Last week I celebrated my business’ 5th birthday. I took some time to reflect on the biggest learnings from those five years – the things I know now that I wish I had known back then. I am sharing my top 5 today:
1. I AM AS QUALIFIED AS ANYONE TO BE HERE
When I started my business, I put a lot of people on a pedestal, believing that they were “legitimate businesswomen” and I was not. I thought I needed to take years to prove myself, that I needed more clients, more experience, more followers, a bigger email list, etc, etc to validate what I was offering.
Then I got inside the businesses of the women I looked up to and realised that they felt exactly the same!! Imposter syndrome is rife. Everyone feels it and it prevents so many people from sharing their gifts with the world. I deserved my seat at the table just as much as they did.
2. WE LEARN BEST BY DOING
I’m a sponge for information about business and personal development. I’m a voracious reader, I listen to podcasts and love conversations with my business buddies who are experts in their field to soak up their wisdom. I’ve supported clients through big things like launching podcasts, new programs, hiring staff, firing staff, international expansion, opening new premises and many more.
I’ve also done many of those things in my own business too and the biggest learnings come from real life experience – being the one to take action. We can talk ourselves out of anything. Fortune favours the brave so it’s important to be willing to take action.
3. ACCOUNTABILITY IS ESSENTIAL
As business owners we have no boss or manager setting KPIs – we can do anything or we can do nothing. Having someone to talk through and commit my goals and intentions to ensure that I take action (and the reassurance that I get from them makes doing scary things less scary) I am fortunate to be surrounded by very wise business buddies to thrash my ideas out with. I have a mentor and am part of a mastermind group and my business has expanded as a result.
4. CONSISTENCY & RELIABILITY = A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
In business and life outside of business, the things we do regularly are more impactful than the things we do occasionally. If I don’t consistently do activities like proactive business development, follow ups, social media posting, bank reconciliations… all the fun stuff, then I see an impact on my business revenue.
Reliability builds businesses. Doing what you say you are going to do, showing up on time, delivering when and what you have committed to and communicating if you can’t. It sounds so simple but you would be amazed at how many people don’t do this – which makes you stand out when you do it.
5. THE BIGGEST GROWTH HAPPENS WHEN I AM TRUE TO MYSELF
When I stopped playing small, when I backed myself the way I backed the women that I support, that was when big, positive changes happened in my business. Being clear on what it is that I want to do, not what is easy, not what I’ve “always done”, not hiding in the wings where it was safe, asking for what I want – pursuing it and being brave.
Leap and the net will appear is one of my mantras and it has served me well. A little bit of woo woo mixed with a whole lot of action. Whenever I trust in myself, make a change and open up space for something incredible to happen, it always does.
I hope that these learnings help and inspire you. I have shared more about this milestone on my podcast – Your Business Boost. You can follow and listen here.
Michelle is a business strategist with a 20 year career as a trusted advisor to female entrepreneurs across an array of industries including media, fashion, design, travel, coaching, sales, training and recruitment.
She has supported hundreds of women as they up- level their businesses. Her superpower is being able to cut through the overwhelm that comes from running a business alone, removing the roadblocks and identifying the right opportunities and resources to bring their ideas to life.
Connect with Michelle at www.michellebroadbent.com.au
