Well, I couldn’t finish 2019 without writing a crazy cat blog – so here I am!
The end of a year is a time for reflection for many people and this year, that definitely includes me. To be honest, I haven’t had my ideal year but, having said that, I definitely have had some wins.
Looking back to this time last year, I was on the receiving end of a lot of toxicity from other people. So much so, it was making physically ill. It was not an environment I wanted to be in, but at the time I felt I had no other choice. At that time, I was still in full-time employment whilst building my new business.
I started 2019 with some client work (yay) and continued to increase my networking. I was then made redundant from my full-time employment. That, to me, proved I had made the right decision in starting a business. And I’m definitely thankful that I did.
My redundancy highlighted who was and wasn’t supportive of me. I saw some support from some unexpected sources and also saw a lack of support from where I had expected it. It prompted the end of a long-term relationship.
Mid-2019 saw me as a finalist in the Local Business Awards which was a great confidence booster. The awards night was a great networking opportunity. Through this, I also discovered and joined a networking group I hadn’t heard of. This has been invaluable for networking, forming friendships and obtaining clients.
Later in 2019, I also became a finalist in the Business xCellence Awards.
Lessons learned
Despite the lows I’ve had this year, I have learned some valuable lessons, including:
- It’s okay to feel and be vulnerable and emotional. It doesn’t make me a weak person. It makes me human.
- Trust my gut instinct. The times I’ve listened to my gut feeling and acted on it over the past 18 months has been spot on. I’ve regretted the times when I ignored my gut instinct – but that is also a lesson!
- Toxicity and negativity from some people is just that – toxicity and negativity. It’s impossible to please everyone, after all! I’ve formed some friendships this year that have shown no negativity. This hasn’t gone unnoticed and the friendships have often formed at the right time.
Final words
This year has been rollercoaster for me and not just emotionally. And there have been many times when I wanted to give up completely, where everything seemed too hard. But I’m glad I didn’t give up (I’m sure my cats are glad too!) I refuse to give up – it’s not that easy to get rid of me! Although I still feel like I’m in the woods, I will find a way through it.
I’ve had some pawsome feedback from my clients in 2019, and I aim to build on that in 2020. I also have some ideas for my business and I’m looking forward to exploring those further.
I wish you all the very best Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in 2020, in person or virtually!
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