Freestyle Blog: November 2012

Monday 12 November 2012

The Ex Factor

Managing Director Alan Boyden shares his thoughts on business partnerships

"I was reminded by an ex-colleague of a blog that I wrote back in June 2012, in which I paralleled marriage to business partnerships. The irony of it was not missed by him as I had recently announced my “divorce” in the business press. So what of the Ex? The truth of the matter is that you have to move on. You’ll never get anywhere if you’re constantly looking in the rear view mirror. I’m pleased to say that I managed my business “divorce” (after eighteen years together) without too much acrimony and the offspring seem to have come out of it relatively un-scared too.

I've spoken to a number of entrepreneurs who have also sold their businesses recently and the common factor seems to be not what happened leading up to or during the deal, but what they did in the intervening period between selling and starting up again. One of them referred to this as a period of “limbo”, another was in a “commercial wilderness”.

Personally it was a period of trepidation mixed with great excitement - an opportunity to take time out to reflect on what you really want out of life. They all agreed that at times during this “limbo” period you can easily slip into a negative mind-set, over- reflecting and hankering after commercial stimulation.

So what to do after this period of new found freedom? For me, it was obvious, I wanted to stay in the same line of business, and for others there was nothing more certain than they wanted a complete change. And most have done just that, moving from a successful finance business to run a chain of restaurants. Another from logistics to IT and another from property to sign manufacturing. Each to his or her own I say. I've found my niche in marketing comms and “I’m sticking to the knitting”.

I was fortunate that an opportunity came my way to work with a fantastic team of talented individuals here at Freestyle that I first met over 25 years ago. I may have chosen to stick at what I know best, rather than spreading my entrepreneurial wings like others, but it feels good to be back, and there’s certainly no looking back. The only Ex factor in my business life now is the Excitement factor."