I am finding it really difficult to accept that I am no longer 'just a developer/designer' - that running your own business means you (possibly collectively, but each business owner bears some responsibility for all of these things) are involved in:
strategic planning for the business,
marketing,
sales,
creation of brochures and other collateral,
finance/budgeting,
taxation issues/documentation,
costing,
purchasing,
invoicing,
debt collection,
keeping up with information about competitors,
keeping up with information about your business area,
website design,
training for 'staff',
(for a software company) design, development, testing plus documentation and training, installation and ongoing support,
and I'm sure there are other things that should be added to this list that I can't think of at the moment...
On some days, this whole process has been totally overwhelming, leading to doubts about my/our ability to do this, as you would expect. I have no secret for getting through these times - just understanding that this will happen and to be ready for it. Note that anyone going down this path needs a good support network - not necessarily related to your business, but you really need people that you can talk to other than business partner(s) - this outlet is vital.
And somewhere in amongst all that you still need to spend time being yourself - outside the business - which is something that I'm struggling with myself right now. I keep telling people that the next stage of the process will allow me to slow down a bit and that my friends will then see me - and each time, there's something else that needs to be done. It also doesn't help that it's winter here and the weather hasn't exactly encouraged getting outside - but really, that's just an excuse. So tomorrow (unless it's truly blowing a gale) I WILL get out and go for a bike ride - and on Saturday I WILL see some friends!
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