My sister and I are both from Brabant, from a family of entrepreneurs. Especially from my mother's side. But in 1961 my father also eventually exchanged a secure existence as an employee for that of an independent entrepreneur.
More than twenty years later, in 1987, I decided to take the same step and left an interesting position at a nice agency for a precarious existence as an independent entrepreneur. We have now installed the Issuemakers; a communications consultancy for all organizations that want to make a social impact, strengthen their reputation or increase their social visibility and sympathy.
From communications advisor to entrepreneurship has been quite an exciting step. I have benefited greatly from these developments Entrepreneurs' Organization of which I am a member. This is an international peer-to-peer network with around 250 members in the Netherlands. All entrepreneurs who support each other in entrepreneurship. Because this involves completely different skills, such as hiring the right employees, taking financial risks, developing the right long-term strategy, but also dealing with difficult employees and clients. I notice that I have learned (and continue to learn) a lot from my colleagues from this Entrepreneurs group.
In recent years it has become increasingly clear to me that being an entrepreneur is something different from a communications consultant. As an entrepreneur you increasingly have to work on your business instead of in your business. That's complicated, especially if you enjoy being an advisor yourself. But it still gives me a lot of energy every day.
#issuemakers #communication #entrepreneurship #issue management
