On the 10th anniversary of my official kickoff into entrepreneurship, here are 5 things I have learned from the journey:
1) Just don’t give up. That’s almost half the battle.
Let that scrappy, stubborn part of you guide your decision to quit (then really really try not to, even when you’re not sure if things are going to work!).
2) Being an entrepreneur is excellent preparation for being a parent (probably vice-versa too though I did it business first, then babies!).
Both will test you and push you to the brink, make you doubt your own capacity and/or sanity, and also reward you like few other things in life. And I’ve found the things I start do end up feeling like my babies, for better or for worse…
3) Change is hard. All kinds of change are hard.
Big changes, little changes, all have incredible challenges. But you can trust that there is a rhythm, a formula if you will, to master change, and I have find it so rewarding to help my clients, whether they are a multi-national corporation, a solopreneur, or a mid-size engineering firm move from *here* to *there*.
4) Invest in your business (and yourself, because you ARE your business) and hire great coaches.
They will help you get out of your own way, and help you capitalize on your own strengths. 10,000% ROI at least. I am so grateful to the MANY amazing people who have coached and encouraged me over the years and I owe them my gratitude. Lookin’ at you Nicky Roberts Erica Nitti Becker Ahmad Munawar Trey Stinnett
5) You’ll meet great people who have also opted out of the employee conditioning that most of us get as kids (whole separate rant on that!).
They make the journey even more enjoyable especially when you get to team up. Related: things don’t have to feel difficult to be worthwhile. When you’re fortunate enough to get paid for the things you love and are really good at, the hours just melt away and you have so much fun working together. That would be you Rebecca White Vanessa Raquel Raponi Anthony Fasano, PE, F. ASCE Kandis Neth, P.Eng., M.Ed. Heather Gamble Chris Hunter
Also thank you ALL clients who believed in me enough to hire me instead of a big firm. You rock for taking a chance on me. I am honoured to have been part of your stories.
Paul Boire Anna Plaskett Susan Hollett Trevor Krawchyk Mike Gilles Marisa Sterling, PEng, FEC – Dave André, P.Eng. Greg Dudish Audra Walsh Diego Escobar Scott Denton
Here’s to the next 10 years! Lots more exciting stuff to come.