Starting a business at Unicorn Studios

UNICORN BLOG

I have spent most of my life working for other people, whilst dreaming of setting up my own business but until recently I lacked the self-confidence to take the leap...

Unicorn Studios Co-working Space

I have friends who have established successful businesses, who have found it a challenging yet fulfilling experience. I have really admired their courage.

At times I have also envied their freedom to take a few weeks off, to travel to some far flung corner of the globe whilst I've been locked into a nine to five existence with limited holiday allowance, wishing that I had the guts to follow their example.

Overcoming my fears

So what helped me to overcome my fears and finally take the plunge? It was finding a supportive community of fellow entrepreneurs at Unicorn Studios. They have encouraged and advised me throughout my business journey and made the prospect of setting up my own business less daunting. I am very grateful to them!

At Unicorn Studios, members have access to a network of people who can help them get their business off the ground more quickly and easily. Fellow entrepreneurs provide advice and moral support, without which I'm not sure that I'd be where I am now.

Is age an obstacle?

One of the things that held me back for so long was the firm belief that age was an obstacle and I should have taken the opportunities to set up my own business when I was younger. However, I no longer believe that age should be a limiting factor. There are many successful entrepreneurs who have started businesses later in life and brought their experience and expertise to the table.

It's true that statistically speaking most of the startup founders are between the ages of 20-35. They typically have more energy, are less risk averse and have fewer commitments and responsibilities. However, it is also true that lots of startups fail each year due to lack of knowledge and professional experience.

For me, that's been another benefit of being based at Unicorn Studios. I have the privilege of spending time with entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds. Through them I have learnt that age is only an obstacle if you let it.

The Unicorn Studios building in the heart of Ipswich, Suffolk

Facing the need to up-skill

Despite not long graduating from the University of Suffolk as a graphic designer it was clear that if I was to pursue my goal of being a web designer and developer I would have to buckle down and get to grips with the latest web technologies. It's a very fast paced industry, with new software products coming onto the market every day. I had to navigate my way through a bewildering amount of technology to find products that suited my needs.

With the vast array of available options and seemingly endless technical jargon, I was glad to have Steve, (one of Unicorn Studios founders) to help make sense of it all.

Research and business planning

Those who know me won't be surprised that I conducted a lot of industry research and took time to carefully plan my business goals, outlining my objectives for the first six months, year and into the future. Of course, we all know that best laid plans don't always come to fruition but it gave me a sense of comfort because I had the illusion of being in control.

There is an awful lot of emphasis these days on having a detailed business plan. Frequently this is an inescapable condition of funding, whether it be a bank loan or a grant. But when I look back over my first year in business, it wasn't my scrupulous planning that sustained me but my ability to pivot.

Setting up a business in challenging economic circumstances is no mean feat, so sometimes you have to set aside your carefully laid plans and work out how to survive the latest obstacles.

This doesn't mean that the weeks I spent researching my chosen industry was wasted. Indeed it proved invaluable when I needed to change my plans, because I was already aware of the alternative options available to me.

Our Creative Co-Working space

Benefits of being self-employed

As a new business owner I have personally found that one of the most significant advantages of being self-employed is the freedom and autonomy that comes with being my own boss.

Instead of working for someone else, I have the opportunity to set my own schedule, make decisions independently, and turn my passions into something profitable.

I love the fact that I get to spend my time as a graphic designer and web developer working on projects that stimulate and interest me, that have the added benefit of providing a living.

The future

My journey as a business owner has been incredibly rewarding and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead. I am so glad I found the courage!

Taking the plunge and starting my own business at Unicorn Studios has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

In the words of Steve Jobs (someone I greatly admired):

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."