Anyone care to share their story? Part 2.

Chet Zar · 21-07-2010 2:53pm

Don’t worry too much about your idea being stolen – if you think about it there is really very little new under the sun – so chances are those with money are probably doing it already anyway

It also doesn’t mean that you can’t do it as well.

It’s really execution that counts, not the initial idea.

In terms of what you can do – have you spoken to family and friends about the idea? They won’t be the most impartial but they can be a good initial sounding board. If you then feel that the idea is a runner then you can always approach your local Enterprise Board to get professional advice.

DOC09UNAM · 26-07-2010 2:58am

Cheers, Will definitely look for more advice on this, must look into an Enterprise Board and try arrange a meeting or something, Cheers mate.

DOC09UNAM · 26-07-2010 3:06am

DOC09UNAM wrote: »

Cheers, Will definitely look for more advice on this, must look into an Enterprise Board and try arrange a meeting or something, Cheers mate.

Actually, I just sent contacted the local enterprising board, and will post back here to see how it goes, Cheers mate.

Deadwards.com · 17-09-2010 8:06pm

Good post everyone and keep working hard to achieve your goals.

My story:

I had always loved the idea of starting my own business (my father ran his own co. and I had helped him out as a teenager but always wanted to do it for myself).

I got together with a friend who wanted to do the same thing and we worked on an idea. As the idea was for an online service, we approached an friend of my brother in law who had some experience in the internet startup world. He liked our idea and ended up becoming a partner in the business. We all had 'day jobs' so we worked through the nights and weekends (really any spare time we had) and in Sept 2009 we launched the site at a big Tech startup event in the states.

We were well received but unfortunately the original idea hasn't worked out. My 2 partners have moved on to new pastures but I am still working on the site part time and have changed the offering slightly to suit businesses and colleges (hopefully). I have learnt a huge amount already and no matter what, it has been an excellent experience. The business or idea as it hasn't made money yet, has thought me that you should always follow your dream even if ultimately it doesn't work because at least unlike so many out there you have had the courage to give something a try.

Keep trying folks as it people like you that will succeed in something by at least giving it a go!

Cheers
Paul

Phil Gaynor · 23-09-2010 12:57pm

Hi Guys

I started my own business in 2008 smack bang in the middle of the recession - had to close it in 2010 - Felt rough - first major project for me after working as a director for years - One of the reason it failed was the lack of capital funny enough but the lack of clients.

I am now the MD of Enhance.ie a web design company and a share holder - joined only this month.. Sept'10 - and things are going great - I am a member of a few business groups but none seem to do the biz fast enough - all very low key - with this in mind I've set up a group called Interconnected Ireland - facebook page is
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100001624064735

This is non-profitable and just a way of sme's and other businesses getting together in a more direct manner to see if we can collectively drum up clients. Any feedbacks is welcomed and check out the link and send a friend request - open to all size businesses in Ireland - everyone knows at least 10 businesses - forward on the info and let's get it moving. Cheers Phil.

Gloomtastic! · 28-09-2010 7:48pm

I suppose my first experience of running my own business was as a teenager selling rugby international tickets. You could buy schoolboy tickets off the 1st years for 50p and sell them for up to IR£35.00. Trawling the pubs of Donnybrook it was like taking candy of a baby.

Move forward to the UK and about 15 years, myself and two colleagues decided that, after ten years of making our bosses multi-millionaires, we should do it for ourselves, how hard could it be? So we launched our first magazine.......

Seven years later I emerged battered and bruised but afraid of nothing and no-one. Fighting for every penny against all the competition was one thing, the internal battles with one of my fellow directors was the real killer. As a team we were invincible but he 'would cross the street to start a fight' and it was just boring in the end.

Started up my latest business in February 2008, a month before the recession hit. Dealing with the general public as well as some of the biggest businesses in the world. Business is growing at about 30% per annum, my oldest invoice is 10 days old and I've had zero bad debt since I started. All suppliers get paid on invoice. So all those years fighting taught me a couple of things. :rolleyes:

The most important things I've learnt:

1. Do it, Review it, Change it
2. If you don't ask, you don't get!

Focusme · 13-10-2010 10:56am

We are a brand new magazine, Focusme that has just published its first issue this month. We are dedicated to Small Business in the Mid-West.

We began in February of this year. I was on the phone to some friends here in Ireland and through the conversation we discussed how there was nothing tangible out there for SMEs in terms of media presence.

So after two months of research and talking I was on the plane back to Ireland to start this new venture.

We got our business plan together and went into AIB Bank. The SME loan Manager loved it! Thought it was a really great idea. We got our loan approval inside three days and we went on our way. From the beginning we kept a really tight reign on our finances for everything, constantly looking for the best deals from office rental to equipment.

Its been tough and at times frustrating but people are now understanding what we are about. Helping Small Business through good articles and content which is progressive and offers ideas/solutions.

We try to focus on the positive in order to give people hope and understanding that Small business is the future of this country.

We like a lot of people in this thread, started with nothing. Now we are beginning to find our feet and progress. Entrepreneurs and Small Business is the here and now, not the future. Now is our time and now is when we begin to build a bigger better country.

