Interim Appraisal, What we have learned in our first 6 months

Yesterday marked the end of our first six months of trading. Milestones like these are a good opportunity to reflect on what has gone before and what lies ahead. I wanted to share a few thoughts from our journey so far.

If You Want to Do Something, You Can

When our children dream of being astronauts, footballers, or scientists, we tell them they can achieve it if they put their minds to it. We’ve realised the same is true for ourselves. I’ve long wanted my own brokerage, but made excuses for why it wouldn’t work. Once we decided this was what we truly wanted, we made it happen.

Sacrifice and Flexibility

As a family, we’ve made sacrifices. Life has been tough at times, and we’ve had to hold our nerve. There are still challenges ahead, but it’s more than worth it.

Being self-employed comes with long hours and hard work, but it also gives flexibility. I attended my children’s sports day for the first time this year and accompanied my daughter on a school trip to the beach—memories worth every effort.

Shy Bairns Get Nowt

This great northern saying is so true. Sometimes fear stops us from asking for or trying something. The worst that could happen? You try and learn. Take the leap—you may be pleasantly surprised!

Opportunities are everywhere if you put yourself forward. You never know what new business or connections might come your way.

Unexpected Support

Support often comes from unexpected places. Business opportunities can arise from the most unlikely connections. Stay open and maintain your network.

Hard Work and Planning

Preparation and hard work go hand in hand. “No plan survives contact with the enemy,” they say, and while we’ve remained flexible, our plan has provided direction, focus, and a benchmark. Without planning, our hard work would have been less fruitful—and without hard work, preparation alone achieves little.

Fun on a Budget

Early months (or years) in business are often lean. With creativity, planning, patience, and resourcefulness, living on a tight budget can still be rewarding. Remember—it’s a long-game.

People Do Business With People

Our network appreciates that we are genuinely interested in them as individuals. Making a deal isn’t the hard part; building trust is—and it’s far more rewarding.

Social media has been a powerful tool for networking and generating leads. While we may not get it perfect, it produces a significant portion of our business. We’ve also supported small businesses and charities with social media strategies, volunteering our time when it adds value.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

My wife Clare is awesome. Once we agreed self-employment was best for our family, she threw herself into the business, supporting me and developing her social media and marketing skills. I wouldn’t feel half as confident or optimistic without her as my wingman.

Gratitude and Looking Forward

We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first six months running our business together. We are extremely grateful to those who have supported us with encouragement, business, or recommendations—they make a real difference as we establish the brokerage. Thank you!

If you would value a free insurance review, quotation, or advice, we’d be happy to help. Call us on 0191 438 79 77 or email us here. We look forward to finding out how we can help!