In one of my earlier blogs I wrote about the fact that publishing my first book was more than just that. In creating a product to sell I was also creating a business.
Whilst those first meetings with banks, accountants and web specialists make you feel like your own little empire is coming together, the truth of the matter is that it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Having worked for small companies before, I’m no stranger to a bit of entrepreneurial spirit but when you’re setting up a business from scratch, even if it’s not going to be your main source of income, it’s no small task.
For a start, setting up my own business alongside a busy and demanding day job means that I’ve made the most of some spare time over the Christmas holidays. That doesn’t mean it’s been all work and no play. Thanks to a couple of strategically requested Christmas presents, I’ve made the most of some quiet evenings in front of the TV to produce a pre-order flyer, design my invoices and get all those spreadsheets and finance trackers set up.
There’s also the little issue of finances that I would hazard a guess most people in employment, unless specifically responsible for a budget, simply don’t appreciate. This business has been set up using personal savings and it wasn’t until earlier today when I found myself weighing up envelopes (which type, how many, best value etc) that this really hit home. On reflection, I think managing a budget is something more young people in employment should be introduced to. Application of numeracy, one of the seven key employability skills I write about is something that many young people struggle to demonstrate yet it’s also a life skill that too few are learning. The next time I have a young person with us on work experience, there will definitely be a budgeting task for them and it will be made very clear that the skills they are learning are for life and for their CV.
So what’s next? Well the next few days will be focused on getting ‘Employability What?’ ready for the publisher. Lewis has almost got the final page layout complete and we’re close to signing off the cover design. I’ve planned out how many copies I can afford on the initial print run so as soon as the files are safely with the publisher, the next step will be to concentrate on the official launch, publicity and securing some more orders to coincide with the March 4th launch.
This is likely to be my last post before the New Year so I’d just like to finish by thanking everyone for their support in getting ‘Employability What?’ off the ground. 2014 is going to be AMAZING!
Ann