Turmoil and tears, motivations and values

For some reason two sad times popped into my mind this morning. I think they were triggered by realising I wasn't many years older than my daughter is now when I started my business. Those memories of turmoil and tears prompted me to think about my 'why': what motivates me, my values and how I came to start my business. 

Bear with me: I think this is relevant to you and your business too!

The first moment of turmoil was decades ago. My father was made redundant when the small business he worked for was taken over by a multi-national. Not long after a similar thing happened to my mother. They were hard years, full of financial uncertainty. I think some of my work ethic comes from those times: working hard fo try to feel more secure and certain. It also coloured how I think about large and small businesses. To some extent my brain is still stuck in the 'small business good, big business bad' mindset. I support small businesses whenever I can, however I can, seeing their vulnerability but also their strengths and contributions to local economies.

The other time I remembered was shortly after I'd got my dream job working in tourism for an incoming tour operator, long before the internet. As I walked home from work one dark, rainy evening I actually cried in frustration. I loved my job but didn't really know what to do to be effective. I'd done post-graduate studies in marketing, was a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, yet I had no clue what to do to attract more visitors and income, because those studies didn't teach anything really practical and none of the general advice available felt 100% relevant to a small tourism business. It felt like there was some kind of secret knowhow but I didn't know how to access it. 

It's 3 decades since those tears rolled down my cheeks. But I’ve never forgotten how it felt to not know what to do.Over the years I've studied, experimented and learnt what marketing is most worthwhile - and kept up with the latest trends. 

That experience became the foundation for my business - passing on hard-gained practical knowledge for the benefit of small tourism businesses, to save you time, money and tears - and make your business stronger and easier to run. And ideally to be better than bigger businesses in some way. 

Many things have changed in my business, but my values have remained unaltered. 

I said this could be relevant to your business too. When was the last time you told the story of your business? Have you written about it on an 'about' page on your website? Or perhaps posted about it on your social media? 

Here's a little more about my story. Now it's your turn...