Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a mom to two beautiful children, Dylan aged 16, and Aura aged 2, and have an amazing loving fiancé of 6 years. I am driven and a firm believer in setting goals to really get what you most want out of life. Whilst I am a hard worker, I have learned to balance my work/family life. When I am not spending my time working or with the family, I am out visiting various wine estates enjoying the exquisite wines that South Africa has to offer. After working in the corporate world for over 15 years as an Executive Assistant, I felt that it was time for a new challenge. I made the decision during the Coronavirus World Pandemic to venture on my own and start a business.
How old is your business now?
I started my business in June 2020 and launched in January 2021 – 7 months old.
How did you come up with the idea of and name for your business?
Part of my skills set of being an Executive Assistant was to be punctual, planning, setting up meetings/appointments which all played a part in my idea to create my own Planner that would suit my lifestyle. I am by no means perfect but strive to do my best in each and everything that I do. I wanted the name to resemble how I plan my life and that is “Precisely to the point”; which is how the name of the business came about.
What is that “one thing” that 2020 has taught you and that you will be using in the future? How will you be doing business differently?
That we can work from home full time whilst working for a Corporate Firm. Life is short, spend more time with those that you love. Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury, filling your cup is the most loving gesture that one can do for themselves. Never get too comfortable, in any position in life.
What makes your business unique?
Each Planner is individually designed for a specific target audience. Whether it be a Busy Business Woman, planning and scheduling meetings/appointments, and setting goals. To the On-the-Go Mama that needs to plan Birthday Parties, School Events, or carpool schedules. High School or College Students planning Projects, Extra Mural or weekend activities. To the Social Media Influencer who needs to plan and schedule their content posts for Brands that they represent. Each Planner has been designed to be used to its fullest potential and add the most value to those that use it.
Are you a solo-entrepreneur or how many members does your team currently comprise?
Currently, I am a solo entrepreneur and will be expanding within the next 3 – 6 months.
How do you market your business, and which methods have been most successful for you?
With the launch of our business and website we decided to run a Giveaway via The Social Media Platform – Instagram and gained exposure that we needed to get our name out there. We are still gaining traction on Social Media Platforms and have a strategic plan in place to build our following and customer base over the next coming months.
What does a typical day look like for you? And how many hours, on average, do you work daily?
I wake up at 4:00 am, do yoga, meditate, get showered, and ready for the day ahead. My daughter’s bag is packed for playschool and my son’s lunch made. Coffee is an absolute staple in my life, to the point where I look forward to it with a smile each morning. Read and respond to emails until 6:30 am when the rest of the household wakes up. Children get dressed and ready for school, school drop-off and I am back by 7:45 am to start my day. I work from home which is an absolute blessing. I can meet with suppliers via Zoom and conduct all my business needed from home. Working for yourself means that your time is your own now, therefore I can spend more time with the kids attending school events. 4:00 pm, children are home – homework gets done and dinner is made. 8:00 pm children are asleep, and I generally do a quick check on emails or social media. I am in bed by 9:00 pm and read the remaining 30 minutes.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your life?
Starting a business takes a lot of courage, determination, strength, and planning. There are many obstacles that you do not anticipate, which can be very discouraging for any entrepreneur. You must remind yourself why you started and to not quit. The rewards are sweet, but the uphill climb can be treacherous.
If you could go back in time and start up your business all over again, what would you do differently?
As I started my business at the beginning of a world pandemic and lockdown, I was not able to physically meet with my suppliers. At times it was difficult to interpret my vision of my planners over the phone or via Zoom and this cost me valuable time and money.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone just starting out?
Research, research and research some more. You can never know enough about the business you are going into or the obstacles that you may encounter. Stay humble, do what you love and are passionate about and you will never work a day again in your life.
Where can we find your business on social media?
Facebook page link: https://www.facebook.com/planned.precisely/
Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/planned_precisely/