Starting a new business can be a fresh beginning toward success, and for Cheryl Hayman, moving out of office politics and into a different professional role, proved to be the beginning of the successful startup business, Hayman Strategy. Cheryl decided to go into business because she wanted a more flexible lifestyle. She wanted to focus on strategic marketing roles, which she enjoys most, and where she felt she could offer maximum value for time.
“I wanted to tackle a more diversified range of opportunities and challenges across an array of industries, as well as to professionally develop myself through a portfolio of career activities.”
Cheryl enjoyed doing the thinking, the work and developing a team, but she was fed up with office politics and lots of time-wasting meetings and other activities. Hayman Strategy is a successful startup company that provides a broad range of business and marketing solutions. As a strategic marketing consultancy company, they help businesses work out how to build their brands and make the brands more appealing to customers.
“I focus on differentiating your business and its offer, and making sure that it is positioned clearly for customers, so that you provide an advantage over your competitors.”
Cheryl’s favourite aspect of running her business is the experience of meeting new people and dealing with different scenarios and brands. She enjoys tackling new marketplace problems and emerging trends. Cheryl says that it provides great stimulation and motivation, and ensures she continues to develop personally and professionally. In the midst of developing her business, advice from others really went a long way.
Here are three pieces of advice Cheryl Hayman wishes she had received when first starting her business:
- Work through the pricing structure of your services using advice from industry colleagues.
- Start slowly and manage expectations.
- Put into writing some of the key building blocks, rather than a scattergun approach.
HerBusiness has supported Cheryl to overcome business challenges by providing her with knowledge and know-how about managing a social media presence. This has helped her to evolve her business. Cheryl recommends that those starting out in business get skills and knowledge in finance, social media (comfort with it, at minimum), marketing basics, and project management.
Cheryl Hayman’s advice for starting up a business:
- Ensure you have a fabulous web presence as a focal point for building your brand and your custumer base.
- Ensure all marketing materials reflect a consistent and clear business message.
- Seek out mentor(s) who can provide valuable advice, perspective and objectivity, which you may not have.
