A Nomad's life...

You never really think about it when you start a business… how will this affect my life overall? What will it mean to my rhythm, my surroundings, my family. You think about how your business will look and ofcourse you hope for a better life in general – but the impact may be greater then you could every imagine.

When I founded my own company Elegio, then later on OHM Business Development and  E.Factor with Adrie and Roeland – I always knew that I wanted them to be international companies rather then play on the local or even national scene. To me, all businesses these days are international by virtue of the internet. The world literally is your oyster and the sand grain that is your fledgling company could become that amazing pearl as you grow and expand.

But, like with the sand grain, there has to be a rub in order to start the process that will make it into a pearl. As an international company, it means that you have to be in different locations. And that’s where your life starts to change. I have spoken often about the need to invest in your company, and this time I don’t mean monetary. If you want to grow your company, you’ll have to change your life. I come across quite a few starting entrepreneurs that treat a business like they would a job – working the shortest amount of hours possible (9 to five is enough), wanting a full salary equivalent to what they had before, and all the benefits that come with it. Drawing that much money from a starting business, whilst not investing your time will simply mean you have a stranglehold on your own business. You do need to invest time, in my case, it means spending 2 weeks each month at a minimum away from home. But it will result in what I envisioned at the outset – having a business and brand that is recognized internationally, is existing already in 158 countries worldwide.

It’s simply that nomad’s life that eventually will be the path to a more permanent place then I had even before I started. And that is why it is worth every minute of investment, every mile I have flown and every step I have taken on this amazing journey. And so can you, if you can see beyond the immediate restrictions that this kind of life will require as you start up your business and as you start filling in what you want out of it. Don’t let anything hold you back – if you truly believe that this is your road, your path, then the investment is worth it…

Marion

1 Comments

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• Bill Evans | Oct 5, 2009 10:34 AM

  When I started my business some 24 years ago my business plan was to have 3 to 4 partners within a two year growth period. But I found, as you stated so nicely, that 9 to 5 and a full salary does not equate to partnership or business ownership. So I stayed as an one owner business and have no regrets. I often heard that partnership is like a marriage.
  
  The first 10 years of my business I averaged each year 300 days on the road and spent most Christmas' in some foreign land. I paid my dues chasing less than profitable contracts to become known. Then two things happened, I did become known and I met, thru a client in the flatlands of Texas, my life's companion. Life is good and business is good.
  
  The challenges now are like other economic downturns with many folks out of work who "consult" to make ends meet and to find another job and potential clients who buy on price not performance. But I provide the same level service at the same price I always have and enjoy a meaningful quality life and challenging and profitable work.
  
  Bill Evans

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