Kehlan Kirwan,
Editor,
Focusme Magazine
www.focusme.ie

Gloomtastic! · 13-10-2010 11:19am

Focusme wrote: »

We are a brand new magazine, Focusme that has just published its first issue this month. We are dedicated to Small Business in the Mid-West.

We began in February of this year. I was on the phone to some friends here in Ireland and through the conversation we discussed how there was nothing tangible out there for SMEs in terms of media presence.

So after two months of research and talking I was on the plane back to Ireland to start this new venture.

We got our business plan together and went into AIB Bank. The SME loan Manager loved it! Thought it was a really great idea. We got our loan approval inside three days and we went on our way. From the beginning we kept a really tight reign on our finances for everything, constantly looking for the best deals from office rental to equipment.

Its been tough and at times frustrating but people are now understanding what we are about. Helping Small Business through good articles and content which is progressive and offers ideas/solutions.

We try to focus on the positive in order to give people hope and understanding that Small business is the future of this country.

We like a lot of people in this thread, started with nothing. Now we are beginning to find our feet and progress. Entrepreneurs and Small Business is the here and now, not the future. Now is our time and now is when we begin to build a bigger better country.

Kehlan Kirwan,
Editor,
Focusme Magazine
www.focusme.ie

Good luck to you Kehlan. After spending twenty-odd years in publishing I know exactly what you're going through - the first seven years are the hardest, after that it's a doddle! :rolleyes:

If you're ever stuck for a solution get in touch, you never know until you ask.

EPjnr · 14-10-2010 2:47am

Hi,
I’m 22, I was always interested in business for as long as I can remember, buying/selling/trading in school. Worked crazy hours as a teenager to try save up for my first car, cost me 5k in 2005 at the age of 17 and wrote it off 4weeks later…. Everything from my confirmation money went into that car. I was torn apart, but with a huge interest in cars and strong motivation to get back on my feet (literally), I studied car prices upside down and inside out and seeing the huge price difference between Ireland and England and decided to start importing the right cars. Made a nice few thousand and helped me through my first few years of college. But got out on time, luckily J Then I hit my first REAL money maker in 2008 at the age of 20. My part time job while in college was as a barman, this pub was going in the wrong direction and I was soon to be out of a job so I was getting worried, then I decided to approach the owner and tell him I was interested in running the place for a % of profits (a large % as there were none at the time) the pub turned around to be one of the best pubs in the town in no time, and provided me with a huge income in the 1st year and a steady income since. I then set up an events management company with some collage friends, the company has turned over a nice profit in a few months and shows quite a bit of potential and I have since bought out anyone else involved and really hope it goes in the right direction. Now I’ve just graduated with a business degree and am refusing to go into a job working under someone else, I don’t quite enjoy the events management work so I’m going to hire in someone to run that and move on to my next venture, have a few ideas but none of them seem like a huge money-maker, all steady safe ideas, which I have 2 going at the moment which is enough. I have access to capital if really need be, now im just lacking something new, I continue to have ideas in the same area and am struggling to think outside the box. I’m 22, good experience, good contacts in business access to capital, whats my next step? I don’t know what direction to go! The pub takes up 2 r 3 days of my week, the events management barely takes up 1, I’ve time to take on a job but I refuse, I spend days every week researching and reading up and haven’t got anywhere in the last 3months but will give it a year or two before I give in and take up a job.
I’ve tasted success, I’ve being at points where in some weeks it would have being no big deal to earn over 100euro per hour put in in profits. Now I’m working that bit harder for quite a bit less. Hard work does not turn me off, risk does not turn me off, and failure is tough to deal with but also won’t turn me away. At 22, I’ve had loads of jobs/summer jobs etc and also worked in insurance but I’ve also worked for myself on two or three ventures. My advice would be to stay focused, know what you want, set goals and use these as motivation and then get on your way to achieving this. I wouldn’t listen to anyone that says working for yourself is always the best thing (it can be both the best and worst thing). I’ve falling out with friends, lost money, missed out in quite a bit of my social life but lucky for me these experiences have being quite minimum and what I’ve experienced in success allows me say everyday (even on the very grim days) that’s its all being worth it, that taste of champagne celebrating your first success (or any success for that matter) is one of the best tastes and feelings in the world for me. But I’m the the kinda guy who lives for that, things could have gone a lot worse and I would still have said that its worth it, that’s what makes me know I’m really suited to the world of entrepreneurship and risk taking, Not everybody is, you need to be sure that you can handle the low points, because I can assure you they will, there will be Fridays when you’ll look at the clock and say if only I was in a 9-5 job I’d be heading off with the lads golfing for the weekend instead of starting into a weekend of work and there is a chance it can all be for nothing, these thoughts may haut you at times. Be Prepared, be brave, be strong!! (and im only 22, talk to someone of 50 r 60 who has seen it all)

cormie · 14-10-2010 7:55am

One thing I'll say EPjnr is slow down! Seems like you might be taking far too much on. Seems you have something solid there to work with but you're getting bored and want to try out new things. If they are as solid as I gather from your post, just stick with them for a while and build up enough security for you to be able to venture into other areas without losing it all.

