You might not consider that existing on beans and rice, being filthy and being made to eat witchetty grubs bear any relation to running your business. I beg to differ…
Rice and beans
Whilst existing on beans and rice might be a slight exaggeration, the first few years of running your business might require a tightening of the financial belt. I know I felt the pinch and had to make quite a few changes to my lifestyle until I started getting more consistent revenue (winning stars).
Get me outta here
There have been more than a few times when running my business overwhelmed me and I wanted to shout the equivalent of ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’ and started looking for ‘proper jobs’ again. The fact that I’m now probably unemployable these days along with the horror of the thought of having to toe the corporate line meant it never happened. But I did have a good look!
Being part of a ‘team’
One of the big plusses of the jungle/castle is the camaraderie that builds over time and the celebs support each other through the hard times (and ecstatically celebrate the good ones). This has been very true for me too. Despite the fact I am the only person in my business, I have developed some wonderful relationships with my fellow business owners over the last seven and a half years. We’re bonded through our common desire to be successful in our own right and we fully understand the highs and lows of what it takes. There’s always someone around who is there with a willing shoulder to cry on. I couldn’t have done it without them, and I am eternally grateful to them for it. And I hope I have provided support back in return.
Expecting the unexpected
Despite the best-laid plans, there are always unexpected curve balls. Maybe not quite as dramatic as the double eviction shocks or unwelcome new additions to the camp. But still, it could be the client who has suddenly decided to leave you, or the larger than expected tax bill (the subject for a different post…), or your website going down for several days. The difference is we can do a risk assessment to try and identify the curveballs and plan to minimise them.
Trials
Whilst we don’t have to eat pigs’ bums or get buried in tombs with 50 snakes crawling over us, some days it can feel like it. We have to do things we don’t enjoy or dread. For me it’s sales and honestly, I’d rather eat unmentionable animal parts. For others it’s doing their accounts, planning or committing to targets. But if we don’t do it, we don’t get stars and it’s back to rice and beans!
Freedom!
Unlike I’m a Celebrity, there isn’t an end where we get fed a glass of champagne and get to revisit our edited highlights. Arguably, it’s better for us as we have freedom every day (albeit not always with champagne). The freedom to choose how we work and with whom we work. I don’t earn what I did in the City, but I am far happier being my own boss and steering my own ship, as leaky as it can be from time to time. And whilst I don’t get to do the Celebrity Cyclone (oh, how I would love to do that!), in amongst the hard work I have ‘best day ever’ moments that I wouldn’t swap for paid holidays and an annual bonus. I have the joy of working with my clients and seeing them succeed, of working to my values and having the support and laughter of my fellow business owners.
I’m a business owner, don’t get me out of here!
