Contained in the Thoughts of our Co-Founder Caroline

Estimated studying time: 7 minutes

Within the newest instalment of our weblog collection I share some insights to our enterprise, my function and what motivates me.  You’ll learn how a Chemical Engineer discovered herself as Managing Director of a tech firm and an entrepreneur!

I’ll additionally share my ideas on:

• Beginning a enterprise.
• Networking as an introvert.
• What it’s like working along with your different half.

About Our Weblog

We dwell in an ageing society. However what does that actually imply?

Within the subsequent 20 years the stability of younger and previous will shift to the purpose the place there might be one aged particular person for each two individuals of working age.  The problem this presents is two-fold, a discount in members of the family in a position to present assist and a smaller pool {of professional} carers.

TL Tech is a Sensible Properties Options supplier with a distinction.  We assist individuals get the perfect out of sensible house applied sciences and create distinctive house environments to satisfy their wants and price range.  Our imaginative and prescient is to “create a house that cares for you as you age”.

Sensible house applied sciences have the facility to remodel lives, particularly for the susceptible in our society.  This weblog collection might be trying to showcase the alternatives, discover out extra in regards to the individuals working on this discipline and the way we are able to create a world “the place sensible meets sort”.

Beginning a Enterprise

What impressed me to turn into a co-founder at TL Tech?

The story of what led me to TL Tech is kind of lengthy, however what it basically condenses all the way down to is that I took a protracted arduous have a look at the place I used to be, who I used to be and what I wished, and knew I wanted to make a change.  I had assist from an incredible organisation referred to as Equate Scotland via their Profession Enhancement Programme, met an much more wonderful group of ladies working in STEM and realised that I wanted to push myself out of my consolation zone and see the place my abilities might take me.

Till very lately, I didn’t consider that I used to be entrepreneurial.  However what I’ve realized is that entrepreneurs have two key traits, they’re individuals who see issues that others don’t and so they maintain going the place others may hand over.  I really feel like I’ve been in a position to unlock a better freedom in the way in which that I work, predominantly my perspective to danger and attempting new issues, realising that it’s okay to get issues unsuitable as that is the place you possibly can be taught essentially the most.

What recommendation would I give to individuals wanting to start out their very own enterprise?

The one largest factor that has helped us is constructing a assist community.

The assist we have now had from Elevator and ONE has been so useful to our enterprise, serving to us to crystallise the enterprise mannequin and the right way to articulate this to others.  Throughout the accelerator programme in 2019 we fashioned bonds with our fellow cohort over the 12 weeks.  This group has offered us with a various perspective on our enterprise and a assist community with comparable challenges to bounce concepts off of.

It doesn’t matter what what you are promoting, a very powerful factor is to perceive the individuals and it’s much less in regards to the precise services or products.

If you happen to can, search for a enterprise associate/co-founder to share the load.  It’s robust coping with all of the knock backs and unfavourable feedback!!!!!

And eventually, when you can work on the enterprise and nonetheless work half time to offer a secure revenue this enormously reduces the stress of producing a revenue when you are nonetheless defining your worth proposition and gaining visibility along with your potential prospects.  I do know this has made an enormous distinction for us, understanding that we are able to nonetheless pay the payments and supply for our youngsters.

What’s the scariest factor I’ve ever completed apart from beginning my very own enterprise?

Six years in the past I did a tandem skydive to lift cash for Chest, Coronary heart and Stroke Scotland.  It was an incredible expertise, however glided by in a blur.  You’ve no time to suppose, it’s arduous to breath after which earlier than you already know it you’re on the bottom once more.

I’ve grown to grasp that it’s vital to do issues that scare you, as a result of you possibly can be taught a lot from them.  I’d encourage everybody to tackle a brand new problem, not essentially leaping out of a airplane, or quitting your job like I did, however do one thing exterior of your consolation zone.  Our newest scary step is doing dwell movies!

Networking as an introvert

Networking isn’t only a buzzword

At its easiest type, it’s the individuals you already know and the individuals you meet in your life. I see networking as a approach to lengthen your assist community and discover individuals in your life that make it easier to obtain your private {and professional} targets.  Folks you possibly can bounce concepts off of and get suggestions from.  An important individuals in my life are my household, particularly my husband Thomas.

In case you are networking as a result of your boss says it’s good to “promote extra”, then you might be setting your self up for failure.

It’s not a contest to see who can accumulate essentially the most enterprise playing cards.  There are hardly ever any rapid advantages.  When networking there must be no agenda, contract or expectations.  You’re investing in the long term and wider advantages of connecting with others.

So how does an introvert community?

Phrases that could possibly be used to explain me, particularly in knowledgeable setting would come with quiet, reserved and critical. I’m most positively an introvert and that makes networking arduous.

I’ve realized that it’s okay to place your self on the market, and simply be myself.  What I’ve discovered is that the positives outweigh the negatives and truly a lot of the negatives are purely in my head.  It’s the most effective emotions whenever you meet somebody that you would be able to assist, or join them with another person that you already know.  Once you find time for others, it at all times comes again round ultimately, generally in essentially the most stunning and magical of the way.

Working along with your Different Half

When Thomas and I obtained collectively I feel all my uni mates thought I used to be a bit loopy.  Thomas is from Shetland and is aware of the right way to social gathering.

Will we at all times get on?  In fact not, however he’s my finest good friend, who once I’m writing “key takeaways” for a weblog submit, can record off greater than a handful of his favorite meals to assist encourage me!  We’ve identified one another for over 20 years and we share widespread values.  The important thing one being kindness.

We’re each engineers, however Thomas is far more sensible in his strategy to engineering, the place I favor the arithmetic, and the larger image visualisation of the entire downside.  By way of my complete profession, Thomas has been there supporting me to progress and attain my targets and now I really feel like it’s his time to shine and assist him talk what he has to supply the world.  He vastly undersells his capabilities, as a result of, actually something electrical I problem him to make, he can create out of repurposed, off-the-shelf stuff.  For instance, he made me essentially the most wonderful digital automated hen home door opener so I don’t must stand up early to let the hens out each morning (and so they put themselves to mattress)!

Key Takeaways

In each enterprise and in life, a core perception of mine, is at all times to consider what I can do to assist and assist others.  There are two key issues I strive to bear in mind:

• Pay attention and nurture your relationships. Till you do that, you’ll by no means actually know what’s going on within the different particular person’s head.  Maybe they’re having a nasty day.  Maybe they don’t need your assist proper now.  Maybe what would assist them most is only for somebody to hear.

• Deal with your self. That is by far a very powerful one.  As a result of it’s in my nature to be selfless and protecting of others, I generally tend to place my wants on the backside of the record. I persuade myself that if everybody else is alright then I might be alright as a result of I’m resourceful, but it surely units a horrible instance to others and isn’t sustainable in the long run.

As I write this, I’m struck by how related these two factors are proper now.  We’re ways in which we will help individuals remotely throughout these arduous occasions, utilizing available expertise just like the Amazon Alexa Present units, as these can be utilized to make very easy video calls and set reminders for issues like medicine or train.  It will possibly show images, play music, present information updates, the climate forecast and far more to entertain whereas caught at house.

Preserve a glance out on our web site and social media channels for extra assist and recommendation on this.  If you happen to want something or have a query, get in contact as we’d be more than pleased to assist.

Kindest regards to you and your households.

Caroline