One week in to running my new AI consultancy business. Spoiler alert: I've already won my first client. And somehow I still found time to try my hand at bowls and enjoy the Brighton heat wave.
A little knackered but absolutely buzzing, and amazed how much I've learned in the last 7 days going all-in on something brand new.
Last week I published a nervous little post announcing I was going it alone, not sure anyone would care. That post caught the attention of my first wonderful client. Anyone want to be founding client number 2?
A few things week one taught me, for anyone launching their own thing.
1. Talk to as many people as you possibly can
Post on LinkedIn even when it feels exposing. Being open and a bit vulnerable in public (hopefully not too cringey) is how you reach your network. You never know where business will come from, and every conversation sharpens your proposition. Listen, learn, evolve.
2. Your moat is often what you take for granted
Everyone and their dog is an "AI consultant" right now. My real edge was staring me in the face: 20+ years building products, plus years running agency client work. That let me stand up a full pre-sales flow overnight: intro call, find the real pain, tailor a solution, write the proposal. Before AI that was weeks of graft. Add fractional CTO work and mentoring, and it's a real offering.
3. Everyone's building with AI, and lots hit a wall
"Look what I've built with Claude." And they have, brilliant stuff. But it's so easy to generate something that looks great but is a spaghetti mess underneath. Near impossible to maintain.
4. Others are (rightly) nervous
Scared to hit "Allow access", worried the AI will delete their database. (It might.) That's exactly where an experienced, AI-native pair of hands earns its keep.
5. Real traction, done right
My first client (anonymous for now) has built a startup with real traction, beautifully done on Lovable, with real users, real sales, all organic. She recognises she can't and shouldn't do everything herself. Thank you for taking a punt on me.
6. I'm building the business that builds itself
The best bit: AI agents raising my Xero invoices, drafting contracts, running my pre-sales flow, even learning my tone of voice. Exactly the kind of workflows I can build for your business too.
The real luxury? My little AI team handles the grunt work, so I've had proper downtime this week. Hence the bowls. AI giving me my time back. Living the dream.
Mostly though, I'm just buzzing. I haven't started something of my own in about 8 years, and I'd forgotten what this feels like: all-in on something entirely mine. One week in and I'm hooked.
Whether we go way back or have never spoken, I'd love to connect or reconnect. Do say hello. My calendar is still (fairly) open.