In this episode we hear from Paul Weeden who is the first How To Start Up guest to have not only started a company (at the age of 24) but also to have successfully sold it too.  

Paul recognises that being your own boss is not as straightforward as it sounds: as it grows, so do your responsibilities.  Having sold his business, he is now salaried again and is able to offer an interesting perspective on both employment options, especially amidst a pandemic which has changed employee freedoms forever.

Paul can be reached on [email protected]

Head over to Speakpipe to leave your voice note for future guests too.

Paul’s advice: 

• Harness apprenticeships where possible if you’re starting out young
• Maximise your previous work experience 
• Allow it to help determine your focus for your company’s aim 
• Look for clients among people you already know and make sure you tell them what you’re up to
• Make sure you are always paid on time, ideally in advance
• Don’t undersell yourself 
• Don’t be shy about referring to your company as ‘we’ not ‘I’
• Always be clear and focussed about what you have to offer.  It’ll help clients know quickly if you’re a good fit
• When you are quoting for a job, make sure you understand what the client’s needs are and what problems they need solving: understand your customer
• Know that you must trust your team, and if you don’t, then make the necessary changes
• When you’re growing a business, get used to the cycle of ‘storming, norming, performing’
• Keep in mind you may need external senior support if you’re the company’s sole shareholder
• Maintain transparent communications with your team 
• In a crisis, always look for the opportunity as with risk also comes reward

Links:

• LastPass the password keeping site that syncs between devices. 
• Google Workspace is brilliant for small businesses
• I use Buzzsprout podcast 'how to' & hosting directory to create this podcast series as well as their super simple hosting platform.
• Canva has proved invaluable for creating all the social media assets and audio bites.
• For contracts check out Law Depot.

I would be delighted if you could rate, review and share this podcast with anyone else who may be starting a company in 2020 as it helps others to find it. 

Hosted by Juliet Fallowfield, founder of PR for startups advisory Fallow, Field & Mason, How To Start Up hopes to bring you confidence, encouragement and reassurance that you’re on the right track.

Recorded, hosted & produced by Juliet Fallowfield and edited by Emma Dewhurst in December 2020. MUSIC CREDIT  Funk Game Loop by Kevin MacLeod.  Link & Licence

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