Reflecting on Year One

What Year One Taught Me About Running My Own Business

When I started Beyond & Co. this time last year, I knew two things to be true. 

I was clear on what I was good at. I’d spent my corporate career in Brand, Marketing and Communications, and I have loved it, and most importantly, it’s where I know I add the most value. 

I was also very aware that Brighton, the UK’s capital of creativity, is not short of brilliant businesses already doing this well. 

So I knew I needed a niche. Something that would make Beyond & Co. distinct. That niche became: growth through people-led marketing. 

But what I hadn’t fully appreciated - beyond finding my “thing” - was this: 

There’s what you think owning a business will look like, and then there’s the reality. Year one has been about learning the difference, and perhaps most importantly, what actually matters when you’re building something that’s truly yours for the first time. 

Here’s my take on year one… and what I’d do differently if I was starting again. 

Lesson 1: Being good at what you do isn’t enough

This was the first big reality check. In a corporate role, being good at your job can take you a long way. When it’s your business, it’s just the starting point. 

You’re suddenly: 

• Making decisions across everything  

• Figuring things out in real time  

• Learning (and doing) things you’ve never had to think about before  

• Taking on things you’re not naturally good at, and often on your own  

There’s more pressure, but also more ownership, and you have to get comfortable being a beginner again. Often. 

Lesson 2: The work is more emotional than people expect

Looking back, what I loved most about my corporate career was always the human side of the work. 

• Seeing an executive who once avoided public speaking volunteer to take the stage - and beam as she walked off it  

• Working alongside a CEO to galvanise a team around a target no one thought possible  

• Creating communities where people wanted to support and champion one another 

That hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s deepened. 

When you’re working with someone, encouraging them to share with (you, firstly, and after many) who they are, really, what they want from their life and how they think they can achieve it, that’s deep work.  

That’s why personal brand is, well… personal. 

It’s often equal parts: 

• Emotional  

• Strategic  

• Deeply individual  

Which is why surface-level advice rarely works. 

Lesson 3: Clarity changes everything

If there’s one thing I’ve seen again and again this year, it’s this: clarity drives momentum. 

When someone is clear on: 

• What they stand for  

• Who they’re speaking to  

• How they add value  

Everything else becomes easier: decisions, messaging, growth, sales.  

Lesson 4: What actually drives growth (vs what people think does)

In my view, there are a lot of myths around this. It’s easy to assume growth comes from: 

• Posting more  

• Being more visible  

• Doing “more” 

But it’s simpler – yet harder - than that (and yes I do realise that’s contradictory). 

You need: 

• Clear thinking  

• Strong positioning  

• Consistency over time  

• Real, nurtured relationships  

Strategy beats activity. Every time. 

Lesson 5: You don’t need to be everything to everyone

This has been a big lesson for me. There’s a natural instinct, especially early on, to keep things broad. Say yes more. Appeal to more people. 

You need to earn money after all… 

But the more I’ve leaned into who my business is really for, the better everything has become: 

• The work  

• The client partnerships  

• The outcomes  

• The returns 

If you’ve been following along this year, you’ll know I’m a big fan of Emma Grede. I listen to her podcast Aspire religiously. I remember listening early on, where she shared the fact that – we’ve all been taught that we need to lean into our strengths, and work on our weaknesses. Emma argues that you should find that thing that you are excellent at and embrace it. Be aware of your weaknesses, but don’t waste energy trying to turn them into positives.  

You can’t be excellent at everything… and we shouldn’t try to be. 

Surround yourself with people who are excellent at what they do, and bring them in when you need them. 

I’d always choose an expert who knows their limits over one who tries to be everything and delivers nothing well. 

From my perspective (and my early experience) trying to be everything ultimately dilutes the very thing that makes you and your work valuable. 

Lesson 6: You have to back yourself before the evidence is there

Listen to your gut. There will be moments where you’re figuring things out as you go; saying yes before you feel ready, working things out in real time. It can be scary, but in those moments, belief has to come first. 

To be honest, that’s something I’m still learning. Forever a forward-planner, deep-thinker and prolific note-taker, leaning into ‘going with the flow’ isn’t very me. But I’m a smart woman, I’ll work it out!  

I’ve also realised how important it is to have the right people around you; whether that’s a fabulous partner that backs you to the hilt, your self-proclaimer Personal Board of Directors, or a community of other business owners who have been there, done that, and have several t-shirts!  

Lesson 7: Ambition, and why it matters more than ever 

This is something I’ve thought about a lot this year…  

I remember an incredibly dis-heartening conversation I had around this time 4 years ago. I was told that people knew I was ambitious, but that I needed to ‘cool my jets…’  

For a while, ambition felt like a word people softened. Downplayed. Almost apologised for. 

But I think that’s changing – that f**k for that!  

People like Timothée Chalamet are making cool again - to say you care, you want to do well, you want to build something great, and that matters.  

Building a business does require ambition, and lots of it.  

Lesson 8: The harder bits no one really talks about

There are also the less visible lessons. 

• Building a pipeline and sustaining leads is harder than I expected - especially early on  

• The disappointments feel more personal  

• Building something of quality takes longer than you think…  

• … and patience is harder when you care deeply  

• Not every idea needs to be pursued (even the exciting ones), and anyone that knows me well, will know this one is perhaps the trickiest for me!  

• Focus is a discipline, distraction costs you  

It’s okay to want it all, but I now know; if you want your business to be the best it can be, it will be worth the wait!  

What I’m clearer on now

I’m sure there are many more lessons that could be shared… but what I’m clearer on now is this -  

This year has brought a lot of clarity, especially in the second half of the year.  

Who I work best with: 

• Founders and senior leaders  

• People who understand that growth is driven through people  

• Those looking for a partner - not just execution  

And on what I want to be known for: 

• Trusted  

• Strategic  

• Commercial  

• Supportive  

• Happy, fun…  

• and creating work that people feel incredibly proud of  

Looking ahead

When you build something from the ground up, you’re also setting the standard. 

• What “good” looks like 

• What you say yes to 

• What you don’t 

This might take some time to get to, but over time, these things compound. 

In year one, I learnt a lot of lessons, but I also laid a great foundation. Year two will be focused on ambition and building on what’s working well so far.  

Finally, 

Thank you to everyone that has worked with and supported me and Beyond & Co. in year one. From my amazing cousin creating my first website, to the local coffee shop I spend way too much time in, and my amazing (new, but now forever) friends who have picked me up when I’ve had a wobble! 

I truly couldn’t do this without you! 

Here’s to year two! 

T x