It’s never too late to start (again)

When I started Belvoir Media during lockdown in 2021 from my makeshift home office in Guernsey, I imagined a virtual assistant business where I would do anything and everything for small businesses, from general admin to designing on social media. I very quickly realised I had no idea what I was doing and even though some people on Instagram claim to have started their business one day and be earning 50k per month within a matter of weeks, the truth is it’s really really hard to make an online business work, especially if you don’t have a clear product and your only goal is to make money without having to leave the house!

I spent many months researching, designing and posting about a bunch of different things, like how to get more likes on Instagram and the importance of giving your business a logo. At the same time I was advertising my services as a virtual assistant and I managed to get a fair few clients interested in my services, mostly to design social media graphics.

For a long time I saw my business as a failure because it was taking up so much of my energy and I wasn’t making the money I wanted or needed to be able to completely avoid working 9-5 Monday to Friday again (I was very impatient). But looking back it was actually really successful. I’d managed to start a business with next to no experience and was legitimately earning money on the side because of the work I was putting in.

But because I didn’t feel like I had much direction, and there was no way I could live off the money that was coming in, when my mum got sick in late 2021, I just sort of stopped posting on social media and months would go by when I wouldn’t even look at the accounts. I always intended to get back into it but the longer I left it the less I wanted to spend hours posting about Instagram likes again, especially when I had so much going on personally, and it just seemed more daunting as time went on.

My mum’s illness reminded me of what is important in life and at the time I just didn’t have the energy to give the business the attention it deserved. Just getting through the day and looking after my mum became my focus. Somehow I managed to keep my clients during this time and they’ve all been so understanding and patient with me for which I am so grateful. Once my mum passed away in June last year, travelling and making the most of the moment instantly became my top priorities. If I’m honest, seven months on, this is still somewhat the case, and I hope I never lose sight of how short life is and how important it is to make the most of the time you have.

After taking a few months out from working in the summer to look after my mental and physical health, train for and climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and visit several new countries, I landed back in Guernsey in the rain in late November and after 30 minutes back in an office working for someone else, I knew it was time to get Belvoir Media back on its feet.

Having written several blog posts for some of my clients throughout the year, I realised that this is where I really thrive. I love writing and the research process teaches me something different every time. So I’ve reshaped the business, with a new emphasis on blogging, blog post research and writing for individuals and small businesses. I wanted to bring my love for travelling and finding a healthy work-life balance into the mix as these things are so important to me, so naturally having its own blog will take Belvoir Media in the direction I need to make this happen. I have a new website and a slightly more modern (and patient) approach for my social media accounts. I’m also still keeping the service of designing and managing social media accounts for my clients who need it as I absolutely love being creative and most of my social media clients are charities which satisfies my desire to make the world a better place, even if just in a small way.

The last year or so has been a total rollercoaster but I finally feel like I’m in a good place to nurture Belvoir Media, and I’ve learned a lot about myself in the meantime. I think the moral of the story is that it’s okay to take time for yourself until you feel like you again (#inspiration). Whilst I’m only just beginning to grieve for my mum and know I will never be the same as I was before, I know that cultivating this business and continuing to work toward my goal of having freedom from grey offices with fluorescent lighting will keep me going.

I don’t think a business is ever really done developing, and I hope Belvoir Media continues to grow and change along with me as I learn more and travel more. If you take anything from this post let it be that it’s never too late to start something, or to start again. And if you feel like doing a reshuffle in any part of your life, it’s probably exactly what you need. Life is so fleeting, make sure yours is the one you want.

Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on picking yourself or your business back up and making progress!

Mum and me in 2019, the day before I moved to Canada…

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