You are an entrepreneur.
You have sacrificed a stable career; you have spent money investing in your dream business. You have spent long hours working on that business plan, and when you finally make headway, boom, an unexpected event like a global worldwide pandemic strikes the very core of your business.
I feel you. I am right there with you.
I have run my business event business for the past 14 years. It started as a random, by the way, idea, and 14 years later, Waridi Events is now a locally recognised name associated with high-quality event delivery and a leader by every right.
When the pandemic hit, I was at the point where I was restructuring to a leaner team. The change was inspired by a book I read called the company of one by Paul Jarvis, which advocates for the rethinking of scale in business and shares the joys of lean companies. I wanted to change my business to one that was very targeted, had minimal operational costs, and allowed me to pursue my other interests.
So when the pandemic hit, I initially saw it as a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to redo my business without the pressure of still actively handling client assignments, e.t.c. Once I was done, I was ready to test out my brand new business model that would ensure high profitability and minimal stress, but lo and behold, there was no business in the pipeline. There wasn't any for seven good months.
In September last year, I remember sitting down and questioning for the first time in 14 years whether I made the right decision to pursue my love for events and start an event business. This dilemma was further sparked by the stress of watching my business stagnate and seeing many of my event counterparts pivot (I'm not too fond of that word, by the way) into other interests.
It's hard…I know
I have battled, questioned, and quite frankly felt like giving up even though 2021 has been a much better year with some activity level in our business pipeline.
What keeps me going? Quite honestly, it's my passion for events. My relationships with my clients, vendors, and event students have been my driving force in these times. I hope that my undying passion for events will see me through this most challenging time in my career and that I will add the word tenacity to the lessons learned from being an entrepreneur.
My parting shot. In moments of uncertainty, my dear fellow entrepreneur, you need to remember your why. Why did you choose to start an events business? It's hard…I know, but in such times, it's your why that will keep you going.
Wanjiku Kariuki Kandie
Founder- Waridi Events Limited