I've ideas in my head too, but for my own sake, I'm not going to touch them yet until I get VanTasks to a stage that I'm ready to try these other ventures. When that will be, I haven't a clue. Will it be the right time for my ideas to prosper when I'm ready, I don't know, but for sanities sake, I'm not jumping in right now. I've bought domain names and that kind of thing for the ideas but that's about as far as I've gone.

Just be careful and make sure you have time for socialising and for keeping healthy both physically and mindfully.

oterra · 31-10-2010 1:22am

My experience is a bit indifferent. I started back in the early 90's as an apprentice in graphic reproduction. Worked my way up to production manager with a lot of hard graft. That company eventually ran its course and closed. Myself and some former colleagues started again in digital printing and made a great success of it. It wasn't plain sailing by any means, just hard work, many sales calls and long hours in production.
Then all hell broke loose, 2 other directors wanted a larger slice of the cake, they were family and as I was outside their "circle of trust" I reluctantly stepped down as a director last year. It was a stressful time for me. I made the decision to stay there as an employee and set up my own online canvas printing company on a part time basis.
I am hoping to reduce hours in my day job as the online business kicks in. The website went live 2 weeks ago and I have got 4 orders already from it which may seem like very few but I am looking at it from the basis that if I can get 4 orders online, I can get a 1000 orders online. My first order came from boards.ie which I was delighted about.
My advice to anyone looking to set up on their own is "go for it", cos if you don't you'll always have regrets. The knocks will come at you thick and thin but they should galvanize you and teach you some great lessons.
I cant wait to turn around to my greedy ex business partners someday and throw my accounts at them and thank them dearly for been so greedy. If all the crap didn't happen with them I may not have realised that I could have done it on my own. I would love feedback on this to see if anyone has ever been in a similar postion. To infinity and beyond as a Famous space cadet once said!!

trudyaffair · 20-11-2010 2:28pm

Hi
I decided to go out on my own when I realised that I hated housework, golf, coffee mornings, having no money,3 kids got older etc
I love what I do now, do not make as much money as I thought I would but have no over heads. I started off with lingerie only then got e-mails and phone calls from people do you do shoes? wigs? shapewear? Fancy dress etc.
I remembered having spent years in Roches Stores that if a customer requested an item more than 3 times and if you did not have it upon the fourth request you were an idiot. So I tried to explore the web and what manufacturers were out there.
This was where the fun started I decided only to buy direct from the manufacturers as this was the only way to compete regarding price structures. Most websites in the UK would have to buy through wholesalers thus putting up the retail price to the consumer.
So for months I sat in the kitchen e-mailing huge companies pretending I was Mrs Big and that they would be very privilaged to host their merchandise on my Mrs Big site. Lots of them returned e-mails saying oh no Mr UK has the distribution rights for UK and Ireland ? This really got on my goat and I would get so political and annoyed with them eventually I suppose they just got sick of my e-mails and would eventually give me a log in and user account to their sites and give me distribution rights for Ireland. Excellent - happy days.
The only problem with all of this I had to continue as Mrs Big and with nearly 34 manufactures on board my flag ship I did find it hard if a customer bought one bra and I could not buy one bra from a manufacturer after making out I was Mrs Big ?? So I had to give in Big orders!!
I have made absolutely no money as yet on this venture in fact I have used a lot of my own money etc..but it has been really exciting worthwhile and I enjoy the buzz when soneone buys from me and especially if they e-mail back saying that was great etc.
I am going to keep at all of this not to be a milionaire but because I love working for myself and the whole buzz of online selling.
Omg! Just realised how long this messege is I hope I did not bore you. But if you are starting out on your own and you believe in it and yourself keep at it.
I am not advertising my site here just telling my story I do enough of on line advertising else where. That is another thought for people setting up online sites I did not realise you do not just put a site on Google and expect people to find it! I put aside about an hour a day just blogging everywhere just to try keep up there. Hard work and very repetitions.
Trudy

Gloomtastic! · 21-11-2010 7:47pm

Great story Trudy, and nice site. I'd like to buy my wife your Wild West Sherrif outfit but I think she might shoot me!

trudyaffair · 21-11-2010 7:57pm

Hi Gloomtastic,
Thank-you for that i did go on a bit but I am still at it, so there is hope for us all as Im an Òle one!!
Sold five of those costumes to Australia and that is why there at the front wish I could move them as it`s not very Christmassy?
Thanks
Trudy

Gloomtastic! · 04-12-2010 7:38pm

Text Republic wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Some great stories here and super to see people who still have the get up and go to start a business and the balls to keep it going through the tough economic times.

About a year ago I started a company called Text Republic, we are a mobile marketing agency and you can check out our website at <www.textrepublic.com> . If any of you are struggling with your marketing budget and you are looking for the best ROI out there we would love to hear from you. We can set you up in a matter of hours and get some sms campaigns or competitions kicked off for you and you wont find better value out there.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Brian

That's a nice sell there Brian, but where's the story? Tell us how you got to where you are now.....

princess-lala · 08-12-2010 11:51pm

Been following this thread for a while and never thought as myself as an "entrepreneur"

Heres my story:

Started hairdressing when I was 14 - hated it, but the money was ok! As the time went on I started to enjoy it, even though I wanted to be a psychologist.

