It’s officially six years since CommsRebel became a proper business.
When you start a business, people talk a lot about freedom and flexibility. What they talk about less is uncertainty, second-guessing yourself, and learning things the long way round. Six years into running CommsRebel as a business, here are six lessons I wish I’d known from day one.
Lesson One. Try new things, but don’t cling to them
Experimentation is part of building a business. You should try new ideas, opportunities and ways of working. But if something isn’t bringing value, whether that’s financially, strategically or emotionally, then it’s okay to let it go. Just because something works brilliantly for someone else doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Pay attention to what actually works in your business, not what you think should work.
Lesson Two. You don’t need a niche, but you do need to be known for something
There’s a lot of pressure to “pick a niche”, but clarity matters more than labels. You don’t have to box yourself in, but people should be able to quickly understand what you’re great at. Are you brilliant at writing strategies? Building business cases? Coaching leaders in hospitality? Decide what you want to be known for and keep reinforcing it.
Lesson Three. Diversify your income where you can
Business can be unsteady, even when things are going well. If you have people who depend on your income or you simply want more stability, it’s worth thinking differently about how you earn money. Multiple income streams won’t solve everything, but they can give you options, breathing room and resilience when things wobble.
Lesson Four. Protect your time as much as your relationships
Coffee chats and lunch meetings do matter; that’s how relationships are built. But time is still your most finite resource. Be conscious of how much of it you give away for free versus how much you spend working on your business. Generosity is important, just make sure it’s sustainable.
Lesson Five. Learn to be okay with rejection
People will say no to you. They’ll choose someone else, delay decisions or simply not reply. That’s business. Try not to take it personally or overthink it. Learn what you can, adjust if needed, and move on. Rejection gets easier when you stop seeing it as a judgment on your worth.
Lesson Six. Everything is built on trust
Whether you work with organisations or individuals, trust underpins everything. If people can’t connect with you, it’s hard for them to trust you. Consistency matters here: how you show up, what you say, and where people can find you. You don’t need to post every day or be everywhere online, but you do need to be visible enough for people to get a sense of who you are and how you work.
If you’ve started something new this year, then I wish you nothing but great success. Give yourself time. Most businesses aren’t built quickly or linearly; they’re built through small decisions, course corrections and showing up even when things feel uncertain. Keep going.
If you enjoyed this post, take a look at 11 things I’d do differently in my internal comms career
P.S. We help you build more confident workplaces through effective internal communications so people thrive in their work. Want to find out more? Book a free chat to explore further.
P.P.S. Did you know we now have a dedicated website to confidence coaching? Check out our Decoding Confidence website.
