It's so weird to even put it in writing that this time last year I walked away from my job at the Irish Mail On Sunday newspaper.
After working there for two years, living my life in the world of newspapers, I left my great salary and contract safety for the unknown...
Walking out of the Mail offices one year ago I couldn't have imagined what the next 12 months would entail.
I had a huge lump in my throat, my eyes were watering and I didn't want to look back. I took my last step out of that building and my first step into business.
Just days later I was painting my brand new office in town, hiring staff and getting ready to make Goss.ie live.
Nobody could have told me how hard it would have been, no one could have warned me the difficulties I'd face, the nasty surprises and the unexpected stresses that would all come my way.
But 12 months on I can look back at this year and truly say I have no regrets...in all areas of my life all I have tried to do is better myself.
I certainly didn't think that I would be running my business completely on my own, that my TV pilot would be done and dusted, that I would be working on new feature scripts and that I would be expanding Goss.ie beyond what I dreamed of and months ahead of scheduled as well.
I have often been accused of being a bit of a silly "dreamer" but I don't think that's a bad thing, and as I work harder and harder to achieve my dreams I know that taking the leap I did last year was the best decision I have ever made.
11 months into the business I am already expanding our team from reporters to sales to video production, next month we will be announcing a lot of exciting news and it's moments like that that keeps me going.
At the VIP Style Awards
At 25-years-old I feel like I've achieved more than I ever thought possible. And I'm living a life I dreamed of as a little girl.
There is so much more I want to achieve, and will achieve, but I've already ticked so many things off my bucket list.
I've learned so much over the last year, from filing taxes, hiring staff, directing sales, implementing marketing strategies, media law and website development...I feel like a completely new person.
And as overwhelming as it all can be, I wake up every morning pushing myself a little bit more and focusing on my end goals.
Celebrating 1 year on
Don't get me wrong there has been some extremely difficult patches this year, as there is with every new business.
Over the last few months I've learned who my true friends are, and I am so grateful to the people in my life who have been there for me this year.
I've been to a lot of business seminars over the last year, attended entrepreneur talks and met with CEOs and the one thing that struck me was that looking after yourself is the number one task...and this year not burning out has been my focus.
It hasn't been easy mentally, financially and physically but my ambition and passion has kept me on the straight and narrow.
Somehow I've made it through the last 12 months without having a mini breakdown, and if I can get through this year I think I can get through anything.
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far - my family and friends for putting up with my moaning and my stress tantrums, my amazing, hard working staff Lisa, Sean, Sorcha and Meghann who are growing everyday and who are already the best ambassadors for Goss.ie.
And to the people in my life who have become my mentors, helping me out with everything from convincing me to go to sleep for an hour, perfecting pitches, working on expansion ideas, understanding company law to writing financial forecasts. You know who are you, and I am forever grateful.
Me with my Goss.ie reporters
Also to the fantastic PR companies, media outlets and brands around the country who have supported Goss from the get go and have been helpful on so many different levels.
Next month we will be having a big celebration and I can't wait to toast to another year of success and announce some exciting new developments.
Ali
x
Dreaming, Believing and seriously Werking...
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