Making the jump

1. Making the Jump (or getting the push) from employee to “business owner” Colchester Digital Thursday 9th October 2014

2. Overview “Jason formed his SharePoint and Office 365 consulting company on 24th December 2009 after receiving a letter notifying him of his redundancy that morning. A familiar story? Well for him, it was expected, since when he joined that company 2 years earlier, it was one the understanding that the SharePoint team he was to manage and lead would be wound down within a couple of years. It was also the helpful push that finally got MindPoint off the ground, something that almost happened 2 years previously, but he was in a well-paid, stress free job at the time. Jason spent the next 3 months during his notice period to plan and make sure that MindPoint would be a success, that’s were our story begins!”

4. Agenda • What just happened to me? • The Big Plan • Focus on Year 1 • The Last 3 Years • Past Challenges • Lessons Learnt • Current Challenges • Questions

5. What just happened to me? Managed a team of 6 SharePoint Consultants and Developers During my last 6 months at STG the team was being wound down, I knew what was coming my way!

6. What just happened to me? Managed a team of 6 SharePoint Consultants and Developers During my last 6 months at STG the team was being wound down, I knew what was coming my way! It was still a shock though! Did I really, really, really want to start on my own? Wouldn’t it be easier to get another job?

12. The Big Plan Year 1 – Can we survive? Is it right for me? Year 2 – Can I earn a decent living? Year 3 – Can I get rid of my mortgage? Year 4 – Can we grow? Year 5 – Can we grow and make this great?

13. Focus on 1st Year First 3 months Plan, Planning, More Planning What do I need to do? Legally and Financially Getting advice Ignore lots of advice!!!! Finding Work Without work you don’t have a business!

14. The First 3 Years Until the sale is done, nothing happens! BUT Work has tended to come our way Top Learning Tree Instructor for SharePoint Getting paid to teach SharePoint, new leads! Build up the Associate Network Associates are not just contractors! Recruited 2nd and 3rd Team Members

15. The First 3 Years Until the sale is done, nothing happens! BUT Work has tended to come out way Top Learning Tree Instructor for SharePoint WARNING!!!! Getting paid to teach SharePoint, new leads! Build up the Associate Network Associates are not just contractors! Recruited 2nd and 3rd Team Members

16. The First 3 Years Until the sale is done, nothing happens! BUT Work has tended to come out way Top Learning Tree Instructor for SharePoint Getting paid to teach SharePoint, new leads! Build up the Associate Network Associates are not just contractors! Recruited 2nd and 3rd Team Members Working with a Business Coach!!!

17. The First 3 Years Until the sale is done, nothing happens! BUT Work has tended to come out way Top Learning Tree Instructor for SharePoint Getting paid to teach SharePoint, new leads! Build up the Associate Network Associates are not just contractors! Recruited 2nd and 3rd Team Members Working with a Business Coach!!!

18. The First 3 Years Until the sale is done, nothing happens! BUT Work has tended to come out way Top Learning Tree Instructor for SharePoint Getting paid to teach SharePoint, new leads! Build up the Associate Network Associates are not just contractors! Recruited 2nd and 3rd Team Members Working with a Business Coach!!! Why oh why did I do that?

19. The First 3 Years Until the sale is done, nothing happens! BUT Work has tended to come out way Top Learning Tree Instructor for SharePoint Getting paid to teach SharePoint, new leads! Build up the Associate Network Associates are not just contractors! Recruited 2nd and 3rd Team Members Paid off the mortgage

20. Past Challenges Finding the Right kind of clients Understanding what you offer and why you’re different to anyone else How does accounting work? Don’t leave it to the accountants!!!! Avoiding “Yorkshire Bargain Hunters” Business is about relationships, so it’s key that your suppliers work for you, not against you Funding – good or bad?

21. Lessons Learnt in First 3 Years Have faith in your ability Know when to walk away from a situation, a supplier or indeed a client! Easy to “work in the business” when you should be “working on the business” How is your business perceived What’s your brand, what does it say about you and your business? Social media is powerful, but can be dangerous

22. Challenges at 3 More than 1 mouth to feed The need for growth Learning to do that thing called “Selling” Finding the right people Time for a brand change

23. The Big Plan Year 1 – Can we survive? Is it right for me? Year 2 – Can I earn a decent living? Year 3 – Can I get rid of my mortgage? Year 4 – Can we grow? Year 5 – Can we grow and make this great? Year 8 – Start the next business?

24. The Big Plan Year 1 – Can we survive? Is it right for me? Year 2 – Can I earn a decent living? Year 3 – Can I get rid of my mortgage? Year 4 – Can we grow? Year 5 – Can we grow and make this great? Year 8 – Start the next business?

26. Conclusions “Jason formed his SharePoint and Office 365 consulting company on 24th December 2009 after receiving a letter notifying him of his redundancy that morning. A familiar story? Well for him, it was expected, since when he joined that company 2 years earlier, it was one the understanding that the SharePoint team he was to manage and lead would be wound down within a couple of years. It was also the helpful push that finally got MindPoint off the ground, something that almost happened 2 years previously, but he was in a well-paid, stress free job at the time. Jason spent the next 3 months during his notice period to plan and make sure that MindPoint would be a success, that’s were our story begins!”

Making the jump

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Making the jump

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