Went on to work for a bigger salon at 16 and when I finished school at 17 I was doing things a third year apprentice would do, I loved my job.

Worked for various big salons, so many employers fecked me about! Having me doing work a qualified stylist would do but not paying me for it!

Eventually I got a great qualification, one of the best training schools in the world, hated being told what to do! Hated someone having the power over me so I had to do what they said!

The last place I worked, I ran the salon while the owner worked in another one, I opened her salon and all the clients knew me, not her! Loved working there, felt like my own boss and the money was great! Salon was awful though!!

For 9 months I worked with mice :eek: She never tried to get rid of them, I worked in awful conditions with no working toilet and water going off alot! Something you always need in a hairdressers!

So eventually I gave up! Told her I couldn't carry on anymore and gave her my notice!

For a few weeks I did mobile hairdressing, which was going great but I hated going into peoples houses cause I'm quite shy!

So fast forward a few months to September 2008 my dad showed me a local unit up for lease! He brought me to see the estate agent, we talked things over and next thing I'm signing a lease :eek:

My parents gave me a loan, I fought with suppliers to get great prices on things and was finally able to stand up for myself! Got this new confidence I never had before.

In November 2008 I opened my salon, I live in a small town with a bigger town a mile away, I'm the 8th salon in the area! Also one of the busiest because I had cheaper prices than everyone else.

Ok things have gone a bit slow in recent months but that just spurs me on to succeed!

I was once told I "wasn't good enough to be left alone, I needed guidance and support" - this was from a boss who I looked up to! I told him "I will have a salon by the time I'm 30" He then laughed!!

I opened my salon at 23 and its 2 years going now and I'm making money, not a fortune but have money coming in!! I proved him wrong in saying I wasn't good enough!

Wow sorry for the seriously long post! Kinda got carried away

daigo75 · 29-12-2010 3:44pm

Very interesting thread indeed, thanks to all contributors.

I'm also a "newborn" entreprenur, although I'm still in the "wannabe" phase. I've been working for way too many years in IT, several of which as a company owner, and I got burned badly. A lawsuit started by a competitor, combined with a sly business partner, costed me all my savings and two years of work without any revenue, hence I'm not the type of person who would rush head down into a new business idea.

Issue is, I'm becoming more and more unemployable as my methods are not compatible with what the majority of companies expect, which means spending at least 40 hours a week in front of a monitor even when it's absolutely superfluous.

I therefore started looking at business opportunities, and I got a few ideas that I hope to develop into something profitable. The main obstacle I'm facing at the moment is the need of "reconfiguring" my way of thinking, as I often tend to be too negative; past experiences have a big impact on future decisions, I need to strike a proper balance.

On the side, I'm writing my own fantasy novel, which is proving to be more challenging (and more interesting) that I thought. It's a side project, perhaps I should make it the main one. Who knows...

fintanmac · 03-01-2011 1:54am

My first venture was more like following my dream. I had always wanted to be my own boss - never realised what was involved though. My first job was in a deli and that was what I wanted to run.

Didn't pay enough attention to two things.

1. Location - seems stupid now but location, location, location.
2. The turnover of the business that I bought. Found that most of their turnover was for gas which has a high volume but VERY little profit.

One piece of advice for any business person - each month do your bank reconciliation. Once you do that you will roughly know where you stand.

Best of luck.

Fintan

tommurphy73 · 19-02-2011 3:45pm

My company set up an office in Spain. My advice is to get a good consultant to help you in the country you are setting up in. There were some teething problems but these have been ironed out now. It is the simple things that can cause the most problems like holiday entitelment and other such things in the other country.

Niallbf · 19-02-2011 6:05pm

Thanks Tom... was wondering more about consulting companies located in Ireland advising Irish firms looking to go abroad ...doing a bit of academic research and was hoping to get a few leads

fintanmac · 20-02-2011 12:08pm

Niall can you be more specific?

A bit of acemdemic research? What do you want to do aboroad? Set up a company to deal abroad or set up in Ireland and work abroad in other companies i.e. have a a company director and place of business in other companies.

Would like to help but need more into.

Fintan.

Niallbf · 21-02-2011 5:44pm

Hi Fintan,

Thanks for your reply. I am interested in the area as I will be writing a research paper on the topic for my masters. The title of the the paper will be along the lines of "Offshore outsourcing: future implications for Irish employment"

I hope to find out which sectors are currently seeking to offshore part/all of their business....calculate the number of jobs at risk/jobs to be gained a s a result of offshoring. Then meet with representatives from theses industry sectors and see where they believe the industry will go in the future as a result of offshoring and calculate the loss/gain to irish employment

Think you can help point me in the right direction...was looking to meet with an Irish firm offering advice on the issue

Thanks,

Niall

fintanmac · 02-03-2011 10:05pm

Niall,

Apologies for the delay in getting back in touch.

Don't know if I can be of much help.

