It’s no surprise that starting your own business is a monumental task, but doing it solo is another matter.  Our next guests shares her cautionary tale…

Please introduce yourself to our readers…
Hello, s’mae in my native tongue. I hail from North Wales, a rugged and beautiful land. I’m Emma, now known as The Gecko at Gecko Clothing, but in a previous life I ran a Project and Event Management company, Ysbryd y Ddraig.
You once started your own business – what was it (What Problem/Need/Service did you fulfill?)
Ysbryd y Ddraig (Spirit of the Dragon) specializing in creative event management, project management and freelance fundraising.
What made you decide to go out on your own vs work for someone else?
I had been working in a fab Social Enterprise, when the main service I was responsible for was signed out to a large multinational. I was touped over, but my role was changed drastically. I missed the social aspect, it became very admin based. I went on maternity and just didn’t want to go back, I wanted the freedom to be at home, but also didn’t want to give up work.

Did you take any outside funding?
I did, I received some funding from The Princes Trust, whom we impressed so much we were given the opportunity to present Ysbryd y Ddraig directly to the Prince of Wales and Dutchess of Cornwall just 3 months after launch in 2010 which I am still super proud of!
Did you have any partners?
Nope, I went Solo!
What was your vision/goal for the company? (Did you meet that?)
Yes and no! I worked with a strong variety of clients on projects that had a strong social and community aspect, I was getting a reputation for specializing in this, which was my aim. However, I hadn’t envisaged the many problems with relying on helping generate my own income, through my activities for clients.
What was your company culture like? Did it ever change?
I tried to keep a strong professional, very helpful culture which didn’t change.
Why are you not with that business anymore? (Closed down, sold, etc)
For the most I loved it, but overall it became quite stressful. Having a young family and no team mates meant if there was a problem at home I still had to go or completely let my client down. Plus I became tired by constantly having to fight for my worth when negotiating contracts and as I worked on a lot of project with a good cause I repeatedly undervalued myself and my work so I stopped.
Would you do it again?
I did! I re-evaluated my entire life. My husband and I decided we weren’t done making small people and we wanted one more and that we would quite like a family business. So I took the plunge again! This time we looked long and hard at the type of business we were proposing and the possible stresses that could come along with it. We had always talked about starting our own brand, but mostly as a joke. We
have no regrets. It’s much more suited to us as people as we still work for a worthwhile cause and something we feel passionately about.
What are you doing now?
3 years on and our brand Gecko Clothing is now multi award-winning and going from strength to strength. I love every minute of it. It is challenging and hard work, but I love it, I have never believed in something so much it is exhilarating and rewarding.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting their own business?
It’s all in the planning! One of my favorite pieces of advice is ‘It takes years to be an overnight success.’
Aside from that I would tell you never to give up, chasing your dream is not going to be easy, but who wants easy? To work with complete freedom on a project of your own choosing each day and build something you believe in 100% is so much better than easy.
What is your favorite song?
Ummmm today it’s Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Home. I also love Ane Brun Song 6, it’s my husband and I’s special song so always makes me happy.

Thanks for sharing Emma!