The year started in lockdown, we had one day with our family over Christmas, if we were lucky. As I reflect, I give thanks, I take time to celebrate and appreciate for some it's been exceptionally difficult and give hope that tomorrow is kinder to them.
It has been a mammoth year, the challenges of 2021 touched us all. I’m not going to celebrate getting through the year as if those that didn’t failed, there’s no winners and losers in this game of business and life. It’s been exceptionally gruelling, for some it’s been devastating. Some can’t reflect on the year gone by in the same light many of us can. My thoughts are with them. The year for me has been a balance of positives and negatives, no matter how awesome your strategic planning is, nothing stops the twists and turns of life; it was a year of much learning. As 2021 becomes a memory and we look towards 2022, am I where I expected to be at the start of this year?
No.
In January, facing a further national lockdown, the firefighting continued as the owner of a wedding business. In all honesty January was incredibly stressful. I needed to earn an income. I’d rode the wave of Covid during 2020 but with 2021 ahead and not knowing the long-term impact of the situation I needed to be realistic as a working Mum. I had mouths to feed and bills to pay. As someone who doesn’t ask for help, I turned to my community and said ‘Help please’. First lessons of the year, community is everything and asking for help is vital in business.
These lessons were crucial to progressing Kind Currency from an idea to a start-up business. My weaknesses would be barrier unless I asked for help. To ask for help though, I would need to share with people. Lesson three, if we don’t tell people about what we are doing, how are they expected to know, or as my Nan would say ‘shy bairns get nowt’. Once I shared my aspirations for Kind Currency and spoke in the business community, opportunities seemed to present themselves frequently.
Opportunities stir up Imposter Syndrome and then procrastination sets in. However, because Kind Currency is about supporting change and creating an impact, I learnt another lesson. I had to face the fear, choose to challenge, and change. The first opportunity I seized opened the door to many more.
This delivered two further lessons. Say yes to everything and worry about it later. Worrying before prevents you from saying yes. And although I faced fear daily in respect of my health challenges, I had never really stepped into the fear in a business sense. I quickly learnt that it was very much the same outcome, it’s far better to step into the fear then stay cocooned inside.
As the year progressed, I faced challenges daily and stepped into the fear many times. It’s not been easy but I’m incredibly grateful, for the lessons, for the opportunities but most of all for the people who have come into my world during this year and for the wonderful people that have supported myself and my businesses.
I’ve had some standout moments of which I am immensely proud. Kind Currency is growing a kind community and I built the website myself woo hoo! Kind Currency was named #SmallBiz100 2021 by Small Business Britain and I’m invited to the House of Lords to celebrate! I became an Ambassador for Be Heard by Northern Power Women, giving me a seat at the table to level up the voices in the media. I shared my story, big step! I owned my chronic illnesses and disabilities, I’m proud to be a disabled entrepreneur. I’ve been recognised and nominated by wonderful people for several awards. Michelle Jones Weddings put couples, suppliers, and small businesses first. I earnt a steady income taking on an admin role to meet the needs of my family. And I faced my biggest fear of all, major surgery, I’ve avoided it for years, the risks too great but I sit writing this in recovery.
I’m not going to list the negatives, we’ve all had enough negatives this year. However, I will note that the negatives did direct me onto new paths. Paths that lead to exciting opportunities and brought new people into my community.
So, no, I’m not where I expected to be, but I am exactly where I am meant to be.
Your experiences of 2021 will be a memory tomorrow and for tomorrow I wish you all much hope, may your 2022 be filled with kindness.