There are lots of industries that are outsourcing off shore. You can get accounts prepared by accountants in India. Web sites designed in the Asian countries for next to nothing.

There are companies that specialise in organising off shore companies where you may wish to trade in, say, the Seychelles, Cyprus, Canada, New Zealand, and many others. But these are usually to avail of either tax loopholes or to take advantage of tax regimes - like Ireland for CT.

Hope this helsp but not sure that it sufficently answers your question.

Regards,

Fintan.

21-03-2011 6:06pm

Wow your very inspiring. You have so much with your life and you seem very happy with it. Entrepreneur at the age of 13 , thats mental! Well done!

Nokia08 · 03-06-2011 6:19pm

So here goes, said I'd add to the whole story thing keep it fresh

Always been Very business minded always wanted to make a name for myself in everything that I did.

It all began at the age of 9 got money from my holy communion, £100! :eek: I was like Score! The world was my oyster! had decided I wanted to get Playstation 1 along with "a bugs life" game. Found out I didn't have enough. My dad had told me that If I was smart I could double the investment. So I did so. My dad runs his own lawnmower repair and sales service since he was younger. I had it in my head if i could buy 3 Lawnmowers for £100 and sell them for £60 each i'd make a profit. So my dad took me to where he gets the machines in disrepair yard as he like to call it and buy some. With his help he was able to fix them up to running order again. I then sold all 3 of them for more than 60 each!
Did that for a while until I made more then enough for the playstation 1 LOL

Second me and another friend of mine were bored one summer and decided to start a company, along with the help of my grand father who has the same name as me and same address

began a printing thing. started with business cards/flyers posters etc all printing of a couple of Lexmark printers we had. We were flying it because we had local festivals and were the only printing places close by around 2002. We worked out of my dad's old shed (he had upgraded also) paid "rent" it was like €5 a week at that time. we continued working at this for quite a few years. Making more then just pocket money. Upgrading from those printers to OKI printers proper stuff like. Then leaving cert came. We were both going our own way, and need the money. Sold the whole lot. Company name, equipment and cancelled out lease agreements.

I'm currently 20, Enjoying life and about to do the whole "Work for yourself thing" again.

Don't you just love the excitement and Fear you get setting one up

Hope you enjoyed

overthenest · 05-07-2011 9:11pm

guys, i left college in 04 and went working for the man as they say, i am still working for the man and it kills me more and more everyday, it amazes me how many people are so willing to do the 9-5, take crap from an ass licker idiot boss and do silly stuff which you know is crap but have to do it cause its some other idiots agenda. the down side is if you want to exit stage left, where do you go, what do you do? some people are lucky they have a passion in life they can turn into a business and fulfill a dream, me, well ive spent the past two years searching and researching various oppertunities. I feel building or buying a tangible business is a no go in the current climate, i was very nearly entering into a franchise out of desperation just to get out on my own but luckily pulled out as i realised it was a bad move.
all this brings me to where I am. I have what a believe to be a good idea for an online business but i have absolutely no idea of how to set up an online business which would consist of setting up a web site which an info feed making revenue from advertising, could anyone out there help me as to where i can go from here? i would be very grateful.
i would advise anyone who has an incling to go out on their own to stick with that goal otherwise you will end up at 60 years of age thanks for your 40 years of service now get lost......not much of a life is it??

daigo75 · 06-07-2011 8:54am

+1 overthenest. Your story looks similar to mine, with the exception that I wasted 6 more years working for "the man". I should have come to the conclusion of moving on much, much earlier! I'm actually working in setting up an online business, if you need help I could give you some directions.

seanaway · 29-08-2011 9:07am

I'm in the middle of setting up online (not my first business) and these stories are nothing short of inspirational! If only our governments had half the spirit of people posting here we could be a wealthy healthy nation. Well done everyone!

Conmc88 · 11-10-2011 6:51am

hey guys can some one advise where to begin with setting up my own web business,i have massive interest and have the will and drive but lack the hjow you can PM me if there is alot to it

busyliving · 16-10-2011 3:22am

Conmc88 wrote: »

hey guys can some one advise where to begin with setting up my own web business,i have massive interest and have the will and drive but lack the hjow you can PM me if there is alot to it

PM Sent

connundrum · 17-10-2011 12:39pm

busyliving wrote: »

PM Sent

Would it be too much trouble to ask that you send me the same or similar PM

I have an idea to start a directory type site, which will expand to hopefully include an online shop.

debreall · 30-11-2011 10:40am

Seems this is very old thread. but i think it is a good thread.

People here might have their work experience. For myself, i think i would like to open a storeonline, but unfortunately, i am lack of experience in this field.

:(

AKforde · 02-12-2011 7:42pm

I am 17 and have just set about getting my business of the ground. www.flog.ie. I just wanted to do something different and then got addicted to enterprise. I set myself the challenge of creating a classified site and really pushed myself. It's just up and running but so far so good! Determined to make it a success and share my story!

daigo75 · 02-12-2011 7:51pm

@debreall: opening a store online is not a big deal (if you talk about the technical part). Running it, managing suppliers, customers and everything else is what needs knowledge and perspective.

