In a business setting, particularly when networking it’s important to understand who you are and what your business is. If people can’t identify with you, what you do or your brand they are less likely to engage.

From a business perspective it’s taken me a while to understand who I am. I became a VA thanks to friendly encouragement and for the first few years I muddled along taking work as it was offered from referrals. It was only when I’d gained confidence and a large client moved on that I really had to think about who I was and what that meant in business.

I thought I knew my business and what I did but this was a mistake. It was only when talking to others that I realised all of this was in my head. If you want others to understand you have to tell them. Not only did this mean being clear about my offering, it also meant understanding my boundaries and creating a brand. By talking about my business I refined my offering, by listening I understood what people really wanted to know and by taking action I developed a real business.

This is a journey that most business owners will recognise and it’s important to understand that it is exactly that – a journey. Owning a business is not about a final destination it’s a continual evolution. Over the past year I’ve created a new brand, launched a website and developed personally. It’s not always been easy but I’m passionate about my business and looking back I feel a great sense of achievement. I can now clearly state who I am and what my business is about. I can look forward to the onward journey with confidence.

What about you – Who are you?