Unlocking New Possibilities: If I could start again.

If you started again, what would you change or do differently? What possibilities could this open up for you?

This year, I am celebrating eleven years in business, which has got me thinking about what I would change or do differently if I went back to the beginning, if I could start again with a blank piece of paper.

Of course, you can ‘start again’ anytime you like because it’s your business and your rules. However, this does take courage, and if you’ve been in business as long as I have, it’s harder to start from scratch. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make changes to open up new possibilities.

Here is what I would do differently or change.

First, I would only work the hours I want to in the business. I would commit to nine to five and no evenings or weekends. In the beginning, I was juggling my business with two small children, but I could have done it better, which would have made the shift to working more intentionally easier.

In relation to finances, I always paid myself and saved for my tax bills. So, there is little I would change from a financial point of view. Although I would implement profit first a little earlier. Oh no, hang on. I’d also ask my accountant to complete my self-assessment sooner because that really was a waste of my time.

I would definitely not use every social media platform. However, at the beginning of my journey, one of the services I offered was social media training, making it part of my journey. So, I wouldn’t want to change that if I went back. But if I were to start afresh, I would make LinkedIn my primary platform, which it is now and choose one other. I would consider my marketing differently and look at it from a different perspective. Spend less time on my marketing activity, which has been a procrastination tool over the years.

It took me a long time to realise that I couldn’t do it alone and that I needed help and support to move the business to the next level. With this knowledge, I would definitely hire a VA sooner. Outsourcing is scary, I know, but you can’t do it all in your business. You’re not the expert in everything, and guess what? You’re not expected to be the expert in everything.

I’ve always been a huge advocate of networking and love the community it offers me. This sense of belonging is really important, especially when you start out. Plus, over the years, networking has provided me with valuable information, helped me develop my services and offers, and helped me stay connected with those I wish to work with.

While I wouldn’t change anything from a networking point of view, I would learn to trust my decisions and, more importantly, act on them. This is easier when you’ve been in business for a while because starting a business is initially scary. You want to do everything and please everybody. You learn to get better at it. The key here is to act on your decisions.

Acting on your decisions creates momentum in and for your business. It is how you make space for opportunities and possibilities to appear — those that you would never have thought of or envisioned. You have to take the first step for the possibilities to open up. While I have not always trusted or acted upon my decisions, I have taken many first steps and have not always achieved my desired outcome. But that is part of the business journey, how you develop and grow, so that’s OK.

I definitely should have used a CRM system sooner. Initially, I didn’t need one because I only worked with a few clients, but I didn’t understand its relevance or importance to my business. Since making this change, my outreach has been easier and more effective.

Over the past eleven years, I have tried growing my e-mail list, completed training, launched lead magnets, and even used Facebook advertising. Nothing really worked for me. Again, this is part of the journey, and that’s OK. However, I wish I’d given it more importance—made it a priority from the beginning.

You can start again anytime to unlock new possibilities.

This is your business, and there is nothing to stop you. I recommend you review your business, including the software and processes you use, as part of your annual planning process. This has been invaluable, helping me see where the business was clunky and where improvements and savings could be made.

Do I wish I could go back and start again? No, because it’s been the most incredible journey.

But suppose you are at the beginning of yours. In that case, there are definitely golden nuggets within this blog that I would encourage you to think about, including:

1. Surround yourself with incredible people. Networking is the easiest way to do that. Find a group that works for you and commit to it.
2. Don’t be everywhere. Marketing shouldn’t involve throwing everything at it and hoping something will stick. Be intentional with your activities.
3. If you are creating a lead magnet, ask yourself where it leads them. What is its purpose? And please don’t see a lead magnet as simply growing your e-mail list. It goes way beyond that and should be about filling your pipeline.
4. Make growing your e-mail list one of your key priorities. This is essential because we never know what will happen with social media. We never know when there’s going to be a blackout or where there’s going to be an outage. Or worse, we get locked out of our own accounts.
5. Make your business’s numbers count. Use them to develop and grow your business and guide your decision-making. Don’t fear them; instead, see them as a valuable tool.
6. Decide how many hours you want to spend in the business and block it in your diary. If you don’t want to work Mondays, block them out. Decide how to use the time you want to spend in the best possible way and commit to that.
7. Outsource before you need to, and this might include before you can afford to. Until you create the time you need in your business, you will stay stuck and not enjoy the freedom you desire.

Always remember that your success comes from a personal blueprint. Trust your decisions and act upon them to fully experience your journey and open up possibilities. If you are unsure how or where to start even, book yourself a complimentary coaching call.