@AKforde: your own business at the age of 17? Compliments! At that age I was barely finishing high school and following my parent's advice of "finding any job that pays the bills and sticking to it until the end of days"... Well done!

AKforde · 02-12-2011 7:56pm

@debreall Much appreciated. Had been quite an expierience. Absolutely love what i'm doing and will make it a success! Thanks!

daigo75 · 02-12-2011 8:10pm

AKforde wrote: »

@debreall Much appreciated. Had been quite an expierience. Absolutely love what i'm doing and will make it a success! Thanks!

I guess you referred to me...

d-gal · 02-01-2012 2:42pm

Thought I would share my story as well.

I am a 23 year old male from Galway and I am already onto my second business venture.

At the end of the leaving cert I didn't know what I wanted to do. I hated school. My days had consisted of 9-4 school, 4-6 gym and 6-10 school study. I was suffering from depression and the gym was the only thing keeping me going. The gym was my main hobby and I hated when I missed it.
I was leaning towards doing Property Studies for college but I wasn't confident in getting the points. It was deeply depressing and I didn't want to repeat. Around a week before the results were released I decided to go with my hobby and do a PLC course in Exercise, Fitness and Nutrition. It had a optional end of year fitness instructor accredited by the University of Limerick so that enticed me a little. I was glad to have chosen this as I fell short for the Property Studies course as I only got just over 300 points.

I got slagged by a lot of friends that were going off to college to do Commerce/Arts/Medicine etc. and a few of them actually ditched me as a friend because of it. I was also told by a teacher that it was a bad choice and I wouldn't amount too much (we didn't exactly see eye to eye).

I did the course, enjoyed it and got by fitness instructor qualification as well. My parents were delighted as you got presented it in UL so it was a nice day out for them and for me.
During the qualification I got work experience in a gym and they decided to take me on part time. I was only 18 and I was delighted to get my first job. I worked hard and eventually got promoted to full time when I turned 19. I was taking in around 350 a week and I was on cloud nine!
I decided I would further my qualifications and become a Personal Trainer. it was part time so I could fit my work around it. In between this I got promoted to Gym supervisor and a extra few quid had come my way.
I got my qualification and started doing personal training outside my hours. I worked my ass off for 18months and eventually was working over 60hours a week. I was making a lot of money and I was living at home so I was saving a considerable amount although at my age people were wondering why I wasn't 'blowing it'!
May 2009 came about and after just turning 21 I took the plunge and set up my own personal training studio in the city. My Dad played a huge part in helping me set this up and he had huge belief in me. I had a lot of doubters and people thought I was nuts setting up a business like this in the middle of a recession. I ignored them and Results Ireland was born.
2 and half years have passed and my studio is still flying. We have a huge reputation in town and I still get jaws dropped when clients realise how young I am. I am standing on my own two feet, have defeated the recession, my depression, my doubters and everything else that were against me.
I have now decided to venture into another business, creating www.opt.ie, a online personal training business that with I can reach everyone all over Ireland and beyond and help motivate and educate people with all their fitness and health goals. Like my current success business it is going to be tough to develop but I am confident it will be even more successful than Results Ireland.

If people want to take anything from this then take this. Do not let anybody stand in your way and keep away from negative people. Believe in yourself and ignore the doubters. Never think you are too young for something, it's your life and not somebody else's. Do not wait for something to happy, make it happen.

Happy New Year folks and may 2012 be a wonderful year for you.

daigo75 · 02-01-2012 3:02pm

That's a very inspiring story, d-gal! Great success, despite all the troubles and the people pushing against you. At your age, I believed the "elders" who told me I was too young for anything; I believed I would fail anyway and, at the end, I haven't achieved much.
Your experience will show everybody what one can achieve by following a passion. I wish I hadn't lost all the ones I had...

Again, well done and best of luck for your new venture!

inspired38 · 19-03-2012 3:41pm

Great story D-Gal, it just goes to show what can happen when you are doing something that you love to do plus some hard work. Good luck with your future ventures as well.

skinny90 · 06-05-2012 4:34am

I have had an idea for a long long time and reading all the posts before have really urged me on to start thinking about it again,it's software related so I can't say much here but i did tell one if my lectures who was organising competition,to say he was excited was an understatement but his advice was not to enter it and hold off until my final year project which will be sponsored....that's in two years time and I feel I just can't wait that long the way things are going.my concept is a very very complicated system yet could make a massive impact in how we do things.the problem is if I don't start doing something about it I feel someone else will....

Overflow · 09-05-2012 8:05am

Just go for it skinny90, there is nothing stopping you getting a start on it now. What I've learned for coming up with new ideas is that, you can be pretty much guaranteed that some else also has the same idea. Of course there are exceptions. But don't let that put you off either, there will always be competitors. You just have to build something better

CatFromHue · 09-05-2012 9:27pm

skinny90 wrote: »

I have had an idea for a long long time and reading all the posts before have really urged me on to start thinking about it again,it's software related so I can't say much here but i did tell one if my lectures who was organising competition,to say he was excited was an understatement but his advice was not to enter it and hold off until my final year project which will be sponsored....that's in two years time and I feel I just can't wait that long the way things are going.my concept is a very very complicated system yet could make a massive impact in how we do things.the problem is if I don't start doing something about it I feel someone else will....

