The Journey So Far

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Theano, but most people call me Nano. I’m excited to start my blogging journey and share my experiences with you. As I begin, I find myself asking: Why start blogging now? Why set up a business? And how might this help?

Well, I want to document my journey. Firstly—maybe selfishly—I’ll be able to look back on my progress and see how far I’ve come. Maybe I want to use up some free time to reflect and look back on where I’ve been. Maybe I want to move forward knowing what I’ve learnt. And maybe, just maybe, someone reading this will benefit—knowing that they can set up their own business and reach their goals with a little support from someone else who’s been through it.

So this is it: me, writing with my heart on my sleeve—to help myself and others get through all it takes to run a business as someone who started with only a little knowledge, support, and bravery.

I think my biggest challenge at the start was changing my mindset from self-doubt, insecurity, and ‘What if this doesn’t work?’ To this will work, I will be successful, and I will thrive.

Let me take you back to the beginning. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. As a kid, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I was good with kids and loved supporting people who needed help. After my GCSEs, two failed rounds of AS Levels, and a late diagnosis of dyslexia, my mum encouraged me to set up a childcare business. I set my sights on that goal — thriving during my Level 3 studies, landing my first nursery job, and building a business plan for my childcare company.

This drive helped me get into university to study Child and Youth Studies, thinking I was on the right path. But life had other plans. Hardships struck, and I faced challenges that took four years to overcome. Still, those experiences taught me valuable lessons. I ended up getting kicked out of uni before the end of my first year. I was back at square one, battling addiction and still chasing my dream.

The next logical step was business management. My lecturers told me during my exit interview that I’d never be able to graduate — that education wasn’t for me. But if you know me, you know I don’t give up. When someone tells me I can’t do something, I’ll do everything I can to prove them wrong. And that’s exactly what I did.

It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done — going back after failing — but I did it. Three years later, I graduated with a first-class degree while working as agency staff. I’d made it! I wrote a business plan and was ready to chase my dream, but then COVID hit. Relationships broke down, and everything I thought I had was gone. I had to start over again.

Control or not, the grief that comes with trying to fulfil a dream that was planted ten years prior makes you think it’s not worth it. So I moved into a flat and got a job in lettings — hated it — but thought, ‘If I can’t get my dream right now, at least let me build some savings, right?’

Well, I tried. I worked in places I hated for a pay cheque but still gave everything I had to prove to others — and to myself — that I could do it. I’m very lucky for those experiences, too. They gave me an opportunity to get into the administration field, just in the wrong environment.

And boom—here I am, writing a blog for strangers on the internet about my self-employment journey.

So you’re probably thinking, ‘Okay, so you’ve touched on a little bit of how you got here, but what now?'

And to be honest, me too. As I’ve written this, I’ve started to wonder: what’s next? Where do I lead you?

Now, I lead you into the current journey.

Stay tuned for more stories, thoughts, and feelings as I take you along with me for the ride.

Thanks for reading — and see you soon.