Nancy Haughey

Name:

Nancy Haughey

Business:

Finding Ways Ltd

Web site:

www.findingways.com

Years in business:

5

Number of businesses:

2

I was employed full time as a Training and Development Manager and Health and Safety Officer for a large Hotel Group and then a Premier League football club, but I was frustrated at not being able to be innovative or creative and apply new principles.

Having my son was a key turning point in my life. With family living abroad, child care arrangement was a real issue, which encouraged me to set up my own business. I’m looking forward to being able to spend some time with him!

For my business, I wanted to help SMEs gain a good knowledge of health and safety requirements and provide them with training at low cost. I wanted to motivate them to comply with current regulations and helping their staff achieve a certain level of knowledge and skills and support their organisation throughout the changes.

I gained the relevant qualifications and experience within Human Resources and Health and Safety which flourished in the idea of going freelance. I started my first business: Enzo Solutions Ltd in 2003.

This business provides not only health and safety training and consultancy but a wide range of life coaching to individual people (which I find much more rewarding) in either a work environment or within their private lives.

Our second business, Finding Ways Ltd, was registered in September 2006. It provides information on accessible venues within the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry around the world. This is particularly aimed at Disabled people, elderly people and Parents with young Children.

Although I’ve maintained a certain level of involvement within Health and Safety, the direction of the business has moved more towards people development, helping those who are in more need of being helped and creating a worldwide resource for all disabled people, elderly people and parents with young children.

Enabling them to have a better quality of life and have a better choice in where they can go on their day to day activities, holidays, and family outings has been hugely rewarding.

Investment into my business has been my main challenge, along with needing to have the confidence which will ensure that you get the return in order to pay the bills.

I’ve had tremendous support from friends and my close family as well as networking groups, talking to people who specialise in certain areas of the business. Business Link have provided a great basis of guidance.

My biggest mistake is relying on one specific source of income (investment). You need to keep your options open and always stay a step ahead of the game by looking at the future and taking up new opportunities.

I’ve been able to become financially and personally independent as a result of the business. Three years following my first business, I was able to go into business with my business partner and create an other business, which will provide an invaluable service to the community world wide.

It hasn’t been (and still isn’t) plain sailing, but the rewards for your own achievements are tremendous. It’s provided me with more time with my family (eventually!) It is hard work with the long days, but I am happier. That reflects on my family who see a mother/wife who has a good equilibrium and is able to spend time with them.

If you’re considering starting your own business, be specific of what you want to achieve and where do you want to be in the future. Decide what support you’re going to need during your journey, and ask the advice of those who know what they’re talking about.

Lastly please do your ‘Marketing Research’ and check out your competitors. I guess all of this is part of your ‘Business Planning’.

Be passionate in what you are doing, focused, determined, hard working, dedicated, but don’t do everything yourself!

A strong hold of what you vision is and the ability to build rapport with others- I guess that’s how I would sum up how to be a successful entrepreneur. And most importantly keep in mind: ‘Give and you shall get’ as for every little thing you give, you’ll get 10 fold back…

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