I have been an onlooker for a while now so I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself properly.
I started out in accountancy in 1985, working my way up to audit senior and qualifying as an AAT in 1991. I decided to leave in 1992 and set up as a freelance which I did for a few years until my eldest son was born. I kept on working but concentrated more on bookkeeping especially after the second son was born. Became a member of the ICB in 2003. The problem I have now is lack of confidence!
I need to increase my client base and work more hours and am very nervous about meeting new people. I have looked at various forums that seem to suggest that bookkeepers offer more advice than I have been doing in the past, almost to the same standard as accountants - the paperwork and controls now introduced by the mlr seem endless - I just seem to be losing any confidence I had in my abilities........
I am hoping this is just a temporary glitch - it also isn't helped by the fact that 2 of my clients went into voluntary liquidation during the year leaving me high and dry...
Sorry for the moaning, just need to get everything off my chest cos I dont want to worry my husband as he has enought worries of his own with his business.
We all go through periods when our confidence takes a knocking, I think particularly in this current climate everyone if they are truly honest, will be feeling a little jittery about whether their business will come through it all !
From what you have said, your experience / qualifications, these put you head and shoulders above many of us on this forum. You are in a far stronger position to offer good quality bookkeeping because of this. These qualities are what you need to remind yourself of. You had these qualities before your sons were born, you still have them now, they just need dusting off !
Start by putting down on paper exactly what you want to achieve and the steps you need to take to do this. What did you do when you first started out ? Also, look at doing some temping, this will get you out and about and certainly build up your confidence in terms of meeting different people.
Since I left my full time job to become self employed, my confidence has experienced many ups and downs and if I am totally honest, more downs than I care to mention. I look at my framed photocopy of the first payment a client gave me and remind myself of why I became self employed, after a few tears I get back to what I now enjoy - being my own boss.
Have faith in yourself, it is only a temporary glitch - honest !