I'm assuming you're a college student so you now have the Summer off. You could use this time to work on your idea. Even for example if you just say to yourself you'll do 3 hours one night a week and 3 hours on the weekend working on it. Then when you get back to college the idea will have advanced a pile.

Pottler · 01-06-2012 11:10pm

I'm mid 40's, years ago I started a business cleaning and unblocking toilets, fixing stuff that's broken, repairing leaky roofs. I still do it, but now I do it for Multinationals and somtimes refurbish their whole building from top to bottom. I still unblock toilets and repair leaky roofs. I still drive a crappy, old but signwritten van. So do my employees. I love fixing things and I'm good at it. I dont know what a business plan looks like, I dress like a navvy, I'm always covered in some kind of oil or grease but I look forward to getting up every day and have never advertised or even owned a business card. I earn quite a lot. You can have a lot of fun and make a good living doing simple things that people really need. I constantly have "go getters" coming to me looking for work as subbies - they have nice vans and uniforms etc and I ALWAYS give them a go -I give them a job to do straight away. 50% turn up late. 20% don't turn up. 20% turn up but have forgotten somthing. 9% turn up but have no idea what they are doing. 99% overcharge. I always smile, say thanks, and lose their number.
1.Turn up. 2.Do the job 3.Don't overcharge 4.Don't lie, I never lie, even if it means telling people somthing they don't want to hear. 5.Do more than you promised, or at least, do what you promised. 99% don't. I struggle every day to find the 1% and even the 1% are only 1%ers on their good days. So, to succeed, just beat the 99% of idiots out there, it's really not that hard. Oh, I have a REALLY nice house, crappy car tho.:) Oh, and don't undercharge either.

Gloomtastic! · 02-06-2012 11:50am

Pottler wrote: »

I'm mid 40's, years ago I started a business cleaning and unblocking toilets, fixing stuff that's broken, repairing leaky roofs. I still do it, but now I do it for Multinationals and somtimes refurbish their whole building from top to bottom. I still unblock toilets and repair leaky roofs. I still drive a crappy, old but signwritten van. So do my employees. I love fixing things and I'm good at it. I dont know what a business plan looks like, I dress like a navvy, I'm always covered in some kind of oil or grease but I look forward to getting up every day and have never advertised or even owned a business card. I earn quite a lot. You can have a lot of fun and make a good living doing simple things that people really need. I constantly have "go getters" coming to me looking for work as subbies - they have nice vans and uniforms etc and I ALWAYS give them a go -I give them a job to do straight away. 50% turn up late. 20% don't turn up. 20% turn up but have forgotten somthing. 9% turn up but have no idea what they are doing. 99% overcharge. I always smile, say thanks, and lose their number.
1.Turn up. 2.Do the job 3.Don't overcharge 4.Don't lie, I never lie, even if it means telling people somthing they don't want to hear. 5.Do more than you promised, or at least, do what you promised. 99% don't. I struggle every day to find the 1% and even the 1% are only 1%ers on their good days. So, to succeed, just beat the 99% of idiots out there, it's really not that hard. Oh, I have a REALLY nice house, crappy car tho.:) Oh, and don't undercharge either.

Love it Pottler, love it, love it, love it! ðŸ˜„

When I was working in the City of London a few lifetimes ago, half the office would be down the pub at lunchtime - including a couple of big Real Ale drinkers. Needless to say, at least once a week, the bogs would be blocked. I used to have to call out a plumber. 15 minutes and £150 later, they'd be on their way. Spotting an opportunity, I offered to do it for £50. Arm in bin bag, 5 minutes later, all's clear thank you very much! People used to think it was disgusting, to me it was easy cash.

Now I wish I could say the same about fixing things........

Voodoomelon · 12-06-2012 11:09pm

I don't really want to go into to much detail as there's plenty on different sections on here where members know who I am and what I do, but don't mind giving a bit of back story.

I was always into computers, so the logical thing to do in college was software development, which I started in 2001 in DKIT, hated it, so moved over to more hardware/networking based computing which I enjoyed much more. Left in 2006 with a degree in IT management, but had zero intention of sitting behind a desk for the rest of my life.

So I set up an airsoft retail webstore in 2007 at 23, as I always had a passion for realistic firearms and airsoft replicas were right up my street. Started with a small initial lump sum and a small stock level of about 50 different products, working out of a garage with no insulation and a single light bulb and computer in the corner.

Started off with the one Hong Kong based supplier for the first year or so.

Most "days" consisted of answering 2-3 emails from customers, packing 1-3 orders and jumping on the pushbike and running down to the local post office with the customer's parcels. We started getting busier and busier and soon the bike wasn't cutting it any more and got myself a car.

Soon the driving to the post office wasn't getting feasible either, as the desk clerks were getting narky with the 4-5 parcels they were getting every day. So got a post office business account, with a better rate and started dropping them into the sorting office.

Soon the garage was brimmed to the ceiling with stock and with no weather proofing (or insurance) it was getting quite risky.

