Contained in the Thoughts of our Co-Founder Caroline

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

Within the subsequent 20 years the stability of younger and outdated will shift to the purpose the place there shall be one aged individual for each two folks of working age.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

TL Tech is a Sensible Houses Options supplier with a distinction.  We assist folks get the most effective out of good house applied sciences and create distinctive house environments to fulfill their wants and finances.  Our imaginative and prescient is to “create a house that cares for you as you age”.

Sensible house applied sciences have the ability to remodel lives, particularly for the weak in our society.  This weblog collection shall be trying to showcase the alternatives, discover out extra concerning the folks working on this area and the way we will create a world “the place good meets sort”.

Beginning a Enterprise

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

The story of what led me to TL Tech is sort of lengthy, however what it basically condenses all the way down to is that I took a protracted onerous have a look at the place I used to be, who I used to be and what I needed, and knew I wanted to make a change.  I had help from a tremendous organisation known as Equate Scotland by way of their Profession Enhancement Programme, met an much more wonderful group of girls working in STEM and realised that I wanted to push myself out of my consolation zone and see the place my abilities may take me.

Till very just lately, I didn’t imagine 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 preserve going the place others may quit.  I really feel like I’ve been in a position to unlock a larger freedom in the way in which that I work, predominantly my perspective to danger and making an attempt new issues, realising that it’s okay to get issues mistaken as that is the place you may study essentially the most.

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

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

The help we’ve got had from Elevator and ONE has been so helpful to our enterprise, serving to us to crystallise the enterprise mannequin and the best way to articulate this to others.  Through the accelerator programme in 2019 we shaped bonds with our fellow cohort over the 12 weeks.  This group has supplied us with a various perspective on our enterprise and a help 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 folks and it’s much less concerning the precise services or products.

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

And at last, when you can work on the enterprise and nonetheless work half time to supply a secure earnings this vastly reduces the stress of producing a revenue while you’re 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 will nonetheless pay the payments and supply for our youngsters.

What’s the scariest factor I’ve ever finished other than 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 a tremendous expertise, however glided by in a blur.  You’ve no time to suppose, it’s onerous to breath after which earlier than you already know it you’re on the bottom once more.

I’ve grown to understand that it’s essential to do issues that scare you, as a result of you may study 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 reside movies!

Networking as an introvert

Networking isn’t only a buzzword

At its easiest type, it’s the folks you already know and the folks you meet in your life. I see networking as a solution to prolong your help community and discover folks in your life that enable you obtain your private {and professional} targets.  Folks you may bounce concepts off of and get suggestions from.  An important folks in my life are my household, particularly my husband Thomas.

If you’re networking as a result of your boss says you’ll want to “promote extra”, then you’re setting your self up for failure.

It’s not a contest to see who can acquire essentially the most enterprise playing cards.  There are not often any fast advantages.  When networking there ought to 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 may very well be used to explain me, particularly in knowledgeable setting would come with quiet, reserved and severe. I’m most undoubtedly an introvert and that makes networking onerous.

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 among the best emotions once you meet somebody which you can assist, or join them with another person that you already know.  Once you find time for others, it at all times comes again round finally, generally in essentially the most shocking and magical of how.

Working along with your Different Half

When Thomas and I bought collectively I believe all my uni buddies thought I used to be a bit loopy.  Thomas is from Shetland and is aware of the best way to celebration.

Will we at all times get on?  After all not, however he’s my greatest good friend, who once I’m writing “key takeaways” for a weblog put up, 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 way more sensible in his strategy to engineering, the place I desire the arithmetic, and the larger image visualisation of the entire drawback.  By 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 should 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 help others.  There are two key issues I attempt 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 individual’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.
  • Care for 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 tend to place my wants on the backside of the record. I persuade myself that if everybody else is alright then I shall be alright as a result of I’m resourceful, nevertheless it 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 taking a look at ways in which we may help folks remotely throughout these onerous 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 remedy or train.  It may show photographs, play music, present information updates, the climate forecast and way more to entertain whereas caught at house.

Preserve a glance out on our web site and social media channels for extra help and recommendation on this.  In the event you want something or have a query, get in contact as we’d be very happy to assist.

Kindest regards to you and your households.

Caroline



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