MY THREE BIGGEST LEARNINGS FROM TEN YEARS IN BUSINESS
I got one of those LinkedIn notifications the other day congratulating me on the 10th anniversary of my setting up LeBoo Media.
This landmark is a source of both considerable pride and some disbelief. To put it simply, until the age of 50 I never thought for a minute that I would ever run my own business – let alone one that would survive and thrive for a decade.
It is tempting to come up with a list of 10 things I’ve learned about business and about myself since the start of October 2014.
Tempting, but… to adapt a quote from my favourite TV series, The West Wing, the total tonnage of what I have learned in that time would stun a team of oxen in its tracks.
So, instead of a long list, here’s a short one. The three things I didn’t know a decade ago now that stand out most strongly for me now.
1/ Don’t stand still. Standing still is the same as slipping backwards. Even when you feel you and your business are in a really strong place, always stay light on your feet. Be agile, be nimble, and be quick to respond to changing circumstances. I now appreciate the value of always learning and adapting. For instance, I recently made a radical change to my networking strategy and now focus on the centre of London as the place to meet contacts and potential clients who may need help with some weighty projects.
2/ Get your messaging right. Well, I would say that, wouldn’t I? But I’ve come across so many great companies with fantastic products and services who just were not conveying that to their potential customers. Marketing is utterly key to your business success. Being good at what you do is really something, but being known for being good is absolutely everything. Without an effective marketing strategy, you run the risk of being the best kept secret in town.
3/ Be resilient. In the past I’ve written lists of the attributes you need to be successful in business. Over the years, I’ve come to realise that the quality at the very top of that list will always, for me, be resilience. The ability to keep swimming, even when the waters are at their choppiest, is absolutely priceless. Every business owner will go through days, weeks and even years when it’s a struggle. What matters is that you persevere. The waters will calm. This too shall pass.
I haven’t made any secret of the fact that 2024 has been a challenging year for LeBoo Media. Like many, many business owners of my acquaintance, I’ve found potential clients reluctant to commit for a variety of reasons. That’s changed just in the last few days, and Q4 looks like being the best part of the year by some way.
I’m 60 now and I genuinely have no idea how many more years I will keep providing copywriting and communications services for companies in Kingston, Surrey, London and across the world.
Who knows, I might be back in 10 years’ time with another set of learnings from the world of copywriting?
But I will always be grateful to the many clients who have come on board over the last decade and the many friends I’ve made along the way.
And if you want to know what the fuss is about, and need help with your copywriting project, please get in touch.