It’s almost the two-year anniversary of WordOSaurus! In November 2020, as soon as I’d hit ‘submit’ on my final editing exam, I got busy conceptualising my writing and editing business and registering an ABN, a business name and web domains.
WordOSaurus was one of the first names I came up with; I knew it was right when it immediately inspired imagery and ideas for branding and copy, including the fun tagline, ‘saving your copy from extinction, one word at a time’.
For the first 6 months, my focus was on branding, web development and web copy, and I enlisted the services of a graphic designer (Daniella Germain) and web designer/builder (Green Graphics) to bring my vision to life.
Wordosaurus.com launched mid-2021, and around that time, I commenced the Small Business Action Plan Program. The program was facilitated by Clare Fountain, Director of Sorted, and sponsored by Maldon and District Community Bank as part of its commitment to investing in the community.
The program was essentially ‘small business 101’ covering 6 key areas of business:
directorship
finance
marketing
sales
operations
team.
I came away from the program with clear, actionable steps and SMART goals that I continue to review and refine, and a wealth of connections and resources to tap into, including Clare’s book, Sorted. Taking Control of Your Small Business (and Your Life).
Before I go and have a slice of cake, I have to say, two years on, and I’m still having as much fun with WordOSaurus as the heady days of November 2020.
Many thanks to my clients, teachers, mentors, and friends for their teachings, support, and encouragement. I can’t wait to see what the coming year holds! Raawwrr!
Review: Sorted. Taking Control of Your Small Business (and Your Life) by Clare Fountain
Something like 20% of small businesses fail in their first two years and a whopping 60% within their first three. Typical reasons for the crash and burn are cash flow issues, growing too quickly and lack of knowledge. In her book, Sorted. Taking Control of Your Small Business (and Your Life), Clare Fountain says:
There’s no question that small business has its own unique challenges. As a small business owner, you have to wear many hats and you often have to take on tasks that are totally out of your ability or comfort zone.
The slim, accessible volume tackles all facets of running a successful business while maintaining a fulfilling life. Of course, success and fulfilment look different to different people, which is where the questions and worksheets within the book come into their own, providing guidance and prompting reflection so that the reader defines their priorities, goals and definitions of success.
The book has the upbeat, encouraging tone you’d expect from a business coach, and its layout makes for a pleasant visual experience: colour coded chapters, callout texts, cute illustrations, and plenty of scribble space in the margins and worksheets.
Some of Clare’s provocations are bound to make readers squirm, depending on the limits of their comfort zone, but therein lies the beauty of this book — it gets you thinking about all the elements of business before those questions arise, potentially with higher stakes, in the real world.
This book allows the reader to go into the business of business with open eyes and an open heart. It’s a valuable resource to mitigate the risk of being among the alarming small business mortality statistics, and one I will return to time and time again on my journey as a small business owner.
Sorted. Taking Control of Your Small Business (and Your Life) is available for purchase on Clare’s website (clarefountain.com.au) where she also offers the worksheets for free download.
6 lessons on conquering NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month where each year, brave (foolish?) people from across the globe aim to write 50,000 words of a manuscript in November.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year?
When I was fresh off the high of conquering my first (and perhaps last) NaNoWriMo, I blogged about the experience and 6 lessons I learned about myself, my writing and the writing process. If you’re planning (or pantsing) on doing it this year, you may want to have a read!
Writing prompt
Thanks to those who voted in the poll in Issue 5, and those who responded via Instagram. The Raptorial will include a writing prompt, Raptorial Writes, in each issue. Stay tuned for a short story book club starting next month.
Raptorial Writes #1
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write. A bus departs just as your protagonist arrives at their stop. It’s an hour till the next bus. No one else is there. On the bench in the bus shelter are a bag of carrots and a hand written note.
I’d love to know how you go! Post your writing to instagram using #RaptorialWrites, or feel free to share it in the comments here. Happy writing!