One of the things that has emerged from the current pandemic is the fragility of many of our current business offerings.
Where I find it really hard to swallow is the impact on the businesses which were almost untouchable pre-Covid. Many businesses in the tourism industry were seeing year on year growth locally. The construction sector especially in the hotel and Grade A office space markets was on the rise and companies such as fitout specialists, M&E and trades were reaping the benefit too. It will be important to see what will come out of this pandemic for these businesses. I sincerely hope that there will be no long term damage and we will continue to see bounce backs like the mini recovery we have already in the property and car sales markets.
While I sincerely hope that our established businesses are able to recover, Covid-19 has opened up another world of opportunity for new businesses. I am delighted to say I am one of them and I want to tell you a little more about my story.
I was working for a fabulous local business Group in a great role as Head of Communications – managing a team and looking after several business in the construction sector and a property division. I’ve always had an ambition to run my own business, but I am not a natural risk taker.
I struggled with the concept of leaving a secure job on a Friday and starting from scratch on a Monday, despite the opportunity having presented itself before.
Lockdown was different, I think everyone started to view life through a different lens, me included. I thought ‘what’s the worst that can happen- I fail and I go looking for another job?’ I very quickly realised I could live with that prospect; I told my employer what I was planning and threw myself with gusto into setting up my own Communications Consultancy.
It was only then that I properly realised the power of our own network. It was only in doing this that I realised how important it is that we don’t operate in silos, that we help other people when we can and that Northern Ireland in particular, is a very small place to do business. I was able to get advice from some of the best business brains on this island, I was able to fine tune my offering by chatting to people I had previously worked with and I was able to get business through the door without having to go looking for it.
People have said to me, ‘you are very lucky’ and I always say, ‘long may it continue’ because it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. It isn’t luck though, very often we in business don’t take credit for hard work, for being kind to people or for giving back when you can. That does not go unnoticed by people when it comes back round to being your turn to ask for support.
There’s one incident which sticks out in my mind where a person came to me for interview advice. I could have ignored it or brushed it off- their success had no bearing on me. I didn’t; I met them for a coffee, gave them everything I could to help and sincerely wished them every success. The person didn’t get that role but got a better one and that person is now someone who I have gone to for advice and ultimately may get work from it.
I’m not sure if I believe in Karma but I think in business ‘what goes around, comes around’. If you generally treat people well, work hard and do your best, there will be people there for you when you need them.
At this time more than ever, we need our network. If I leave you with anything this week it is to think about your network- are you helping them and are they helping you? Don’t ever be afraid or too proud to ask for help- we all need it from time to time
And finally, if you have already or you are thinking about starting your own business- what is the worst that can happen? And I sincerely wish you every success.
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