5th Business Birthday
Yipeee it’s my 5th Business Birthday. I can’t remember the exact day but I know it’s the 1st week in May!
Can’t believe its been 5 years - it’s gone so fast!
How did I get here? After over 25 years working in big finance and pharmaceuticals companies as a project manager, knowledge manager, information manager and lots of different IT roles, I was made redundant. After a few months break and time to think about what next, I decided that this was my time now to do what I wanted. I’ve always wanted to work for myself and I’ve always liked helping people. I realised that I had a lot of years of various skills, knowledge and experience that I wanted to share.
So I launched my business in May 2015 as ‘Project Complete’. I saw a need of using my Project Management skills to help small business owners grow their businesses by setting goals, drawing up plans and getting stuff done. In the last 5 years I’ve become very skilled in supporting small business owners in: marketing, sales, websites, social media, branding and mainly knowing what works and what doesn’t!
With all these skills, last year I felt I’d outgrown the business name ‘Project Compete’ and I rebranded as ‘Karen - Your Business Mentor’.
It’s not been easy, there’s been a lot of ups and downs especially in the first 2 years. I nearly gave up many times and even looked for a job!
When I started out an Accountant said to me…
…it will take 3 years before you feel like you are getting somewhere…..4 years before you are getting somewhere and 5 years before you are there…
I thought really, that’s a long time but you know it’s true. It all takes a long time to get your business to where you want it to be.
But it’s definitely worth it, I could never go back to the corporate world. I love helping small business owners, it’s a pleasure seeing them grow in confidence and move their business forward to where they want it to be.
What you won’t get from me is ‘Go girl - you can do this!’, simplistic one line responses. Which I find quite patronising. Running a business is not a game. I give expert analysis on your business, which is just for you and nobody else and a kick up the bum, if you need it! I am direct and I don’t beat about the bush but I’m also open and honest and always on your side. I get a real kick when my clients succeed.
The future - well who knows - but what I do know is that I want to continue helping and supporting as many small business owners in Cheshire as I can, so they get the business they want and I’ve got some big plans of how this can happen!
Here’s to the next 5 years - cheers!
