A contribution by Stefanie Kurzweil, Owner Semicolon Relations
I started my own communications agency, Semicolon Relations, exactly one year ago, and over the last 12 months I've been on what the start-up scene likes to call a "rollercoaster": Sometimes it goes up steeply, sometimes it goes down again, the curves are sharp and it is bumpy in places. The uncertainty of what's around the next bend is a constant companion of self-employment. Being an entrepreneur means being able to endure this uncertainty and learning to love the adrenaline rush.
Fearful opponent Cash position
However, one adrenaline rush that I am happy to do without is the most delicate aspect of entrepreneurship: Cash position. From the very beginning, I started to record my turnover and expenses that I knew about in advance - and in the most inappropriate applications imaginable: sometimes in the note function of my smartphone, sometimes in a loveless Excel list that sank into a folder somewhere, and sometimes handwritten in the Moleskine notebook that is obligatory for the communications industry. In short: I recorded my cash flow in an amateurish way. But at least I kept a record of it. This helped me through many a sleepless night when I wondered what my company would look like in two months' time. I wondered whether I should pay my office rent straight away or wait for another payment to come in. I wondered whether I could afford to advertise my company - on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or even in print media. I asked myself whether I could even afford support for a large customer project and what kind of promotion would be suitable for me. Questions upon questions.
Shortly before my one-year company anniversary, I stumbled across Commitly - or, to be precise, Commitly founder Jürgen Faè - by chance on Facebook. And in numerous conversations I realised that I was asking myself exactly the same questions that every entrepreneur asks and that it was precisely these questions that kept me awake at night.
Commitly - Let's go!
Why did I decide to use Commitly? Firstly, out of curiosity: does this really exist, this great tool that simplifies my everyday life as an entrepreneur? That helps me structure my cash flow and plan for the future so I can sleep a little more soundly at night? That makes me manage more actively?
To celebrate my 1-year anniversary, I registered on Commitly, although the process is not very celebratory as it takes - stopped - 3 minutes to complete. Simply register: First name, last name, mail address and password. Confirm registration email, log in, select bank, synchronise account... done!
You can find out how I'm doing with Commitly in my next blog post. So, stay tuned!
About Stephanie Kurzweil
Stefanie Kurzweil is just under 30 years old and has been self-employed with her communications agency Semicolon Relations for exactly one year. With 8 years of professional experience in the communications industry, on both the corporate and agency side, she now faces the challenges of being a sole trader on a daily basis. www.semicolon-relations.com
Credits: Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash
