2021 was for everybody an extraordinary year, and from a personal perspective a steep learning curve and quite a challenge. What a year to start a business!

So how is it all going? I am pleased to say that the wheels haven’t fallen off, I’m still rolling and have been fortunate enough to work with quite a broad range of clients on different projects, training opportunities, regular communication roles and other ongoing campaigns and I believe that I’m heading in the right direction.

One of the questions I have regularly been asked is, ‘Do I like being on my own?’. That is a really interesting question and not one immediately easy to answer. I enjoy what I am doing and enjoy working with different people, but, do I like being on my own? - I am a naturally gregarious person. I like people and yet I have spent a lot of time over the last 12 months commuting from the bedroom to the kitchen and then to my office at home. I’ve spent hours tapping away on my laptop and chatting on calls whilst staring out of the window. Don’t get me wrong, the view isn’t that bad and I love watching the birds come and go, but I am on my own. Is this healthy? Not sure, but at least I am reflecting on it, am aware that I miss more regular contact with people and have a plan as to how I can achieve that!

Regular meetings are clearly a way to have interaction and are a necessary part of working life, but the fact remains that a lot of the work still needs to be done and that is often in solitude. One way that I have found to feel a bit more ‘part of a team’ with a natural buzz in the background is to use the wonderful workspace on offer at The Santander Work Cafe. What an inspirational development that is to bring people together, and what an imaginative marketing tool for Santander! The meeting rooms are light and airy, the service and coffee good. It is a great addition to the Island, and a good place to meet and to bump into people.

I do also have a few other regular haunts to get me out and about in town and the fact that we have such a great infrastructure for Wifi is something to behold.

Wherever I go I can open the laptop, connect through my iPhone and I’m off and running. The technology behind this blows my mind and it is brilliant.

So back to the average working week and what it looks like. Regular work with retainers are really important to provide structure and regular income. Aside from that I’ve worked on a number of short term projects over the last year, have had numerous chats and coffees over Zoom and face to face whilst touting for business, attended networking events, undertaken prospective work and on top of that my usual share of volunteering, so a fairly healthy balance and I am always busy.

2021 was certainly a learning and building year, and here’s hoping that I continue on a journey of success throughout 2022. There have been some highs as well as a few bumps along the way, and I keep an open mind to all approaches and opportunities, such is the life of an independent freelance business consultant.

If I have worked with you, thank you for your business. If I haven’t, then let’s have a chat and see if I can do something to help!