6 Months In
What’s gone well?
- Building the Brand – we have a clear vision of what we are trying to achieve and really believe in that vision. We now have clients and candidates approaching us, which after 6 months feels like an achievement.
- Networking – as a Salesman, I have always been out on the road with clients. Launching LHP has kept me busy with a variety of other tasks launching the business. Networking has kept me on my toes, to ensure I don’t lose that sales edge.
- Our First Employee – hiring our first employee was a bold move but has paid for itself twice over. We had the work, so we needed the extra pair of hands – it was a no-brainer and has been very much worth the time spent in training.
What hasn’t?
- Lone Working – having worked from home in previous jobs, I thought this would be a breeze. This for me has actually been my biggest challenge. Having colleagues to share your highs and lows is precious, and without them it can be hard!
- Business is Business – clients and candidates have made decisions which were of course not in our best interest. I have learnt that these decisions and actions are not personal and are therefore not to be treated this way.
- Good People – from day one I have had one close friend who is in a similar position to me. Having him around has helped, particularly when sharing our struggles with each other. I have only seen him once or twice and should have done this more.
What would I do differently if starting over?
- Shop Around – one particular decision I made when shopping for a service provider backfired. Fortunately, it wasn’t too significant, but more research looking at other options and looking at previous customer reviews, may have made this avoidable.
- Find a Good Mentor – this is something I haven’t had. I think if I was to start over, I would really think long and hard about networking to find a good mentor. Someone who has been there and done it, who could share best practices with me.
- Self-Criticism – I for one am very hard on myself; I set high expectations and if I don’t achieve them I blame myself. At month three I reset some realistic SMART objectives and it really helped with the vision.
Was it the best decision I ever made (as I thought it would be)?
Definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and wouldn’t change it for the world. It has been a very fruitful journey and we are very much looking forward to the road ahead, we are here to stay!