The Pain and Reward of Entrepreneurship
What Next?
I hardly slept that night as my mind raced to think of all the consequences of that broken contract. As I woke anger also started to set in. My day normally filled with the hustle that comes with managing a busy team, was replaced with silence. No phone ringing, no staff questions, no email notifications. Just my own thoughts to keep me company.
What next?
In that moment, I decided that I would never work for anyone else again.
It sounds gallant. I was fortunate to have a supportive partner who told me to back myself. We decided if I was to do in my own business what I had done for the businesses I had worked for, then no doubt it would be a success.
However, until that moment I had no plans to be an entrepreneur. It was never something that I considered was an option before that. With every confidence in my ability, I just needed to work out what the business would do exactly. Sounded easy enough.
Except it wasn’t.
Overcoming Self Doubt
As word spread through the industry of my availability, I received all kinds of offers to work together. It seemed everyone had a different idea of what that would look like. It was great for my battered ego. A confidence boost was exactly what I needed. Except all the ideas pulled me in a different direction. None of which resonated or inspired me to commit.
The excitement of having my own business was quickly replaced with crippling self-doubt. The pressure I put on myself to find the perfect idea, seemed to make all the potential ideas disappear. This turned into me doing nothing and I mean nothing. The cold winter days, COVID lock down, and being an extrovert with limited human contact was a recipe for disaster.
I gave up and announced, “I’m going to look for a job.” The attention of a head hunter seemed like a much easier option. The interview went great, and I was told to expect an offer. Except, it didn’t come. I was ghosted. In hindsight, this was a blessing.
Giving myself permission to explore the other options had released an internal pressure valve. Once again, becoming a business owner was back on the table.
During this time, the one constant that had been a part of my world was LinkedIn. In my previous roles I had built a world class niche community related to my industry.
The world was now in the grip of COVID-19 and lockdown had become the norm in Australia. I watched as industry events were cancelled. Trade shows too. No travel. No customer site visits. I noticed former competitors had turned to LinkedIn as a tool to reach existing and potential clients online.
With time on my hands and always a desire to help others, I reached out to one with some LinkedIn advice, “If you try X, Y and Z it will help your content reach more people”. Her reply thankfully “Where did you learn all this LinkedIn stuff? I wish I could learn from you.”
The lightbulb went off.
That was it!
Becoming a LinkedIn Trainer
B2B Growth Co Success
Fast forward to today, and I’m incredibly proud of the business I have built.
My peers and the LinkedIn Pages team acknowledge me as the international go-to LinkedIn Company Page expert. My clients have come from sixteen different countries. I am the co-author of the world’s first book on LinkedIn Pages Business Gold, co-author of The LinkedIn Branding Book, and B2B Growth Co is thriving.
I’m proud of finding my way past the days I could not see the path forward.
No matter where or how your entrepreneur journey starts – the answer is always back yourself. Trust your instincts and build a community of supporters to get you through the days you will wonder if it’s all worth it.
So that you know – it is.
Cheers
Michelle
Why Start Your Own Company?
5 reasons why you should start your own company –
- You can bring your vision to life.
- Gain confidence by backing yourself.
- Stop being the square peg in the round hole called “employee”.
- Develop new skills.
- Discover pride and fulfilment.
Where to Start?
Five tips to start your own company –
- Engage experts. It saves time and money.
- Clearly define your personal and company brand.
- Build a community around you. You will need it.
- Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster.
- It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Self-care is critical to success.
Michelle J Raymond is the founder of B2B Growth Co and has made her mark as a leading LinkedIn growth strategist, offering comprehensive strategies and training to brands eager to harness LinkedIn for business growth through thought leadership, content marketing or social selling techniques.
With 20+ years’ experience in B2B sales, and almost a decade of social selling on LinkedIn, Michelle stands out for her significant LinkedIn contributions as the co-author of two globally acclaimed books: “Business Gold,” the first book exclusively dedicated to LinkedIn Company Pages, and “The LinkedIn Branding Book,” and her insightful podcast Social Media for B2B Growth. Follow her YouTube channel @MichelleJRaymond for helpful how to’s.
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This story first featured in Ziva Voices, Bookazine and can be viewed here Ziva Voices Bookazine.
