Get help!
This past week has gone so quickly (why is there never enough time to do everything?!). Things are really coming together for O2GO, and I have finally admitted that I need help!
It’s only now that I have realised I need to hire someone, though I really need that person now … I’ve never hired anyone before, so am hastily learning about the law and HR issues, which is where Business Link comes in so handy. I need a new person to take over the retail side for me – Sainsburys has been such a steep learning curve (mistakes have been made along the way) and now we need to go all out to support our brand in store (hand-outs, tastings). I need another willing pair of hands to help with this.
Though it is my business, and I have investors, I haven’t done it all by myself. It’s so important to use a network of friends and associates and gain valuable advice and tactical help where you can – I’ve had some great help from Colin Glass about the financial side (my major weakness). You can’t do everything - you have to be big enough to say that you could do it, but it wouldn’t be as well as a paid professional could do it. Never skimp on quality and try to do everything yourself - hard for an entrepreneur trying to save money (the amount of times I have done my own design and it’s fallen flat on its face …!). There’s so much help out there, entrepreneurs are the engine of our economy and people want to help us.
The PR’s been going great-guns lately – we were on the front page of the Yorkshire Business Post; I went to Tadcaster Grammar to talk to the students about the importance of hydration; we’re in the Wetherby News and the Harrogate Advertiser tomorrow; in The Grocer magazine on Saturday … I’m revelling in this new-found semi-fame! Now investors who rejected us two years ago are coming back to me to try to get involved with O2GO.
A lot of our work on the sales side is speculative. People often approach me and ask if I can do something, and I always say ‘yes’. My advice is if they’re willing to pay you, say ‘yes’ you can do it, and then find a way to do it!
January 8th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Do you want to grow a big team or are you happy to manage the growth on your own as much as possible??
January 9th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Andy,
I thought at first that I wanted to do it all myself but this very quickly becomes detrimental to the health of the business. I have learnt so many new skills its amazing but I am only OK at most of them and need to rely on the help of professionals wherever possible and wherever there is business benefit. Taking on new people is the next stage for the business and I am looking forward to this with a little trepidation as I mentioned in an earlier itsmybusinmes.info Blog entry. Innocent drinks outsource nearly everythin. They own the brand and steer the marketing the rest is up to their partner network. I would like to replicate this model and keep a core of brilliant staff on board.
Hope this answers the question
Cheers
Jonathan
January 11th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Jonathan I saw your piece in the Yorkshire Post! Well done, it seems like you’re doing really well and it’s great to read about how your company is doing!
Keep it up!
January 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Caroline - Thanks for the comment - much appreciated