What a head spin 2022 turned out to be!
Fresh out of Covid lockdowns, straight into the fire pit of a potential World War III and a worldwide recession. You can’t say that the human race doesn’t like a challenge – or maybe it is that we like it too much. Perhaps we thrive on the discomfort of difficulty and revel in the grumbling of grievances. And yet, whilst the prospect of wars and recessions might be challenges of the more extreme variety, the challenges of 2022 haven’t been all bad.
The last twelve months have seen Victoria Eve. & Co. more than doubled in size from a small team of four to now a team of ten fabulous women. In that growth, we expanded the number of services we offered twice over due to the vast skill set of the team. And our client base has significantly increased as a result. The flip side is that I have been chasing my tail since the year began, trying to get systems and structures in place to support our rapid expansion. Like I said, a head spin.
What have I learnt throughout this process?
✨ Running your own business ain’t no walk in the park. You either LOVE it or LEAVE it.
Never let anyone sell you the dream of working for yourself as an easy feat. Be your own boss. You don’t have to answer to anyone, they say. Except you must answer to your clients, your team, and perhaps the biggest critic, yourself! The consistency of working late nights, the stress of bringing in new clients, the delight of the wins vs the anxiety of losses, the weekly worry of covering costs, the endless self-doubt as you venture forward each day – it’s an absolute rollercoaster ride!
This is why it’s so important that YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO and that you KNOW YOUR “WHY”. This has saved me on multiple occasions where I almost threw in the proverbial towel and walked away. Running a business is so bloody tiring. But I love my clients, my team, and the thrill of the ride too much to walk away.
✨ Set your bar (of boundaries), and those around you will rise to it.
Speak to anyone on the VEC team, and they will tell you – “I’m a helper”. I mentioned earlier the importance of “knowing your WHY”, which is my biggest “why” for me. It is my absolute mission and passion in life to help others achieve their goals and watch them grow. The flip side of being a bona fide helper – you often sacrifice yourself to make things happen for those around you. Short term, this might be manageable. But it is certainly not sustainable. Set the right boundary for yourself from the start, and you will find that those around you will rise to it and actually respect you (and your time) more.
✨ Surround yourself with the right people.
Perhaps my biggest takeaway of 2022 is this – the people you surround yourself with are the key to your success (ok, settle with the clichès, Richard Branson). With all the changes that have taken place this year with Victoria Eve. & Co., I finish this year with my head held high, knowing I have stayed true to our values. In doing so, I have found “my people” in my team, and we have also found “our people” in our clients. I attribute Victoria Eve. & Co.’s success over the last 12 months to the “family” who make it what it is and who have wholeheartedly embraced Victoria Eve. & Co.’s culture and values, treating the business like its own. That in itself is my truest measure of success.
2022 has undoubtedly been a big year of growth and learning for Victoria Eve. & Co.
I can’t wait to see what 2023 brings. See you all in the New Year!
