Profile: Carol Meyrick: Office Stuff
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October 11, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Carole Meyrick is a virtual assistant based in Wales. In 2004 she launched her business, Office Stuff, which provides a variety of administrative services such as book-keeping, call answering, design, transcription and many more. Ms Meyrick spoke to The Fresh Outlook about the challenges she faced when setting up her business.
Where did you find the inspiration for your business?
I always wanted to be a secretary, and did the necessary work by going to secretarial college and getting various diplomas and certificates. I progressed up the ranks to work as a PA in London for a director and the CEO of a merchant bank and then for the MD of a marketing consultancy. I eventually gave up the commuting from Brighton to spend a three year interlude doing ‘something completely different’ in horticulture. Horticultural wages being what they are, I returned to office work as Administration Manager for Cuprinol when they were based in Somerset. After meeting a blue-eyed Welshman in Plymouth, I moved to Mid Wales in 1993, where I now live contentedly on the side of a hill with my husband, his dogs and chickens, and my two cats.
Whilst my life in Mid Wales became more agreeable, I found a distinct lack of similar work opportunities to those I had previously been used to. Increasingly frustrated at not being able to use my many skills to the full, the idea of working for myself that had been fomenting away in the dark recesses finally came to the foreground when I was made redundant at the end of 2003.
What kind of difficulties did you find while trying to launch your own business?
I originally started up in partnership with a colleague who’d been made redundant at the same time. Things went well at first; I was happy to be patient whilst beavering away at the new business, and I got a part-time job to provide an income. Unfortunately, the business didn’t take off quickly enough for my partner, and there was a very acrimonious split. So the lesson to be learned from that is be very careful about going into partnership, and have procedures in place to make sure you communicate regularly about business matters. Not to be defeated, Office Stuff was launched in January 2005, and I was finally able to make the decision to run the business full-time in February 2006, giving up the part-time job.
Other than the partnership hiccough, I didn’t find there were any particular difficulties in launching the business. Obviously my background helped a great deal as I already had all the admin skills needed to run a business.
What kind of expectations did you have before setting your business? Did your business meet your expectations?
You always expect a new project to turn out the way you thought it would when you originally came up with the idea! I unrealistically expected Office Stuff to sail away on a fluffy white cloud into the sunshine of success and riches - mistake! You should try as far as you possibly can to take account of the unexpected. I couldn’t have predicted that I would be so good at what I do that my two major clients would outgrow the service I provided, and would need to employ someone full-time at their premises. Be realistic in your expectations, and be prepared for very hard graft to make your business a success.
Did launching your own business change you in any way?
It has given me more confidence in my abilities. I’ve always enjoyed using my initiative and ‘being in charge’, and now I’m running a business I’m definitely at the helm.
Did you learn something positively unexpected about yourself?
Not really. I think you have to be confident in yourself to take the plunge into running your own business, and I already was. If anything, I have become more patient, but less tolerant. There is a difference between the two. I’m more patient with clients who perhaps need more nurturing but much less tolerant of people who expect something for nothing, or who don’t value me and the skills I bring to their business.
What kind of person you were before setting your own business? What kind of person you are now?
I’ve always been a confident person, but I think I’m probably rather more diplomatic now.
Do you consider your business your biggest achievement? Yes? No? Why?
It’s one of my greater achievements, but not the only one. I’m essentially a survivor. I don’t dwell on things that haven’t worked out, we all have those, and the trick is not to become despondent and let them take over the rest of your life. Nothing is ever a failure because you learn from it. I don’t really spend a lot of time on analysis; I move on. There is nothing that beats the feeling you get when you’ve achieved a brilliant result for a client, and that’s what I aim for.
What was the response like? What do people say about your business?
My husband, family and friends were and are very supportive. They’re pleased when I’m successful, and commiserate when things don’t go so well. I have a close group of friends who run similar businesses and we’re very supportive of each other. We know we’ll always get a truthful opinion or helpful suggestions when we ask for them.
What do you dream about now?
Retirement! No, I can’t really see myself retiring. I’d like to grow the business, so that I can outsource more than I do at the moment. That’s the current plan.
Have you got any tips for women who want to launch a new business?
Research, research, research. Don’t hesitate to ask for help - people love being asked to do something for you. Take advice with a pinch of salt – I know of one virtual assistant who was advised by her accountant to charge a very low fee. So low in fact that she didn’t make any money at first! Don’t undervalue yourself. Ignore your gut instinct at your peril. And be patient… be very patient. It takes a lot of hard work to sell yourself and the services you provide and you need to build relationships. You won’t do that if you sit at home. People buy from people, so get out there and be seen.
Running my own business is great, and I really wouldn’t be doing anything else.
For more information, please visit www.office-stuff.biz
Fab post Carole - totally agree on the tips for launching a new biz, the 3 Rs are ESSENTIAL!
Fab post Carole.
It’s brilliant that an experienced VA is sharing their experience with the world.
Here’s to your continued longevity!