60 months, 1825 days, 43,800 hours (not all billable 😉)
Well, how did that happen...?!
From a pipe dream back in summer 2019, to sending out my 300th invoice last week (don't worry LinkedIn chest beaters, they weren't all for six-figures 🤑), I have a five-year-old business.
I'm a businessman, man.
I started Authentic on to give more us more flexibility as a young family, and to be more empowered and autonomous with decision making. More in control.
That control evaporated as I ended up 'going live' on the 3 April 2020, a few weeks into lockdown. I asked for my old job back (!) but understandably didn't happen, and also had three hospitality clients lined up. That didn't last.
Something about resilience and determination there? Maybe. It was also great to be at home with family, and terrifying thinking about what comes next. Made it through, though.
Adapt, pivot, resilience. All that, I guess. Hustling, maybe...?
That decision making and control can be exhilarating, yet it can be tough when you're a one-person band – juggling finances, marketing yourself, doing the actual work, new business/networking, social media, having some semblance of a work-life balance...
It is a rollercoaster, but it's my rollercoaster. Feast and famine, ups and downs, good and bad days. It's all part of the mix.
But Authentic remains the thing I am most proud of in my professional life.
Will it last forever? I don't know. It's a vehicle to make our family life better - not just financially (I'm not pulling in the big bucks at all, yet) but time-wise.
And on the finance/project management/cheerleader side, a huge, immeasurable thank you to my life partner and numbers queen Berni Driver for everything through the years.
It's not always been a smooth ride, but your support has made it all possible. It is our business (even though I struggle with saying 'my' sometimes, after years it becomes a reflex). And you kick ass as an FD x
Thank you to all the clients, partners, advocates, colleagues, peers, listening ears, LinkedIn Friends, random networkers, coaches, counsellors, Three Things-watchers, WhatsApp group communities, 'let's go for a pint or coffee' peeps and everyone else I've worked with in the past five years.
Too many people to name, you know who you are.
I was thinking of a big list of things, but here are three (of course), that I'd recommend to anyone.
[To anyone considering going freelance, self-employed, consulting or however else you wish to call it, I'm always up for a chat. People have helped me throughout this, and I want to do the same.]
1. Trust your gut
2. Get a good accountant
3. Remember why you're doing this
Right, off to celebrate by walking the dog, seeing a client in Norfolk and then being up front and centre at a new pop-up networking event in Bury, talking about engaging the media. See you there if you're around.
Go steady, all. One thing at a time.
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Five years of Authentic Comms Strategic Consultancy