Ten years ago, in 2011, I started Shift ONE Digital from Things I’ve Learned my kitchen table. I’d just been retrenched and took it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start my own thing. I was given a two-month payout, unfortunately, no golden handshake for me.
I had a very short runway to get my business going if that’s what I decided to pursue because, at the same time, I was still flirting with the idea australia email list of getting a job; debating whether I should put the golden handcuffs of a consistent salary back on my wrists.
Why? Why would I want to go back to a place where the politics nearly killed me? Where I didn’t fit in?
Simple: FEAR.
I was afraid my business wouldn’t succeed.
Where would I get customers from? Despite having worked in Cape Town for the previous six years, I knew nobody outside of the globally-focused company I’d been working for.
I’m not sure if you’ve ever stood with one Optimal posting frequency for visibility and engagement foot in two separate boats? Well, that was me in the early days of my retrenchment. On the one hand, I was designing and building my own website, writing blogs, and deciding on the business name.
On the other hand, I was going for interviews and sending out my CV.
The realisation dawned on me that in order to succeed, I would have to choose one path, commit to it, and give it my best shot.
This leads me to lesson number one.
Lesson 1: Commit
In order for something to succeed, you have to give it your all.
If you’re trying to walk two paths, germany cell number God can’t bless one path, you might blame Him for choosing the wrong one. He needs you to choose a path.
And so I chose.
I called all the companies that had my CV and actively turned down each potential role.
I committed.
Both feet in one boat.
One path.
And within three days I had my first two retainer clients. BOOM!
In the early days, I said ‘yes’ to any and every client and job that I found or came along. That’s how I learned and figured out which services were most needed, and which services I wanted to provide.
But it also meant that I worked with quite a number of toxic clients… people who lacked respect for others, who thrived on a culture of aggressive confrontation, and who expected me and my team to work all hours.
Early on I realised that, if I allow toxic clients to burn my team out, I will be left with nothing.