25 things I’ve learnt in 25 years
It’s 25 years this month since I took a huge leap of faith and launched Powwow. In the last two and a half decades, we have survived economic recessions, a volcanic ash cloud, and a global pandemic – our biggest challenge to date – while creating countless memorable events for some fantastic clients.
Along the way, I’ve worked with incredibly talented people, had truly life-changing experiences, and, of course, discovered a thing or two about running a business. So, to mark this very special anniversary, and in no particular order, I’d like to share 25 things I have learned in 25 years…
LOVE your team – your people are your biggest advocates, assets and ALWAYS the most important part of your business. If they feel appreciated, valued and happy, they will be more creative and productive, which will in turn make your clients happy!
Be brave, bold and take risks – if you fail you can try something else. But make sure you learn from your mistakes along the way.
You can’t do it alone. Starting and running a business is hard, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Find the experts and advisors you need to complement your skillset.
Pay great attention to detail – it’s what we do for our clients, so we must practice what we preach.
Remember that patience is a virtue – some relationships will take longer to flourish than others. A prospect can take 15 years to finally give you a go (which just happened to us).
Always be kind – to your team, your clients, your suppliers and anyone you ever deal with. Be especially kind to people in sales – it is a difficult job (I listen to my son working from home, calling 60 people a day).
Be curious about everything. It makes life more interesting and fun, and it opens doors.
Be flexible with yourself and others – nothing in our crazy world is black or white. Life will throw things at you that you can’t prepare for, and sometimes you will have no choice but to adapt or change course.
Surround yourself with a great TRIBE. Running a business can be lonely, and friends and family will be a massive help when times are tough.
Don’t be afraid to delegate – it is crucial to let go. If you insist on doing everything yourself, your business will never grow to its full potential.
Seek out different perspectives – don’t hire only people who are like you. And listen to your team, they’ll often have better ideas than you do.
Not everyone will stay with you. And that’s okay. If members of your team are exceptional, there’s a good chance they will be poached. Take it as a compliment – you’ve obviously taught them well. Watching your people go on to have incredible careers is hugely rewarding, and you never know, they could one day become your clients!
Network, network, network! Look for business opportunities outside the normal channels. Prospective clients can be everywhere – I almost got a piece of business whilst having eye surgery – yes really!
When the time is right, work ON the business not IN the business. You're responsible for the big picture. But if you're too focused on daily tasks instead of strategising for future success, you could miss important opportunities for growth.
Take more time out – I missed a lot of my children’s childhoods with au pairs, nannies and babysitters looking after them (although I did take Tilly on a plane to Bermuda at 3 months to do a site inspection).
Surprise and delight – a term we learnt from one of our clients. Spoil your clients and your team – it’s the little things that count.
Get a good accountant – I met mine at a 6am networking event in a grim pub in Battersea almost 25 years ago!
Believe in yourself – many other people won’t. Always strive to be the best you can.
Trust your instincts. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if something feels wrong early on, it almost certainly will be.
Never stop learning and always keep an eye out for new or better ways of doing things. Don't get in the trap of doing things a certain way because "this is how we've always done it."
Your attitude must be ‘CAN DO’ – no is rarely an option – it’s my mantra! Bring solutions, not problems, and figure out how to do it. There is (almost) always a way.
Prioritise your health, as well as the health of your team. In a small business, your own physical, emotional and mental wellbeing really matters.
Make time to play. Running a business can be very hard work, so you need to enjoy yourself. Laugh often, HAVE FUN and celebrate your successes. I feel incredibly lucky to have never had that Sunday night feeling.
Contribute and give back. Find a cause you are passionate about and offer your time or support. I love inspiring others, so have worked with Founders 4 Schools, an education charity, which set up events in schools to inspire school children to start their own businesses or think about their careers more broadly. It’s incredibly rewarding.
Time goes insanely quickly – the last 25 years has gone in a flash! So, it’s important to do something you love.
If you would like to talk to us about an event CALENDLY LINK
