The good, the bad and the ugly, wasn’t just a film… it’s been my business story for the last nine years! Since starting my entrepreneurial journey at the age of just 19 (what the hell was I thinking?), I’ve been through seven businesses, (six of which still remain), three major relationships (finally found the one), financial highs and soul-destroying lows, over four thousand clients, over 60 staff members, and a maddening number of trials, tribulations and temper tantrums.
Now almost 30, I’ve finally crossed over from the 6-figure side into the 7-figure world, and looking back on my 20s, I’ve learned a lot about being in a Spaghetti Western, sorry, I mean in business!
1. Things won’t always go to plan, in fact there are more plot twists and script re-writes than you’d ever dare imagine
Countless times, I’ve made plans, written lists, cobbled together forecasts and set off with a spring in step towards what I was absolutely CERTAIN would be the big make or break for me in business, only to be completely thrown off course by surprise villains, one of whom was actually my right hand man for a long time… turned out he only stayed so close so he could take it all from me when I wasn’t looking. It cost me a £54,000 loss in revenue and over a year to recover from the extent of the damage. My shining glory, of course, was that I did recover, because you always do when there’s no alternative. Which brings me to lesson number two.
2. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Always. (Stubborn pig-headed approach optional).
My first business failed, but it didn’t deter me from business number two, which I now consider my first ‘success’, and from then on the empire grew. When I lost half my clients and a huge chunk of my revenue, literally overnight, to the ‘frenemy’, I took out two huge loans and plowed everything I had into bouncing back stronger than ever. Blood, sweat, tears, and a determination that could only have come with business maturity and a much thicker skin. He wasn’t the first to betray me either. Something else I’ve learned is that as you become more successful you gain more and more fans, loyal clients and employees, but as is the divine balance of our wonderful universe, you also gain more haters and enemies, people who envy you just because they don’t understand what it is that you DO.
3. Surround yourself with the right people
Sometimes it feels like you can’t trust anyone in business. Not even your business partner, best friend, loyal PA of over 10 years, your life partner, perhaps not even your parents. We’re only human and everyone has an agenda whether they choose to admit it or not. We might be an evolved western society but we’re still governed by that primal instinct to survive. It’s a dog eat dog world and only the strongest survive. I’ve allowed myself to get too close to employees and clients in the past, only to be burned by letting them see too much of me, what makes me vulnerable, and ultimately it’s led to a downfall of sorts. It’s crucial to surround yourself with the right people, as in people you can trust to do a job, people who are invested in the company ethos, people who have similar morals, values and beliefs. Online groups like the Female Entrepreneur Association and Digital Marketer have also been invaluable to me in giving me support from like-minded people.
4. But don’t just rely on people - robots are kicking ass in the 21 century too, (think Clint Eastwood meets i-Robot).
People are powerful yes, assuming you learn how to delegate. The trick to delegating is learning how to let go. I haven’t had kids yet but handing over my precious ‘to do’ list to someone else is how I imagine it would feel handing over your newborn to a nanny so you can go back to work. The first time I took on a full time PA because I physically couldn’t work any more hours, she literally used to take messages and respond to emails with ‘Harriette will get back to you shortly’. It was a complete and utter waste of money, because I just couldn’t let go! Long story short I learned the hard way, I burned out, and suddenly I needed her, and she did a good job too, until she became another ‘frenemy’ but that’s another story for another time.
Harnessing the power of automation came much more naturally to me and finding new bits of software for me is like Christmas and birthday rolled into one. My partner thinks I’m nuts, I remember audibly squealing when I discovered Click Funnels, Russell Brunson you genius you! It excites me for a reason though… tech doesn’t get sassy with you, can’t answer back, and whilst it costs money, it doesn’t cost anywhere near a £54,000 dent in your pocket! There are so many amazing tools, and things like Zapier and Acuity Scheduling have literally changed the way I do business.
5. The Power of Positivity
Positivity comes with maturity I think. It’s too easy to stamp your feet and cry on the phone to mum when business isn’t going to plan and you feel like Facebook ads just robbed you blind and the biggest villain is sleep, or the lack of it. I remember hitting a point around age 25 or 26 when I discovered the Law of Attraction, the power of the universe, the art of allowing, and yes I’m a believer but I’m not going to ruin a perfectly good script with what some would call a ‘cult religion’. Whether you believe in it or not, something I think is undeniable is the power of positive thinking. I swear by a mantra of ‘everything happens for a reason’, and it’s a brilliant tool for calming my nerves and cooling my temper when I hit another plot twist. I’ve also made it my mission to follow positive-thinking and inspirational people online. Vishen Lakhiani from MindValley is one of the MOST inspiring men I’ve ever stumbled across, and I’ve learnt so much from him. People like Andy Harrington, Marisa Mugatroyd and T Harv Eker have all inspired me in different ways and helped me through difficult times.
And I believe that with the right attitude there will always be a happy ending, even if it’s not the one you first drafted. I don’t believe business is meant to be a struggle, but I do believe things are sent to us for a reason, and quite often they are life lessons, not business lessons, it just so happens when you’re an entrepreneur that life IS business, and vice versa. For me I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s to flying through my 30s with the knowledge and wisdom I’ve acquired in my 20s, and here’s to you, learning (hopefully) from my mistakes and writing your own Spaghetti Western!
- Harriette Hale is a singer/songwriter turned business mentor for creative entrepreneurs, and the owner of a multi-business empire combining the worlds of music, artistry and education. Click here to download her free ebook and get six months’ worth of inspiring tips and wisdom.