“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear…” – George Addair
I’m about to find out if that’s true. I have to admit to being terrified, but as I seem to be a living, breathing motivational meme these days, I have decided to feel the fear and do it anyway.
Today marks the first day of my new life as a self-employed marketing consultant.
After a remarkable four and half years in which I have helped set up and grow the Spalding and South Holland Voice into the area’s best-read newspaper, I am spreading my wings and going solo.
Over the past year, as part of the Voice’s offering, I have been designing fliers, leaflets, brochures, adverts, as well as creating websites and managing the social media for a number of businesses across South Holland and beyond.
I will continue to look after those clients and offer the same high level of service to them, while also reaching out to more business owners who could benefit from improved exposure and greater visibility among their target audience.
The decision to set up Plan B Marketing has been one of the hardest and scariest of my life. But, another of my motivational mottos has always been about not regretting the things you have done, only those you haven’t.
So here goes. I am leaving behind a secure salary and a wonderfully talented team of people who have always had my back, to step out on my own.
Although terrifying, I also feel excited, elated almost, to be fulfilling my dream of working for myself, where my success will be determined by my own efforts, talents and hard work.
And although I am hoping my new situation will enable me to be more flexible around my girls and their school life, I am under no illusions that what lies ahead is going to be very hard work.
I am very fortunate to be surrounded by very supportive family and friends, who I know won’t see me out on the streets, but my stomach still flips over and I have a serious wobble about whether I have made the right decision when I think about the constant pressure of finding enough work to pay the bills, month in, month out for the rest of my life.
No sick pay, no holiday pay etc etc.
On the flip side, the sky really is the limit. Who knows, maybe this time next year I will be a millionaire.
After all … she believed she could, so she did!
PS. I wish all of the fantastic team at the Voice, including my partners Andy, Rachel and Nikki, every success for the future and I am sure the newspaper will continue to go from strength to strength under their leadership.
Setting up an independent newspaper from scratch at a time where everyone was saying that newspapers didn’t have a future will always be one of my proudest achievements.
Today, four and a half years after its launch, The Voice has become part of the fabric of the local community and continues to enjoy the support of businesses and its readers in equal measure.
I truly believe there is still a place for good, honest, local journalism, which I believe is about sharing the highs and lows of the area and its people and holding local authorities to account for their actions.
I know the dedicated Voice team will continue to strive to stand for what is important to the people of South Holland. Long may that continue.
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