Diary of an entrepreneur

This section offers a log of the ups and downs of a small business entrepreneur dealing with all that the government, competitors, staff and people of the world can throw.

Many people express ambitions to run their own business for a variety of reasons. Having done it now myself for over 5 years I can confirm that it is absolutely nothing like employment, it comprises of a broader array of challenges than I ever barginned for, and has as many pros and cons as I imagined, and some more.

For those of you who are considering it, this log aims to give you a feel of life as an entreprenuer on a daily basis, the struggles, the joys, the pains and of a few scenarios which may give you some useful ideas at some stage in the future.

Just for the record, and to set the scene, I spent my working life in sales and sales management. In 2001 I set a sales recruitment company. Having been a customer of sales recruitment companies I reckoned it could be done better. Here's a good rule in life and business, things and people have a habit of repeating themselves. And this did, as a recruitment company I was a customer of a number of internet job sites, and I thought I could do it better than them, so we now run a growing portfolio of internet job sites, 4 at the moment.

Don't let anybody tell you that you need a unique idea to set up a business, rubbish, you need someone elses idea, and do it better than them. Look at all the top entreprenuers, Branson, Stellios, you don't see them inventing anything new do you, they just let someone do the hard work dreaming up the ideas, creating that initial market at great cost, then they come along and mop up a large market share having learned from their mistakes! Brilliant!

The first 2 jobs boards are doing well, enough to make a decent living, the next two are just launched. The current plan to conquer the universe requires the launch of a further 30 sector specific jobs boards, ambitious, but possible, requires risk and spend followed by performance, all the right ingredients for a decent business challange. I once read a proverb, can't think where, and it read 'To travel is better than to arrive', another really good one to remember. You've gotta have good vision for a businesses to work, and keep focused clearly on what the end vision looks like...to help you put up with the enivitable hassle along the way!

2nd April 2007 - Guessing the costs, guess, guess again, then add a little more!

3rd April 2007 - A constant battle with suppliers

5th April 2007 - Having the Patience to see things through

8th April 2007 - Taking the time to Paddle

16th April 2007 - Err, What was I supposed to be doing?

18th April 2007 - Looking for the next foothold

19th April 2007 - If in doubt, sleep on it!

20th April 2007 - No, there really are enough hours in the day

April 24th 2007 - No point in trying to hit the gass when the tank is empty

April 26th 2007 - Patience is a virtue

April 27th 2007 - Put first things first, and then get on with it!

April 30th 2007 - A problem is an opportunity to disguise!