Reflecting on 5 years in Business

As we approach the wind up November, I'm thrilled to share with you the exciting news that my business has marked a rather large milestone when it comes to small business markers. Made For More is celebrating its Fifth anniversary! In an industry where it's reported only 50% of businesses make it past the first 2 years and a further 50% don't make it past the first 5 years. I'm pleased to say we're leaving those stats in the dust!

I'm deeply grateful for the support of my Made For More community, past clients, current clients, and future clients who are all part of this incredible journey.

I'm so very thankful to have support networks around me, my mastermind, coaches and mentors who have been wonderful over the past 5 years. I now truly understand the saying 'on the shoulders of giants'.

The last 5 years have been a combination of long days and short years, a journey or perhaps a rite of passage of highs and lows, professional achievements, personal achievements, heartache and a lot of fun along the way.

As I reflect on the journey so far (I'm only just getting started) I wanted to share some of the unconventional lessons that have shaped my entrepreneurial path to date. I hope that some of these may resonate with you.

1.Win Your Own Game

I literally have this on a t-shirt. I think one of my key learnings has been to keep my eyes on what I'm doing. Not getting caught in comparisionitis. Setting some lofty goals, and just going for it.

My goals, no-one else's

2. Ambition Can Ostracise You

Yikes - read about that conversation here.

3. Unexpected Gift to My Children

I didn’t realise the impact taking business and running a business in front of my children would have (naive, I know). My oldest often helps me send out books and knows (because he asks clever questions) about copyright law, publishing, the book writing process (he even kept me on track for my second book) profit margins, freight… and how to beautifully wrap a book.

4. The Echo of Life

a few years back I heard a podcast that I've now re-listened to over 60+ times. It's called the Echo of Life by Ed Mylett, and what I love about it is the idea of putting in effort when you're not yet seeing the results. Trusting that that effort will come back to you in a time period that is proportionate to the expected results. i.e little effort = 3 months, larger effort = 18months. The key learning for me has been putting in continued daily effort and not resting on my laurels.

Check out Ed Mylett's podcast episode I'm addicted to here.

5. Roots Give You Wings

As someone who is naturally agile, I've found developing structure and processes an 'opportunity for growth' (read: HARD). Structure, cadence and frameworks (all that boring stuff) have allowed the freedom of creativity, flexibility in the moment and the ability to be present. Setting up this discipline has paid off in spades down the line. Sometimes the opportunity is hiding in the hard.

6. Tenacity Every Day of the Week.

I've realised that one of my key skills, or Genius Zones is that I have a level of tenacity that is unmatched. While I was writing Grunt, Grit and Grace, I realised that this is a skill I developed in my dancing years and it has served me well in business. I think it comes down to a few things; A sprinkle of focus and a big goal. I can make magic happen.

7. Don’t let Anyone Dull Your Light.

There are plenty of people who will provide unsolicited feedback. Find your hype crowd, be aware of who is qualified to provide your feedback and in the words of Rhianna, "Shine bright like a diamond"

8. People are people are people

Over the last 5 years, I've worked across 35+ industries. Leadership is needed everywhere, communication is needed everywhere... to all industries, to all people, across all levels. The thread that ties us together is our human-ness, our humanity and the experience of connection.

9. Naivety can be a gift

I had no idea what I was doing when I started Made For More, I only knew I wanted to make a big impact in the world, and that I loved speaking at the front of a room (a hangover of my stage days I think). The gift in Naivety allowed a lot of failures, a lot of experimentation and most importantly doing what worked for me. Naivety really was wonderful, I had no preconceived limitations to what was possible. Would I do things differently if I had my time again, absolutely! Also, the journey of learning has been wonderful.

10. Ideas are Valuable.

When I first started my business I had a business coach who told me I had too many ideas. About two years into my business journey I found a community that celebrated thought leaders. And all of a sudden I started to unleash YEARS of thinking and perspective which set my business apart. Rather than being a leadership expert who regurgitates models, I now share my leadership expertise through lived experiences and my own thinking on what is working right now for leadership and communication.

I think with the integration of AI, I hope as humans we continue to value and develop our ability to think and maintain our autonomy.

11. It's a lifelong Journey

Often when I'm working with leaders I remind them (and myself) that it's a lifelong journey. There is no finish line, there is only the next evolution, the next 'level up' the next pivot. This life of business is continual learning, developing, and growing and I'm here for it!

12. Slow down to speed up

This is one of my most common catch cries when working with teams on their strategy days. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is actually slow down... so we can speed up. The more time, effort and thinking I put into planning, the better the result.

13. It's a Good Day to Have a Good Day

A positive mindset is priceless. In 2020 I hosted an international radio show - Overwhelm to Owning It. Every episode, every week, every season I kicked off with 'It's a good day to have a good day'... and guess what?! it turned out to be a good day. How we perceive things in the world is up to us and the lens we use. I'm a very optimistic person, as a result, I see opportunities everywhere and often will have a good day.

14. Your Vibe Really Does Attract Your Tribe

15. Containers hold different amounts.

I have a huge capacity, I like to do BIG things. I'm lucky enough to be someone who can hold a lot, alot of the time. My capacity to manage multiple projects, clients, and kids seems to expand and contract at various times. There are some people who have the capacity of a thimble, and some who have the capacity of a swimming pool. I'm a person who enjoys and thrives on the ability to hold BIG space, for BIG thinking and BIG work.

16. Celebrate Wins Large and Small

17. Personal and Professional Development is the best Development

18. Grunt, Grit and Grace are my biggest assets

19. Love People Hard

I hope you enjoyed this list. I'd love to hear what some of your biggest lessons have been. Feel free to share them below.