Ask Jo Malone: You’ll never make a splash by playing it safe

Small business agony aunt: Jo Malone

Jo Loves

5 May 2015

Small business agony aunt on why you should take the plunge with your business idea.

Dear Jo

I’ve spent several weeks researching my idea for a marketing business but I’m worried I still haven’t done a wide enough study.

Should I take the plunge?

Well, you’re the one standing on the diving board, not me!

Any person who starts a business feels what you’re feeling now. But I’m afraid to say, you’re the only one who can make that call.

I’ve dived in off the top board twice — once with Jo Malone London and again with Jo Loves. The first time it worked brilliantly.

The second time, I jumped from the top and everything was different — a completely new landscape I wasn’t familiar with.

Having said that, you can research, research, research all you like but in the end, you just have to get on and do it.

I could do all the research in the world on a new bottle of fragrance and, for reasons I couldn’t possibly foresee, might sell only one.

But, if you’re nervous, as you clearly are, consider diving from the lower board.

Basically, in business life, nothing is banked until it’s banked.

I’ve experienced the highs and the lows and if I had played it safe, I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in now; with a business I love, which is growing day by day.

Take the plunge.

Ask Jo Malone: You’ll never make a splash by playing it safe

Read More