ActionCOACH Ilminster presents… The Interview Series!
Over the next few weeks we will be interviewing local South West business owners, so that we can get to know both them and their businesses. In times like these we need to stick together!
This week we sat down with Hayley Smith from Myriad Business Services.
“I don’t believe in the hard sell. It’s not my style and in all honesty, in business, you want someone you can trust with your brand. And that;s I started Myriad. I am here to be what you need in your business. That could be to hold your hand through initial phases to starting a business to make an impact, continuing your upward growth by implementing your business strategies or even as a spare pair of eyes and ears to help with everything involved in growing a successful enterprise. “
We asked Hayley a few questions about her business and herself and here is what she had to say…
- Tell us about yourself and why you went into this business?
Up until 2019, I worked in several industries. Recruitment, retail, non-profit, local government and in the corporate sector.
I have always had a knack and passion for adapting to new businesses, industries, situations and been a problem solver. So every job I took on, I was excelled at. Giving 110%.
In February 2019, my husband was made redundant and I went through a major period of depression and anxiety. And it made me realise, after a lot of time off and the help of the wonderful NHS that I needed a change. I had never thought of starting my own business.
Until one day, during my recovery, I was chatting to my best friend, helping her solve some issue with her business she was trying to get off the ground. I had done this many times with different friends and told them what they needed to look at, and who to talk to. One day my friend turned to me and said “In a 30 minute chat, you have just solved 4 problems for me, why don’t you start your own business!” My first thought was that of laughter. My reply being “what would my title be, coach? Telling people what to do? That’s silly”. Later that week it went round in my head. And eventually, I realised what I know can help others, not just my friends.
In August 2019, Myriad was born. So now I focus on helping small businesses every day, with whatever situations they have, or whatever tasks they need help with, which gives me a great sense of purpose.
Since then, unfortunately my husband has been made redundant twice more, but I have been lucky to have been successful in my own business to help deal with the fallout.
I now feel that this was where life was leading me all the time. After spending the last 18 months feeling like my family have been on a rollercoaster, I know the adage “Everything happens for a reason” is true. And I couldn’t be happier.
- What has the Lockdown and Covid-19 taught you?
Its not all doom and gloom.
At the start of lockdown, a lot of my work at the time was events based, purely as it was the start of exhibition and conferencing season. So, naturally, that all was first to shut down and I was left with practically no income, didn’t qualify for ANY government help and no benefits.
I was worried at first, but after the first couple of days of lockdown, I realised, this is an opportunity. I went straight back to adapt my business plan to suit the current climate. I pulled my plans forward for building a business course which I had planned to launch in January 2021, knuckled down, completed, and launched it all within lockdown.
I also threw myself into every single networking opportunity I could find. I was honest and open about my situation and was afraid to say it. People resonated with my honesty and my resilience and my keep going attitude to life. Enjoying the little things that came out of every day. By midway through lockdown, my weeks were packed with potential clients booking 1 to 1’s, companies wanting to liaise
- What if anything will you do differently post Lockdown?
During lockdown, I did spend a lot of time working and not taking much time off to relax. So lockdown did teach me to stop and let myself have some downtime. After all, it was partly why I wanted to start my own business. To have a better work life balance.
- What is your favourite quote?
“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” Benjamin Franklin
Contact them today here: www.myriadservices.co.uk
Watch their full ActionCOACH Ilminster Interview here: https://youtu.be/JWKkfVIyqhw
