A year ago today, I did my first live radio show! Not sure if it seems longer than that, or shorter?
On yesterday’s almost-birthday edition of the programme, my guest was Paul Zipzer, a local business adviser with Business Link – who was a complete natural! If there were any nerves, they didn’t show. I always know when an interview has gone really well, because I lose all track of time – then suddenly realise I’m about to run over. That’s exactly what happened yesterday.
We started by looking at the government’s current policy, to encourage people into self-employment. The main focus is on those who have or are likely to lose their jobs thanks to the public sector spending cuts, as well as the long-term unemployed. Self-employment is often promoted as the perfect solution for anyone who finds themselves out of work – but Paul made what I consider to be the vital point, that running a business isn’t for everyone. ‘You may be absolutely brilliant at what you do,’ he said, ‘but that doesn’t mean you’re going to be good at running a business’. As someone who could never describe herself as a born businesswoman – I’ve had to learn everything from the ground up – I’d have to second that.
That’s why some people who try to turn their hobby into a business struggle – sometimes losing the hobby (or at least the enjoyment of it) and not gaining a viable commercial enterprise.
Paul highlighted the need for independent research (beyond the biased safety of friends and family), and for properly structured business planning.
We also spoke about the particular kind of discipline you need if you’re going to work from home – something which has come up on the programme more than once over the last year! We agreed on the best solution to the problem of going stir-crazy – getting out to network! As I’ve said before, too many people see that purely as a sales and marketing exercise – but done properly, it’s so much more than that. It’s a chance to brainstorm, bounce ideas around, share experience, get informal support – and to learn, and learn, and learn!
I said at one point that one of the biggest challenges I’ve come across in my years in business has been having to do two jobs. ‘Well, actually,’ he said, ‘I’d say there were three: you start off as the entrepreneur, with the big idea – and all the planning to do before you can get started; then you become the technician, spending all your time actually doing the job; but then you have to become the manager – managing the business, customer expectations and perhaps staff. The trouble is, a lot of people get stuck somewhere between technician and manager – and the poor old entrepreneur gets completely forgotten!’ Paul’s answer to this problem is to spend at least half a day every few months, stepping back, reviewing the business plan, looking at what’s been achieved, what hasn’t, why – and where next.
Good advice – I wonder how many of us follow it…?
‘Working for yourself can mean working longer hours for less money to start with,’ he explained, ‘but if you’re happy to do that, you can reap the rewards later.’
We finished by briefly outlining the upcoming changes to Business Link – from a regionally-based organization to a national one. Te changes com into effect on 25th November – so I’ll come back to them in more detail later.
We closed the show with Dire Straits ‘Money for Nothing’ – because too many people still think being your own boss is an easy option – but as anyone who’s done it knows, it’s anything but.