you’ll want to keep making your business better. The word better can mean so many things, but it could mean, faster turn-around times, more efficient processes, happier clients, higher turnover and profits, more staff... The list goes on. You’ll also likely want to experiment with different ways of doing things. As risky as that can be sometimes, it will be necessary to take calculated risks along the way, to try things – and if it doesn’t work, change direction again.
All this - not to mention the sheer responsibility of it all - can be exhausting, and so you’ll also need to take time to wind down and to take stock. This is something I’m only really getting to grips with now. I know only too well how easy it is to make poor decisions when you’re tired or under pressure. I’m afraid as a business owner, it’s also your responsibility to know when to take a break. You’re the person at the helm of the business; shift your mindset to that of a business owner. I’m not sure I’ll ever fully get there, but it’s just not the same as being an employee. Of the many business owners I have spoken to along the way, we all agree it’s a massive learning curve; I often compare it to being a completely different world. It has changed my outlook completely over the last 6 years and I am sure it will continue to do so.
Enjoy all the big successes and little wins along the way and when you’re knackered, don’t be disheartened, seek out like-minded people, bring people together to share ideas – and above all, keep going!
Rachel Roche – Managing Director, Roche Legal
