Entrepreneurship

Take the rough with the smooth

So this week I wanted to highlight a disappointment that I had in regards to Lucy Rose. I am documenting my journey and I think it’s only right to take you through not only the highs, but the lows too. Over the summer, I applied for an Innovate UK Grant which are highly competitive. I found out last week that unfortunately, I didn’t get it.

What has been your biggest regret?

I remember being a teenager drawing logo’s for my big umbrella company which was to be called ‘Benny Business’ (don’t ask, it’s a nickname) in my school journal. I never envisioned myself working for a company, I would always see myself as my own boss. When in Year 11 I failed Business Studies, and in Year 12 failed Economics, I still did not doubt that I would build my own company from scratch. I saw those failures as purely academic, nothing to do with what I could accomplish outside of the school walls.

Fear

Fear is a funny thing. I often find myself terrified of the idea of doing something, yet do it anyway. I’d most probably get it wrong, but at least I did it. Somethings I can live with the heart pumping, soul shaking fear, others plain and simply fill me with dread.

Do you have Grit?

An entrepreneur once told be about her three G’s that she uses to determine other entrepreneurs; Grit, Grace and Graft. Grit has been explored in depth for more than 100 years, none more recently than Angela Duckworth’s book ‘Grit’.

And Relax

I decided that last Friday I would take the day off work. “Day off from what?!” my inner voice kept saying, but I ignored her, and I am currently writing this in a spa.

Sat in the spa, I also have a great book with me called Self Care for the Real World. It has tips and tricks to help you get the most out of yourself from food and drink recipies to yoga exercises and meditation techniques.

Self Belief vs Self Confidence

I recently found out the difference between self belief and self confidence and how a lot of people get them mixed up. I thought I was lacking in self belief, but I’m actually lacking in self confidence. The difference being the belief in your own abilities. I think many of us think that we can’t do something, but often surprise ourselves when we do.

You can now enter the Den...

Last week was fantastic. I received my trademark certificate for the name Lucy Rose in the footwear space. I am officially a trademarked company! It’s been three months of waiting in case others wanted to raise a complaint but I was confident I would be okay.

Look how far you've come

Do you remember when you wanted to be where you are now? Do you remember being stressed that you wouldn’t find the right job, that you wouldn’t get the result you wanted from Uni? But look at you, you are here now in a job you love with a University Degree. One of my biggest problems is I do not look back to see how far I’ve come. I’m always longing to be in the future.

When the going gets tough…

As you all know I am a highly motivated individual with a desire to bring my product to market. So what happens when it isn’t quite going as you thought. Don’t get me wrong, I am still extremely excited about what the future holds for Lucy Rose Ltd but I feel as though I am not in the driving seat as much as I would like. A plan is still very much in place, but my patience is being tested.

How do I start a start-up?

I have always known deep down that I wanted to be my own boss and to own my own company. But going from that ideal to reality is a lot more challenging than I thought. I have been working on the business for a long time now, but I always had something else to achieve and complete before I could devote all my time to it. Like A-Levels, then four years at University. Those gave me clear goals, I had to submit a piece of coursework by x, had an exam on y, all working towards a clear overall goal of passing University.