14 years and counting!

We’re feeling the love this month, especially as it’s Chimera Communications’ 14^th birthday.

Not bad for something I didn’t originally intend to do. Now, though, I have to thank all those people who were instrumental in Chimera’s birth.

What have I learnt from running my own PR and marketing consultancy in that time? Here’s a quick run-down, from the obvious to the not so obvious:

• Always have a plan but be nimble, flexible and adaptable
• Don’t say ‘yes’ to everything without thinking things through
• Don’t take business issues personally
• There will always be those who are jealous, lazy or downright incapable, who copy your ideas and how you do stuff – remember they’re simply incompetent or unable to come up with their own ideas. Mainly they come and go with monotonous regularity
• Life throws you curve balls. It’s how you bat and bowl that matter
• Always look for the opportunity, not the down side
• Trust your gut instinct, it’s nearly always right
• Work hard but work smarter
• The old adage “Keep it simple” is spot on
• Tell things how they are, no matter whether people don’t want to hear it. They’ll usually appreciate it in the end
• The customer is not always right, in fact quite rarely but they’re paying for your best advice and be true to that
• Value your skills, experience and qualifications; be confident
• Be nice, be loyal, be ethical, be above reproach
• Treat others well and with respect, but stand your ground when justified
• Always be ready to learn new things and keep your mind open
• Run with new technology where it makes life easier or better; but don’t get carried away with every new development; be discerning
• If you're wrong, say so and apologise. We're all human and make mistakes but blaming others is just not on
• Don’t try to do your own tax returns if you don’t know what you’re doing! In other words, get experts on your support team so you can concentrate on what you do best
• Don’t be afraid to try something new; it’s rarely as scary as you think
• Be aware of your cash flow situation and plan ahead
• Sometimes you do have to look back to go forward; that’s ok
• Life’s too short to work with people you just don’t get on with; say goodbye and move on
• Above all, be your own person and put your head on your pillow at night with a clean conscience and a grateful heart

For some people though, running a business just isn’t your thing and you need to find that out sooner rather than later. It's ok to have tried. After all, life's too short not to give it a go. Just don't waste too much time, effort and money. Do something else and don't dwell on it. Not everything will be a success and it's important to realise this.

Thank you to all our clients over the years. You’ve been, on the whole, a wonderful bunch of people and it’s been a pleasure getting to know you and your businesses. There are some fantastic companies out there, truly worthwhile innovations and projects, charities who do so much for others. 

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to each and every one of the Chimera team over the years. It’s been, and will continue to be, heart-warming to work with such a bunch of talented, funny, loyal and professional consultants. 

This is what makes Chimera Communications different, and I love it.