So decided to open a retail store. It was a big move, as costs were virtually non-existent in the garage setup. Did a brief projection of how much was needed to cover costs and decided to take the risk.

Even with the astronomical rates and rent, the business continued to turn a decent profit every single year and now 5 years on, we're in a 2700 sq foot unit, with lots of dedicated, loyal customers who travel from as far as the Isle of Man on a regular basis. Full postal collection daily, with next day delivery for all Irish customers. The phone rings every 3 minutes with orders/questions/queries and the email inbox is jammed daily. I have no qualms in saying we have the best setup in the country, and the best selection of too with over 1500 different products and over 20 different suppliers.

The website takes a lot of constant work, however it pays off as its easily the most accurate, accessible and up to date in our sector. It also attract over 1100 hits a day, with over 12,000 registered customers.

We ship all over Europe and are becoming increasingly popular with UK customers which is great to see as the market is very much sown up over there.

I don't mind sharing that the job is beyond stressful, and whilst I do have a business partner who helps a lot, the work required can be overwhelming and as I literally do every single aspect of the business myself. There is nothing I do not do, down to stacking boxes and staring at gearboxes all day.

Plans for the future, who knows, I have such an interest in pretty much anything mechanical/electrical/audio/visual/IT based its hard to know what to do next. But I don't plan on working for anyone else any time soon.

JoePie · 22-06-2012 1:47pm

I'm 24, and getting my first business off the ground. Quit my job last month to commit full time. Some people think I'm stupid, some think I just wanted the Summer off work. We'll see.

The long and short of it is... You know Ticketmaster? That, but on a smaller scale for now, and also through your phone. And paperless tickets. Hard to cut in on a monopolies' turf though.

So far, nothing to show anyone yet though. Between myself and my tech guy, we'll hopefully have a prototype up and running by the end of July.

scotwilson · 02-07-2012 11:23am

Recently i join a company, i would like to work from 9-5 "shoutman". sometime i feel frustration.

helloghan · 04-08-2012 10:10pm

I'm a 22 year old male from Galway, and set up my teaching business last September.

It's funny that a lot of people here hated their boss. I worked in a very busy pub in the city centre and loved everyone in there. My manager was bang on, everyone I worked with was great. I was great at my job, and possibly one of the greatest ever (in my mind). Alas, I got tired of being the best at something that can't pay very well. Sometimes I wonder whether I could of set myself up as a 'consultant glass collector'!

I was having a really tough time in that job though. It could be really stressful, and though I loved the challenge of keeping my bar running perfectly, fully stocked with everything, I started noticing things about the manager I had never really gotten on with - a nice guy, but a nightmare to work for, a real nazi (great guy outside of work though). When I realised that I was turning into him, and demanding more from everyone around me, in a very aggressive way, I knew I wanted to get out. I didn't want to turn into him basically!!

So I left in September, and it hasn't been easy. I was smart enough to learn from someone who was already a huge success, and it meant that every month I have turned a profit, even if its small. Some weeks I get really down, but I think thats just something I'll have to live with.

I never really thought Id work for myself, but I just kept saying if I din't try to do it now, I'd never do it. It's all felt pretty easy though, and there's really no risks because my overheads are so low.

The most important things for me have been:

1) Sales. Know what you're selling
2) Know who to keep and who to let go. Some clients will be a waste of time, some will be no hassle and work well.
3) Don't be the cheapest, be the best
4) Make sure it's win win. There's no point keeping someone who isn't interested. If your a teacher, your students are your end product. If you ahev a student who doesn't work, doesn't practice, that will reflect on you, and you will look like a bad teacher. They lose money, you lose time, satisfaction and your reputation suffers. I only work with peoiple willing to put the time in, and I reserve the right to fire anyone who doesn't practice.

bobbymoore1 · 15-08-2012 12:59pm

There are some very positive posts above and so I thought I'd share my own story. Although my website www.getyourkiton.net is literally only 5 days old, I have gone through the mill just to get this side of things up and running.

My original plan was to have a shop front as well as the website but despite having a redundency payment, when I went to the bank they didn't want to take the risk and lend me the money for the store fit out. The plan was to provide a football dedicated store in Dublin City centre which provides jerseys from teams all over the world as well as officially merchandise and accessories. Basically the type of products that the big stores in Ireland don't really provide. As the bank were advertising that they were lending money I found this to be incorrect as I believe they are just doing what they required to do but when push comes to shove they are not really lending money to viable businesses.

As you can see from the website it may take a bit longer than I would have liked but I will eventually have it populated with a much wider range of jerseys etc. My aim now is to push the website as much as possible and try accumulate the money myself in order to open the retail unit and take it from there. All in all the fact the website is up and running now it is a massive relief and I hope now it will lead onto bigger and better things.

Cheers
Jonathan

StupidLikeAFox · 19-08-2012 4:10pm

Just on your website, you should have an option to filter by club. If Im a Liverpool fan I dont want to trawl through tons of other clubs to get to Liverpool stuff.

Other than that best of luck with the business, its a catchy name. Good luck!

Anyone care to share their story? Part 2.

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