Three Secrets to my VERY Successful 1st Year 'on my own' - a 2021 Review.

Few can say the have gained more than extra weight amidst the second year of the global COVID-19 pandemic. We are at a moment in time where our friends, neighbors and even our own families are touched with losses of life and livelihoods. Simply surviving is a blessing unto itself so to be thriving gives extra cause for gratitude and reflection. Through the grace of God, I have had a wildly successful 2021 - something I did not think I would be able to say one year ago when I left a seven-year career that I loved without a clear plan or promise of success. So, I write this for posterity; a reminder of the life lessons that comes from starting a bold adventure in uncertain times. I hope that you, the reader, can also glean from my experiences something of value to help you have a 2023 filled with abundant professional and personal gains.

The year was far from perfect. The journey definitely had its ups and downs, and many, many sleepless nights of intense work. But for every challenge or disappointment there were two positive steps forward. Although I had no clear plan, I had clear milestones that I wanted to meet in 2021. I was able to blow past them all. Chief among them was being able to establish a thriving consultancy practice with a presence across the region. Here are three secret life lessons to my successful 2021.

Summary of my realized achievements against my 2021 milestones.

1. Mindset makes the difference.

The environmental sector is rife with challenges: demanding workloads, tight timeframes and challenging clients. Added to that the goal of establishing a thriving consultancy practice with a regional footprint from nothing and the mental burdens can quickly become overwhelming. The entrepreneurial path - especially in this economy - is extremely difficult. However, I have found that reframing obligations from a foundation of gratitude makes a profound difference. The secret: Change your inner voice from "I have to..." to "I get to".

"I have to go spend 4 hours in the bank to set up some business accounts" becomes "I get to take a break from grind to set up something to help my business grow". "I have to put off working on a client deliverable to help a student" becomes "I get to help a young professional with their degree so they can one day support sustainable development". When obligations become opportunities, you feel energized, happier, and much more successful at the end of the day.

A positive, optimistic attitude opens you up to new successes and adventures. When Katrina Khan-Roberts told me that she wanted to nominate me for a National Youth Award because of my work of translating climate science to policy and youth action, I was given a 24 hour deadline to provide her with supporting documents. I also had two project proposals to work on and it was really tempting to ignore it. I did not think "I have to give Katrina these documents on short notice". Instead I framed it as "I get to participate in a process I had never known before". This motivated me to stay up let and get it done. To my amazement, I was shortlisted and later won the 2021 National Youth Award for Excellence in Science and Technology! Mindset matters.

November 2021: Accepting the National Youth Award for Excellence in Science and Technology

2. Imperfect punctuality is better than a perfectly missed opportunity.

As the saying goes you should "strike while the iron is hot". This is easier said than done for me who tends to see the larger picture and understand the intricacies and complications of things a task entails. However, I have come to learn that the secret to success and rapid growth is to skip the frills; figure out the minimum required to start and go with it. There will always be many legitimate obstacles in your way but do not let them become excuses that put you in your own way. Start, even if you do not feel perfectly ready because there will never be a 'right time' where everything is perfect. The secret: Just Start. Say "yes" and figure it out as you go.

Full disclosure, I did not realize how much work goes into setting up a consulting firm that is 'tender-able' in Trinidad and Tobago. In a way, my ignorance was a blessing. To properly operationalize a firm capable of securing major contacts, one needs to register a company, set up bank accounts, organisational structures, several policies and procedures, payrolls, insurance, make tax payments, build a clientele, and get several clearance certificates (VAT, NIS, BIR). I only completed this process on the 20th December 2021! Had I waited until everything was in place before seeking my first client/contract in January 2021, I would have certainly missed out on the six figure income and all the financial milestones I set for the year.

The same applies for planning a wedding amidst the pandemic and shifting COVID-19 response measures. Daily cases and the government's restrictions were completely unpredictable. Waiting for the 'pandemic to be over' was untenable so we set some dates and put things in place to go forward with an understanding that we will have to adjust if issues arise. Our 2019 wish of a 500 person guestlist, a cultural norm for Indo-Trinidadian families, was slashed to well below 100, and spaced over three events to control numbers. Fortunately for us, we found the right time between COVID-19 surges and control measures to allow us to have an intimate family-centered union.

February 2021: Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony union of families.

3. Surround yourself with the right people.

I cannot stress enough how absolutely important it is to surround yourself with people who want to see your succeed. Cultivating these relationships is absolutely vital and it is the cornerstone upon which we built Advisors Next Door. In entrepreneurship and consulting in particular, having a support system of people who understand the grind, who face/have faced similar challenges, and who want to uplift you is critical. The secret: Cultivate relationships that support you and forget the rest.

When I decided to start my quest for a new professional identity, not everyone understood. Some former colleagues actively propagated rumors against my character and circumstances, while others sought to trivialize my pursuits: "How is your little company doing?". However, for each detractor, I had a supporter who was willing to share their wisdom, opportunities, and listening ear. There were people that were as equally invested in my happiness and success as I was, and in many cases they were people I would least expect. Sad to say, the people you are closest to or may want to work with the most aren't the ones for that journey. It's a hard lesson we all have to face sooner or later.

But how did I build this network of supporters? Few and far between are people who are naturally good-natured who will thrust themselves into a supporting role without prompt. To change this, I made it practice to "do unto others as I would like done for me". This is to say, give openly, abundantly and freely without expectation of gain. People like people who give them presents. In most cases, I would simply volunteer my knowledge or connections to help others achieve their goals. It's a long-game. Every act of kindness today returns later on in abundance, or so I believe. Pro bono work evolved into contracts, students you help become colleagues, time spent with people form unshakable bonds. By far and large, fostering healthy relationships with like-minded people is the greatest investment you can make when starting on your own.

October 2021: Volunteer work to support civil society culminates in AND's first official MOU with Habitat for Humanity and RESCOTT for climate resilience projects.

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Ryan Assiu is a Sustainable Development and Climate Change Specialist by qualification, Program Coordinator by experience, and Educator by passion. He is on a journey to discover his authentic professional identity which has taken him to companies, CSOs and governments throughout the Caribbean. His writings focus on sharing his experiences and knowledge on a wide range of environmental topics relevant to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as his home country of Trinidad and Tobago. Follow him on LinkedIn @ Ryan Assiu | LinkedIn