Three is the magic number

Three is the magic number

My business, AJB HR Consultancy Services, turned three years old this month.

I have worked in corporate roles my whole career - such as HSBC, Misco and Nationwide Building Society - but when I was made redundant, I decided to go it alone and start my own business.

The early days were daunting.  I recall all the things I had to get sorted, from choosing a company name (that wasn’t too hard) and getting a brand identity, to setting up a website and getting visible on social media.

At that time, I didn't know where it was going to go and whether I was ever going to have any clients.

There seemed a lot more things to do, such as hire an accountant or find decent networking events to attend.

And, being a pessimist, I always questioned what will happen next.

‍Be more positive

Everyone around me, particularly my wife Denise, tells me that I should be a lot more positive.  

And, as De La Soul* once said: ‘three is the magic number’.

Three years on, I now have an office, I have a team, and I have a full list of clients.

My office is The Priory (not that one) – a beautiful building in Warwickshire; I have employed two fantastic members of staff through the government’s Kickstart scheme; and I have a virtual assistant to support me day-to-day and a social media manager to look after my marketing.

Always moving forward

Some of my clients have been with me from the start. A couple of them are friends and former colleagues.  I am very lucky to have their support.  In fact, I now have a waiting list for new clients.  It seems strange to think that, three years ago, I didn’t even know if I would ever have any clients, never mind people waiting to work with me.

In the last year, I have become an accredited partner with Breathe – a HR software for small businesses – and I have spoken on stage at a big event (where people approached me for HR support as I came off the stage).

With all of the above, I guess I have a lot to celebrate, and I will take some time to enjoy this moment.

‍Thank you and good night

Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way – my clients and my friends.  There are far too many to name, but I hope you know who you are. 

Most importantly, I would like to thank my wife Denise for her unwavering support and for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

Happy third birthday to my business.

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*to listen to the classic song by De La Soul, click here.

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