I founded P3 because I wanted to use my many years of HR experience to help small businesses solve their people problems and turn their people into their biggest asset for growth.

I feel just as passionate about this today as I did at the start. It has been an incredible journey, and I have learnt so much along the way.

But if I could go back and give my younger self some advice, this is what I would say…

Ignore the negative voices

At the beginning, there were so many questions and so much doubt flying around my head, and people were quick to express their opinion.

It was well-intentioned but entirely based on their own experiences and preconceptions.

Questions like ‘why would you leave a paid job?’ are common for someone striking out on their own.

One man even said to me: “You haven’t got enough grey hair to be a consultant”!

Ignore it all or it will derail your confidence. Instead, use it to drive you on.

Make a plan

For the first two years, my business strategy could be summarised as network…find clients…see how it goes.

I listened to too many people, but not always the right people.

By year three, the absence of a plan was stalling my growth.

Don’t overcomplicate it, keep it simple and just answer a few honest questions: what are your long-term goals? What can you do next to work towards them? And how will you measure your progress?

Manage your time

Time is precious, and I used to waste far too much of it on things of little or no value.

People will steal your time too, so protect it and create a discipline around asking yourself, ‘what is the real value of this?’ before committing to anything.

Embrace help and technology

At the start, I tried to do everything myself, but I quickly learnt that only leads to overwhelm.

It’s ok to accept help and to ask for it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s paid or unpaid.

A good friend used to help me reconcile my accounts with a ruler and pencil at my kitchen table. Afterwards, I would take her for lunch.

Find systems and apps to help you manage your business too, whether it’s accounting software or a CRM.

Keep it simple and make sure it works for you now and for the next few years.

This will be a massive help in managing your accounts, clients and any people you employ.

Setting these up at the beginning will keep your data clear, accessible and reportable. What gets managed, gets done!

Really listen

Do you ever catch yourself thinking ahead in a conversation because you have anticipated what someone is going to say, without really listening to them? I used to do this a lot.

We all have different thinking speeds, and some people think as they speak, so it’s important to let people get things off their chest.

Be respectful of how other people think and don’t throw them off their train of thought.

You will get so much more value from these conversations if you stop making assumptions and really listen to what they are saying. Listening will also help you to learn from others and will help to shape the future you.

Look after yourself

The first 18 months of my business coincided with a period of personal loss, and work became my escape. I didn’t prioritise myself. Late-night working, poor food choices and lack of sleep just weren’t sustainable.

Early on, my mum took me for a fabulous spa weekend in a beautiful hotel. I took my laptop and kept disappearing back to our room to work. The laptop even came out to the pool.

Somewhere between the steam room and the dinner table came the realisation that this was not sustainable and, no matter how many hours you work, you will always have an endless to-do list.

You must apply discipline to your health, nutrition and sleep, so make sure you put your own oxygen mask on first!

I have now become a huge advocate for holidays for me and my team. The rule now is simple: I take a proper break every three months, no laptop, and the business does not collapse.

Know your worth – and be prepared to walk

Some years in, I was excited by a new project which looked good on paper, but the chemistry was wrong. The whole engagement sat uncomfortably outside the plan.

It was the kind of short-term gain that cost more than it made. Saying no is not a failure of ambition. It is an act of clarity about what you are actually building.

Know and reflect on your strengths and accept your weaknesses.

The same principle applies to the people around you, your clients, suppliers and team members. Those who cannot see the value you bring will exhaust you.

Know your worth, say ‘no’ if it’s not right, and move on without regret.

Remember what’s important and have fun!

There will be plenty of ups and downs in business, but be clear on who and what is most important to you and always make time for them.

You will need your friends and family when things get tough and to help you celebrate the wins, of which there will be many.

Finally, inject some fun into your work and home life and don’t take things too seriously.

Oh…and wear sunscreen. Every day!

  • Charlotte Dean founded P3 People Management in 2004 after recognising that SMEs needed sophisticated HR support without corporate overheads.