5 Lessons from the first year of starting Whim.

It’s been over 500 days since the first concept of Whim. 

Sitting in a fogged up car with the heating full blast whistling through Devon lanes back home after a chilly dip. 

Since then I’ve learnt a lot and I thought I’d share my learnings with you! 

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1, Don’t be afraid to ask

Sometimes the first move is the hardest. You don’t know anything yet. How do you find out the good stuff?

Start with a small topic, e.g. Materials. Find someone who knows their stuff and ask questions.

People want to help. Giving back is rewarding. You can pay it forward in the future.

2, Don’t put too much pressure on it

Right now it has to be fun.

Because it’s not going to be a money earner.

Call it a project not a business. Make sure you care about what you’re doing.

Set a goal and be open to finishing your goal and not wanting to continue, it’s still a success.

3, Think about your impact

Everything we do has a butterfly impact on the surroundings. Do your due dilligence.

How does what I’m doing effect planet and people?

Make sure to think of all the little bits. Remember just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean there’s no negative impact.

It’s easier to postpone your launch rather than changing things down the line.

4, Power is important

Investment from others seems like a no-brainer. But then you loose your power. Decisions become about money, not ethos.

Try to fund the project yourself.

Start small and trade time not money. Save up on the side, we can all make cuts. It doesn’t take as much as you might think.

If funding your self isn’t an option. Look for grants. There’s lots out there.

5, All skills are transferable skills

Think about what you’re good at? For me, I’m queen of organisation and very chatty.

See how you can apply your skills to your project to propel yourself forward.

Don’t ignore the shit jobs. Some jobs feel impossible. Never ending. But bit by bit you can chip away from them.

Make a to-do list. Do it!