To be a success, you must be ready to embrace challenges. When current PMS CEO Joanne Mwangi was starting her business, her biggest challenge was using her connections to build a client base. She had a plan before she quit that centered on the people she had business relationships with from her job being able to support her in her new venture.

To be a success, you must be ready to embrace challenges. When current PMS CEO Joanne Mwangi was starting her business, her biggest challenge was using her connections to build a client base. She had a plan before she quit that centered on the people she had business relationships with from her job being able to support her in her new venture.

However, when they didn’t, she had to build a new clientele from cold calling. Biggest lesson learnt was that relationships in business are important but not all relationships last. The new relationships she formed got her through a rough start.

Broad strokes vs Sharp strokes  

A big lesson that came next was Focus. She thought that she had to do everything after clients with different interests kept walking through her door. As she faltered, became stretched, she became aware of her strengths. When you focus on doing one thing that you are good at, you produce something that is of high quality and value. Joanne says it’s not bad to think broad but you will constantly be outpaced by people who focus on only one thing and do it much better.

Business money vs Personal money Joanne had a great time building her company as she was making loads of money. However, she was always very empathetic to the plights of her friends and thus would always help them out with her business cash. Never mixing personal money with business money was another big lesson as it almost hurt her. She set up a process and brought in people to help her manage and work around it.

Joanne Mwangi – Yelbert, Founder of Professional Marketing Services Ltd, was a guest at Founders Drink-up in May 2018. Visit our Studio to Listen to the full Podcast.