THE BIGGEST LESSON FROM 11 YEARS IN BUSINESS
Eleven years is long enough to learn a few things, don’t you think?
The start of October marks the anniversary of the launch of LeBoo Media in 2014.
It has been, it is fair to say, one heck of a ride – not least because I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever run my own business.
My reason for setting up the company was simple. I was offered a 12-month contract extension with a major firm in the gambling industry and one of my colleagues said to me, with a trace of exasperation: “You’re working as a consultant… why don’t you set up your consultancy?”
In the 11 years since, I’ve worked with some wonderful clients and businesses. Since relaunching as a copywriter in May 2017, I’ve written about pretty much any industry and subject you care to name.
During that time I’ve won a couple of awards, and published a business book. It’s called 21 Questions, and I still come across people who have read it and are happy to say nice things about it.
And yes, in those 11 years I’ve learned a lot. I’m sure I could come up with a list of 11 insights to match the anniversary – if you look through my blog archives, you’ll find similar offerings from this time of year in the way-back-when.
But one learning stands head and shoulders above the rest. One piece of advice that I’ll gladly share with you here, and with any business owner who asks.
Keep moving.
Don’t ever stand still, rest on your laurels, snuggle back in your chair and enjoy the view. Because as soon as you stop going forward in business, the minute you settle for what you have, you’re either going to stagnate – or go backwards.
I have had moments when I realised the business was in exactly the shape I’d always wanted, with the right number of clients and the right balance between short-term projects and long-term work.
That spooked me, because I never wanted to feel like I was in a sinecure. History has taught me that the moment you feel comfortable, you are usually a few seconds away from the ground falling away beneath your feet.
That’s why I’m still, at my advanced age and in this most challenging of years for the creative sector, looking for new clients, new niches and new ways to diversify my offering.
You won’t have to go far to find owners of small creative businesses – and indeed companies in all kinds of sectors – who are finding the going tough because of the onslaught of artificial intelligence, combined with the general economic insecurity bedevilling the UK in 2025.
I’ve said enough times that the most important attribute any business owner must display is resilience. My goodness, we’ve all had to be resilient in this extremely testing year.
It’s been tough. It will continue to be tough. But – with apologies to those who’ve heard me say this at networking events – there’s only one way to respond.
Get up, dress up, show up – and never, ever give up.
Keep moving.
Here’s to the next 11.