Running a business, managing people and running a website is a big task. There are a few things that you just have to find out on your own. While that might be a terrifying prospect, there are a few things we’ve learned this past year that we could only have learned by making our own mistakes and throwing ourselves in at the deep end.
Celina (Creative Director)
Don’t make decisions based on money that’s not in yet.
“Make sure your bookkeeping is in order because then you know what’s happening in your company and can prevent cash flow problems. You want to avoid any nasty surprises – especially when it comes to money.”
Sometimes the solution is right in front of you but you don’t see it.
“We can spend ages talking about strategies and trying to find solutions to a problem only to figure out that it was right in front of us the whole time. It’s often the easiest and most effective answer to our problems too. Try not to waste hours looking for an answer that could be staring you right in the face!”
Ellen (Sales Director)
Nothing is certain until the contract is signed
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that business deals, partnerships, and other agreements are all part of the package. I thought that verbal agreements could also count as final at first, but that’s just not how it goes. If you’re wasting your time jumping through hoops for someone who walks away at the end of the day, you’re left feeling worse off.
Interviews don’t always reflect abilities
“The most confident person in an interview could turn out to be the least motivated in the office, and the shyest person could be the most dedicated, we’ve learned that it’s quite difficult to predict someone’s work ethic through interviews, there’s no perfect formula. It’s a little bit like dating – if there’s a spark then it usually works!”
Beth (Managing Editor)
Being busy doesn’t mean being productive
“The words I most commonly say in the office are ‘I am so busy’. It’s not a brag, I really am. I’m swamped by emails and tasks, and conversations, and things that are flagged up in front of me every day. But I’ve figured out that being busy doesn’t actually mean you’re getting anything done. So, even though I am very busy, I tend to focus only on one thing until it’s done and then move on. Doing multiple things at once is not a good use of my time.”
Trust yourself
“It’s hard to remember that you know what you’re talking about sometimes. Yes, there will be people who don’t want to listen to you or who think they know better, but it’s the same with anything, and it’s best just to be positive and focus on what you know. Second guessing yourself or letting someone try to talk you out of it is normal (and human!) but always remember to trust yourself!”
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