When you make that bold step away from the security of an employed role, into something new, exciting and frightening at the same time…are you really thinking about the need to transition from employee to business person?

I took the step over 10 years ago. My career came to a shuddering stop at the start of the 2008 credit crunch. Like many, finding a new role was just not an option for a variety of reasons. Some say starting a business was a brave and bold step…for me I had no choice and to be honest I had nothing to lose.

What strikes me most when looking back now is my perception and understanding of the role “Business Owner”. I thought I knew, and plunged head first into a completely different world. Of course you pick things up as you go along, dealing with all facets of the business, VAT registration, invoice chasing, managing suppliers, brand image, marketing….it’s endless.

So after a variety of reasons…the one major reason being health and a major operation needed. I closed my first business down after 7 years. However after a full recovery, in 2016 I took the plunge again…and MEaT was born.

 

 

It was pretty much the same as the first time in the fact that I had nothing to lose and I think running my own company really is the best fit for me. But something had changed, partly that I had changed up slightly what I was doing as a business. But mainly it was my perception on running a business.

When I started back in 2008 and pretty much across the whole term of my first business, I never really thought of myself as a business owner. I say business owner as I’ve always felt slightly funny on the term entrepreneur. Nothing bad about the term, but to me I’ve always regarded the term with the likes of Richard Branson or the Dragons! Maybe if I make it to that level I can proudly wear the badge?

In my first attempts and now looking back, I really was just a wide-eyed salesman or business development exec. I was pushing for business wins and performed in a manner I had always been accustomed too. I didn’t really set targets, there were no real business growth plans. It was simply get the business in and everything will happen from there. As many who have taken this road will know…that’s not enough. It’ll get your business so far, but it won’t build growth and longevity.

The difference with running my new business is that I do now think about the business as a whole. I am setting real targets, plans and investing in the business. The company itself takes a priority and main focus. It’s not about how many business wins I get.

So that is really my advice for those thinking of starting or are on the beginning of their start-up journey. Make sure you make that transition…change how you think and operate. Leave the employee behind, be the business and become a real business owner!

Simply by changing my mindset, MEaT has already developed into a higher performing company than my first attempt. It’s something I had to work out over many years, and I feel blessed that the penny has now dropped for me.

Wishing all of those who have taken the step into starting up all the very best for their future. Stay positive, work hard and never lose focus on why you did it in the first place!

Are you starting up for the first time and would like to discuss ideas or share experiences?  Please share and discuss in the comments below.