What it takes to run your own business

They say that the best preparation for running a business is to run a business. As we round out the financial year and the first year of business for BK Agency, I took some time to reflect on the year that was, and what it is like to start and own a business in Adelaide.

No amount of study, on the job training, or corporate experience quite prepares you for the journey that is running your own business. You can have all the expertise in the world going in, but the reality of what it takes to run your own business is a truly different story. It includes everything from marketing, pitching, quoting, managing cash flow, managing staff, and managing yourself, and often all of this in any one day. It takes wearing multiple different hats at many times throughout the day to make it work.  

It challenges you, makes you a better person, and makes you look for new and innovative ways to do things. I've come to believe that all the planning in the world, the experience, and the education is all just preparation for what it takes to run a business, which is often an entirely different reality to what you thought going in. 

I believe the most important attribute you need is a truly unwavering determination and willingness to show up every day, make it work, and keep pushing for what you believe in, no matter what happens. You also need to be adaptable and listen to your customers; understand their pain points and provide solutions for them, because ultimately, they are your most important resource. A business is a constantly evolving beast, and you find yourself constantly adjusting, refining, and looking for better ways to do things.

After all, this is what I look to show my clients. I show them how to find opportunities for points of difference, innovate in their offerings, and identify more creative ways to do things. I give them strategies that help them get bums on seats, manage their teams more effectively, and strategically market venues for the long term. 

I have immensely enjoyed the first year of making great connections with local businesses, and gaining a greater understanding of where their pain points are, as well as identifying how BK Agency can best assist them.
 
I look forward to what the new financial year holds. 

Kate Bickford - Director BK Agency ​