Taking The Leap: The Reality of Starting a Business in Your 20s

There’s no sugar-coating it: running a business is hard, and more so when you are a young woman in her 20s, balancing a university degree, two jobs, a social life, and high-commitment hobbies, but you know what? I wouldn’t change it for the world.

At 18, I left education, having completed my A-Levels, with every intention of taking 12 months out to work and save, then heading off to Leeds to study Psychology. 6 months later, I fell in love with my work in the recruitment industry, and 6 months after that, I was on track to promotion, with job offers from elsewhere flooding in – I was climbing the corporate ladder, and I was loving it.

If you know anyone who has ever worked in recruitment (or sales), they will undoubtedly tell you it’s a demanding job. You need a thick skin to deal with the numerous rejections you’ll receive on a daily basis, and a strong mindset to keep chasing what seems to be an unattainable goal. Not to mention, you work on commission, so the more you work, the more you earn. As expected, this takes a huge toll on many people’s emotional, social, physical and mental wellbeing, so after 18 months in this busy world, I decided to make a change.

No longer would I work myself to the bone for the elusive corporate bosses; instead, I would work in an industry I am genuinely passionate about, working for myself, on my terms. Four months of training later, I achieved my Level 3 Diploma, and set off marching into the world of self-employment. I was a woman with a mission, and no one would stop me.

You can see where this is headed.

The biggest thing I wasn’t prepared for was the loneliness: from spending 9 hours a day in a bustling office, with work socials and team lunches, to sitting at home on my laptop clicking through excel sheets and balancing the role of Finance Consultant, Social Media Manager, Sales Representative, Founder, Website Designer, Manager, Customer Service Lead…with no one there to hold your hand, it can be incredibly daunting to step into this world alone. For this reason, I would advise anyone thinking of starting their own enterprise to ask themselves: how much do you really enjoy your own company? My best advice? Connect with other people in your industry. It is almost impossible that they too are not feeling alone, and would appreciate your shoulder to lean on; competitors don’t have to be competition, they can also be your biggest allies.

 Secondly, it would be remiss of me not to mention the challenges of being a young woman in the business world. Thankfully, my sales experience already exposed me to the signs of people who will try to take advantage of your perceived youth (and therefore lack of knowledge) – and believe me, they will try – so it is imperative you stand your ground. There is nothing more humbling to a man whose business thrives on taking advantage of people, than a 20 year old informing him that they don’t need any help, thank you, and actually, spending £1000 a month on Facebook ads is not a productive or realistic use of money, or time.

Business is business at the end of the day, and no matter your industry, you will face challenges, and you will make mistakes. It is those who persevere and put in the extra work in the beginning who will reap the rewards in the end. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t match up to someone else you saw online, or the woman down the road who has been in this business for longer than you’ve been alive – everyone has to start somewhere, and the only person worth comparing your progress to, is yourself.

It is incredibly freeing to work on your own terms, and to direct your business in exactly the way you want to in order to achieve your goals, but it is absolutely not necessary to do it all on your own. People need people, and they need you too. Share your expertise, grow alongside others, and above all, remember that you’ve already done the hardest part. You’ve taken the leap, now just keep running!

All my love,

Amelia