It may seem a bit backwards, and when I first started Trax Media I had a job and was working tirelessly to build my business up enough for me to quit. But 7 years on, here I was starting my first day at ‘work’.
Now, in the interest of full transparency, it’s not an employed type job. I contract for them and invoice them through my business. But I’m still expected there once a week, 9am until 5pm, and I sit at my desk and become unavailable to the rest of my clients. I’ve had to sort regular childcare and everything. (Thanks Mum).
A few factors came into play with getting this job (and we’ll call it a job because it’s easier), and honestly, it’s probably the best thing I could have done for my business.
It was not that business was struggling, obviously for my own ego’s sake – I want to make that crystal clear. But business was ticking along fine, no it wasn’t growing hugely but I’d created a well oiled machine and routines so engrained that everything felt very flow-y and pretty, dare I say, easy. Financially, I was fine, and who doesn’t like having plenty of time for themselves or their hobbies?! But at the age of (then) 32, I didn’t really want to settle or sit still.
Honestly, I know that the next growth step for Trax would be to employ someone and outsource work out to them, but that’s always seemed terrifying and involves changing things when it comes to tax and going Ltd. All of that feels way out of my comfort zone (I know that’s where we grow blah blah) and honestly? Just wasn’t where I wanted Trax to go.
I thought about become a coach for smaller marketing companies, but constantly chasing new cohorts of delegates felt exhausting. I’m actually useless at selling, so the pressure of having to find new clients to coach constantly just didn’t fit what I wanted my business to look like. Plus I’m always here for anyone who needs advice, they don’t have to pay me for it.
I dabbled with and actually did an NLP course to look at becoming a Life Coach or similar, something entirely different and setting up a brand new business. Ultimately, I wouldn’t say no should time allow – I think I’d be really good at it. But I wanted to be so trained up to my eyeballs, and this opportunity presented itself in the meantime so I don’t have anywhere near the time to continue my training. Maybe one day though!
Okay so how did this here job come to me and how has it helped Trax?
I realised that I was actually deeply lonely, I love me some reality TV but spending all day, every day, by myself was lonely. Of course, it’s always been lonely, but I think with Sophie becoming more independent – I didn’t enjoy the silence as much as I used to. 6 hours of solo time is a blessing when the rest of your day consists of being clung to by a child, but when that child grows up, does clubs and spends most of her time in her room – you feel the silence.
Some of my friendships had shifted and/or ended, a few of my friends who owned businesses had gone back into corporate life for various reasons, so they were less available. I think also with the rising cost of eating out, I wasn’t going to work from cafes and restaurants as much anymore, so there was no background noise either. When the only voices you hear are Real Housewives screaming at one another, it can get overwhelming.
I also took on a client where I did all of their marketing. Online, offline, social media, website content, strategy – the whole shebang. And I loved it, I loved getting my teeth well and truly stuck in and seeing all of the results aligning together. I love doing the social media for clients, and for many I do blog posts and Newsletters too – but taking control of everything felt great and I figured the easiest way to replicate this was with a job.
2 years ago now, I had a client where by accident more than design, I ended up in their offices one a week to do the same I had a blast. I’m still friends with some of them now, I felt part of a team, I had matching hats and everything! I got invited to some social events, people to chat to in the pub (some of them lived in my village) and just that feeling of camaraderie. I realised that was what I wanted to replicate, so I put a post out on LinkedIn looking for it.
Anyway, I guess that the rest is history. A business owner reached out, they’re based in my village and my sister works there so it was all very convenient and comfortable. Then in actual fact, another company reached out to me so now I technically have two jobs!
Okay thanks for story time Becka but how has this helped Trax Media with it’s own clients?
Well, I have the time to dedicate to testing. Testing platforms, strategies, ideas. And if something works, I can implement that back to my clients where I don’t have the time (and they don’t have the budget) for me to test such things.
I’m also refreshed, speaking to people, being part of a team, means that on the days I do spend at home to work on Trax – I’m ready for it and I relish in it. I’ve fallen back in love with my solo working and blasting through my Trax to-do list.
I think it’s also made me more organised, because I no longer have 5+ days to get things done. I have a Tuesday, Thursday & Friday and I have to fit the horse in plus any other hobbies too. So I’m far more organised with my time and have found it’s made me way more productive. I can’t put anything off until tomorrow, I have to be productive today (I fear I may have gone too far the opposite way with this, but that’s a story for another day).
All in all, working just one day a week surrounded by people has totally re-energised me, it’s challenged me to look at things differently, to restructure my life, it’s inspired me with new ideas and allowed me the time to ensure I’m working in the best way possible for all of my clients.
Sometimes, we put ourselves into boxes and feel like we can’t break out of them, I certainly worried about the perception of me, business owner, getting a job. Would it be seen as a failure when it was merely an extra string to my bow? Was I telling the universe I didn’t want my business anymore? But then I realised it’s no different to being Mum and business owner, horse rider and runner, girlfriend and best friend. I can be many things and become my most fulfilled self in the process.