Today, November 6th, 2018, Koogar is 12 years old!
I remember the day I found an accountant, spoke to H.M.R.C. and wrote my first invoice (which I still have).
12 years in business and I have seen many changes, not just within my industry but also with my business, business in general in terms of the way you do business or etiquette and attitudes as a Business Owner.
I’m very proud to say that I am a Business Owner.
We have a certain quality that the average person doesn’t… We have persistence, patience, grit, determination, belief and go through a lot of emotions to help us get to where we are today!
I started my business on the side of my full-time job as an Internet Developer for several reasons and I’m glad I did it!
I’ve had help over the years, because one thing I have learnt is you cannot do it by yourself. You need the right people beside you to push you, cheer you on, bounce ideas off, talk to to lift you back up and most of all understand what you are trying to do!
Here are 12 things I have learnt just over this year in business;
1. Who you hang round with matters
Find the people who have done what you want to do and stay with them, ask them questions of how they have overcome the issues you are currently facing.
Read this blog called Are you hanging round with the right people!
2. Don’t let negativity into your life
Get rid of the negative people or things, they don’t want you to go where you want to be!
3. Be consistent
In everything you do and are… Turn up on your mat in the morning, blog on a Wednesday, go live to your audience. Consistency breeds habit and learning!
Marketing is like Yoga… The more you show up, the better your understanding, discipline and position becomes. Keep showing up in your marketing!
4. Down time is important
Yoga, Walking… Step out of the office and back into nature. It helps with ideas and clears the mind!
5. Life is too short
My Dad passed away in May this year. Life is too short to do the things you don’t want to do!
Read the blog about 9 life lessons my Dad taught me > He is gone – The 9 Life Lessons my Dad taught me
6. Don’t take ANYTHING for granted
My Mum has dementia and every time I spend with her needed to be 100%… no phones, just conversation, nail painting and making sure we are both OK…
On the business front, don’t take your clients or suppliers for granted! Make sure they know you appreciate them.
7. Be prepared
Plan, Plan, Plan… No planning means rushed mornings, hectic working day, not getting things done. With planning comes calmness, commitment and confidence.
8. Let some things go
There are people you are just not meant to work with… Its OK. Its also OK to say No!
9. Go for the new opportunities
Even when you don’t know HOW you are going to do something, but if feels right… Go for it. Ask for help if you need to and just see where that opportunity leads!
10. Don’t say yes and work it out, it’s not that simple!
Some things are just not meant to be… Focus on what you want to do, and you’ll be further down the line in no time!
11. Understand your why!
This is drive you on, keep your spirits up and attract like minded people who want the same type of thing in their lives too
12. Keep going when your head is telling you to stop – Mind chatter!
This has been the hardest thing for me to date… Over thinking and negative talk stops us even cripples us from getting to where we want to be…
Listen to this Podcast about Mind Gremlins – 9 reasons why you are not taking action!
Understand your weaknesses, acknowledge them and work out how to manage them better!
Some of these things might be seen as a negative but in every single one I have seen a positive and how I can be or make things 1% better than it has been…
If you are a business owner, keep going!
It’s the hardest thing to do at times but when you have the right team (friends, family, business associates, a coach, an accountant, staff members) of people around you, you can do anything!
Happy birthday to Koogar, and here’s to many more years in business!
