As MD of an Organisational Development Firm, being innovative and opening one’s self and one’s Business up to new ways of doing things is vital. So here I am, blogging for the first time!
What are first blogs supposed to be? Well in the longer term I hope to be talking to you about the challenges facing Businesses and how Organisational Development Strategies and Management Development Solutions can meet these challenges. But in the short term, for my first blog, let me tell you a bit about myself.
When I left a large Corporate Organisation in 2004, I believed I was fully prepared to run my own Business. When I look back on how different my life was then it still amazes me. I was a Director with around 150 People in my Business Unit, budgets that were there to spend and various Teams I could call on. More importantly I had plenty of time just to think and generate ideas. So why did I decide to change everything?
Well it was the ideas – I’m good at coming up with solutions and new ways to tackle issues and this lends itself very well to Organisational and Management Development. I had met many challenges and resolved many issues in my Organisation – why not now help others in the broader corporate arena?
However, I always had people to implement these ideas and when they did I got all the plaudits! Now I run an SME in the worst economic environment possible!! I manage cash flow, hire and fire People, even recently having to move some to a 4 day week, something Finance & HR would have done for me back in 2004!! I manage bank loans and deal with government agencies (and forms!!). I’m required to call other small companies looking for payments. I’m getting calls looking for money - again the things I didn’t even consider when leaving the corporate environment.
All that said I really enjoy working for myself, despite finding myself looking for more time to do what I do best – providing People Management Solutions to Business problems, helping people develop their careers & setting real objectives that work. Today’s economy requires more of what I used to do but fire fighting is too time-consuming to allow it. So…… I’ve decided to focus on improving my Business and less time stressing out on what banks and creditors want!
So, this blog is my starting point. Some time to think and reflect. Some time to myself to ponder the issues facing Business’ today……and hopefully, by sharing it on-line, it will also help others like me.
