Although professional life was going just fine, I had a burning sensation to achieve more and do something different. I realised that aspiring to be a partner no longer appealed. The end result of actually being one just meant more stress, travel and pressure. The path to get there just didn't appeal, it would involve lots of brown nosing and hoop jumping.
I began to dream bigger, to be my own boss, independent and free. I started reading books on entrepreneurship, articles about other business people. I attended live Startup events and networked with other buzzing start up entrepreneurs. I began researching my idea in more detail, developing a business plan and finding partners to help make it a reality. I thought about our USP and questioned whether it would be enough. Could we be the Amazon of Health & Beauty, offer better value, range and convenience?
I felt we needed more, and it came with the embarrassment angle, this added the special icing on the cake. I thought my website would appeal to people looking for remedies for embarrassing conditions, ie thrush, diarrhoea, itchy anuses, etc, you get the picture! One of my most vivid memories was standing at an aisle of Boots watching people buy these types of ointments, looking nervous and unsettled.
Being a startup involves lots of grunt work. Working hours on end tirelessly to build your product, sacrifices were made but there was always an air of excitement. My wife and I spent painstaking weekends taking pictures of products and adding product information into spreadsheets. I learnt about online marketing, website development, brand building, small business finance and lots more very quickly. Nowadays it's a lot easier with SAAS tools and lots of content, but back then everything was developed bespoke.
The work continued, money was being invested and there was a buzz of activity. Then after months of hard work, the time had come. We were ready to launch...
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