On 3rd August 2020, the Compliance Genie was formally born. During lockdown through my many hours of walking (did anyone else notice the world starting to breathe again whilst there were no cars on the roads), I finally made the decision to set up the Genie. It was something I was planning on doing when I left the Corporate world the year and re-entered the world of financial advice the year before.

I could see so many people setting up businesses and putting themselves at risk as they didn’t understand or weren’t aware of some of the fundamentals required in business, in particular around the personal data they were collecting and using. They were being caught by the promise of £10k months, but none of the practicalities that needed to be addressed in business. So the Compliance Genie was born.

So why the Genie? – well it’s funny that other people can often see your magic when you can’t see your own – the Genie’s name came from my friend whom ran a call centre. Which is ironic seen as sales and compliance are typically at lodger heads in this world, but my time in the world of call centres certainly put me on a steep learning curve in more ways than one and ultimately resulted in the Genie.

Anyway, the fact that the Genie is 2 years old is something to celebrate but what have I actually done?

Every month, I look back on things that I have done and thought it would be good to do this in relation to the business. And although I could say not much, as I have been juggling a full-time job whilst setting up the Genie which at times makes seems painfully slow, but actually I have done a hell of a lot when I have a different perspective.

I have:

-         Established a business which is still going after 2 years – I knew enough to know I was establishing a business and not a side hustle so treated it as such right at the beginning

-         I’ve released 3 versions of my website -which means that I understand how to amend and edit wordpress and squarespace websites

-         I now have a magical website – which you are aware of as you are visiting it now. However this will always be a work in progress as I evolve both as myself and a business

-         I’ve had a professional photoshoot, even tried my hand at a virtual photoshoot – I’ve never liked photos of myself but had to bite the bullet

-         I have learnt how to market the business – I didn’t even have an Instagram account when I set up so the fact that I can turn up and post quiet consistently is a major achievement

-         I’m a Wizz on Canva and even do professional investment commentaries for my clients

-         I’ve written Blogs, I’m used to writing reports but who would have thought I could write a Blog, for this I am thank for working with a lawyer who improved my attention to detail dramatically

-         I’ve made Reels (can’t say they were something I enjoyed, though occasionally they did make me laugh) – and been live once, actually twice!

-         I’ve undertaken training sessions to educate people on what they need to go doing in relation to the data they collect

-         Asana is my go too best friend for managing projects - always willing to learn from those I work with if it makes my life easier

-         I have developed a few lead magnets – currently evolving one of these as we speak, so watch this space

-         I’m working on a Tripwire – go Me!

-         I understand mailerlite and use it to manage processes and newsletters, all whilst being aware that I am still responsible for the information held there

-         I have taken course upon course – more about that another day….

-         I’ve dug deep in what it means to be the Genie – this is something I am still learning and to be honest had no idea was important when I set up the business

-         I’ve created some beautiful relationships – and value the importance of having people who have your back as it can be a lonely journey

-         I’ve learnt that having a brand isn’t just pretty pictures and a logo

-         I found the moon and work with it’s cycles to manage my energy – and this work is just as important as everything as it gives the Genie her magic

-         I’ve found Human Design and understand why I am consistently changing things and have to understand things from the beginning

-         I’ve learnt not to question myself, as by thinking the answer is never outside ourselves

-         I’ve learnt that I have been selling myself and people short by only focusing on data protection as this is a fraction of what I do

Now some of these skills haven’t just helped my business as it’s grown, they have also helped the businesses I work with to make their risk and compliance easily manageable and they feel fully supported and protected with their business

But if I was to sum it up, I have learnt to never undervalue the things that we do or the people who are there to support you, someone is always watching and don’t forget the lessons that you have been taught and may forgotten, I have learnt to ask better questions, but most of all I have learnt what it is to be me!

I can’t wait to see where the Genie is in a year, let alone me…

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