Words from the not so wise!

by Startacus Admin
Jo Haigh, author of Tales from the Glass Ceiling and 25 years experienced self starter, writes for Startacus on taking risks, planning, success and failure...
"Words from the not so wise!
Is a true entrepreneur a calculating risk taker or are they calculated risk takers? Having run my own business for nearing 25 years I have certainly taken my fair share of risks, not least having set up in two recessions, but then so did Microsoft so it can’t all be bad news!
There is a well know business saying; “failing to plan is planning to fail” but in real life, although I have so many ideas at times I don’t know where to start, whether I actually have a fully laid out and formulated plan is another matter.
That could of course be why, although I consider myself fairly successful, ( I have 4 bestselling books and am writing my 5th, sit on 6 boards as a NED have 3 companies and had made my first million by the time I was 30) I would say that 1% of my successes are represented by 99 % failures!!
The question for the budding entrepreneur is; if I had planned would I have been more successful? That’s not one I can answer.
What I can say is that it wouldn't have been half the fun or the wild ride it’s been at times, like many entrepreneurs detail is something I am not interested in (although I am a bit of a control freak until I have absolute trust) I also get bored quite quickly and need to be permanently stretched and challenged.
I decided a long time ago to surround myself with great people, have a mentor, formal or otherwise, and to give back to the young and aspirational people as much as you can. I call it sending the lift back down and it’s brought me more rewards than anything I have ever done.
But getting back to planning, by saying I don't have a detailed plan suggests I have risked the family silver and although I have certainly have had to give the obligatory PG I have done so only after careful thought and having explored every other possible option.
What I don't do, and largely if I am honest because it bores the life out of me, is loads of research and posturing. I have rather a “let’s have a go and deal with the consequences” attitude. Although I do rely very heavily on my gut instinct and tend to have a bit of a jaded view of those processes that are so cumbersome by the time you have gone through them the opportunity is lost and worse still to someone else.
This does mean that my staff sometimes have to do a bit of sweeping up after me and I guess that is part of the role of working for an entrepreneur.
If your personality is like mine, the frustrating politics of large corporations will not be for you. My mantra has always been its better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission and that would have got me into a lot of trouble in such institutions.
Continued on page 2
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The lowdown on the London-based health-tech startup Zedsen that has developed technology that can monitor the user’s bloodstream and collect data by using sensors that simply sit on top of the skin

The early-stage NI startups selected to pitch at LEVELUP 2021, the 2-day event taking place on 21-22 April as part of Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week have now been revealed...

Aimear Lynch, founder of My Pet Lamb and one of our Impacting Founders gives us the lowdown on her eco-conscious startup and business journey to date

The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!

Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week

Kellie McCord from Toastmasters International shares some tips on a few of the key things you should consider to make sure that the online experience is inclusive and easier for more people

Thinking about embarking on currency trading? Here are some basic tips that will help you do just that...

The innovative Brighton-based startup, Naurt, that has created a plug-and-play toolkit for high-precision, beacon-free tracking

Thinking of using email marketing to promote your startup? Here are a few of the key things to consider when doing just that...

The lowdown on Fleex, the startup that helps companies provide remote employees with all they need to make working from home more comfortable
Published on: 24th September 2012
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Startacus brings virtual speed networking to Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week 2021 12th Apr 2021 The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!
- LEVELUP bags Digital DNA as media partners 12th Apr 2021 Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week
- Huge rise in dog weddings leads Feast It and Poppy’s Picnic to launch dog wedding planning service 31st Mar 2021 "Mutt-rimonials" are on the horizon thanks to Woof Weddings, the UK's first dedicated wedding planning service for dogs
- Manual, the innovative Men’s Health platform Raises $30M Series A 31st Mar 2021 Manual secures major investment to help with product development and international expansion and its overall mission to become the global destination for men’s health