In December 2003 I had a conversation with the senior partner of the firm I was working with about whether there was enough work for him to be able to keep me on staff in a full time capacity. Part time was possible but not what I wanted so we opted to part company. I had an idea of what the future might look like for me. I had decided to become self employed !

It wasn’t so hard a decision at that point as a friend who had created a programme with Morgan Stanley to get “harder to reach” people into work needed a Scottish representative and that was me. So in January 2004 I stepped out with my new hat on.

That project lasted for 9 months and taking the skills and experience gained forward I was challenged to write a business plan. Here in the UK new businesses can access help from local government backed organisations and at that time grants for computers were also available. A Business Plan was a requirement for the grant though so I set to it.

What kind of work was I going to do? Who would my clients be? What fee rates would I charge? On my own or in partnership/collaboration? How would I market it? What resources did I have/need? What about legal issues, insurance, tax and National Insurance? So many questions . I did the best that I could but I felt that in creating something new I didn’t have the answers until I tried things.  I know that that is not a very commercial way to set up a business – I am married to an accountant so there was no hiding place!

Anyway jump forward 5 years ( 5 years – I can’t believe it) and I look back at the journey. I set out with the mission

To work with others to make a difference.

…and that is what I have done. I veered away from the corporate world which I had inhabited for all of my working life until then and worked with a variety of clients in all sorts of new and interesting areas – charities, in schools, colleges, universities, voluntary groups, public sector agencies, central government departments, with small business owners. I got involved with projects that interested me and took opportunities as and when they came up.

I have learned loads – about myself and the big world out there.

It has been demanding but often fun. I have made great new friends in business and collaborated with people whose work I admire.

And I am thinking – what kind of business plan would that have looked like? Thankfully I never had to take it to the bank manager to look for finance ……

If you have any hints and tips for writing a  business plan please share. I might have to think about it again in the future. Do you think the bank would consider a mind map???