Charlotte Watts: Is Perseverance the Key to Business Success?

21st Century Entrepreneurship

Charlotte Watts is a resilient entrepreneur who turned her burnout and frustration into a thriving business. We spoke about the challenges of starting and growing a company, the personal sacrifices involved, and the mindset shifts that helped her navigate adversity and build success.

Charlotte’s story is a testament to perseverance. From balancing a grueling work schedule with raising four children to battling cash flow crises and non-paying clients, her journey is filled with lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. As she puts it, “The reality of what your first business plan is to the reality of that hits hard. And this is the point why businesses give up within the first year.”

A few of the topics we explored include:

• The Breaking Point: How Charlotte realized she needed to leave her corporate job. “I thought, I can’t live my life like this. I’ve got these beautiful children. I’m making this company loads of money, but I don’t have a life.”
• Taking the Leap: Starting a business with no prior experience and learning on the go. “I had no clue about P&L sheets, registering with the tax man, or even setting up a company name.”
• Overcoming Early Challenges: The struggles of hiring her first employee and dealing with months of no bookings. “I took on my first nurse, and she didn’t get booked for three months. By this time, my money was really running out.”
• Battling Injustice: Navigating court battles and dealing with unethical business practices. “I had to go through a winding-up petition to finally get paid, and it took nine months.”
• The Power of Perseverance: Why resilience matters in entrepreneurship. “You have to keep going, even when it feels like the world is out to get you.”

Key Takeaways:

1. Be Prepared for the Unexpected: Success in business often requires handling unforeseen challenges, from cash flow issues to legal battles.
2. Learn as You Go: You don’t need to know everything when you start, but you do need the willingness to learn and adapt.
3. Find Your Support Network: Charlotte emphasizes the importance of having a "clan" to lean on. “You need people you can sound off to and share the load with.”
4. Celebrate Small Wins: As Charlotte puts it, “The first booking was like, hallelujah.” These milestones keep you motivated.

Charlotte’s journey proves that perseverance, self-belief, and a sense of humor can turn even the toughest challenges into stepping stones to success. If you’ve ever wondered whether you have what it takes to run a business, Charlotte’s story will inspire and empower you.