My First Year as Analyt

It's now been a year since I founded Analyt — and as seems to be tradition, I thought I'd write about the experience. I've split it into three sections, as this felt like the best way to explain each stage of the journey.

Part 1: The Decision

I'd been working at my previous company for just over nine years. In the world of digital, that made me one of the old hats — despite only being in my mid-thirties. I'd been considering the contractor life for a number of years, primarily as a way to address my work/life balance.

For the last six years or so, I'd been living up north near Newcastle-upon-Tyne and travelling down to London every week — about 3.5 hours each way on the train. I'd reached Director level with a team of seven people. When things were busy, I frequently found my working week was upwards of 70 hours. My daughter was born in 2013, and I really wanted to spend as much time as possible with her — you only get to watch them grow up once. The combination of these factors left me feeling constantly stressed, always feeling I was letting someone down.

Before setting up my own company, I spent about a year building up my contact list and researching the market. I still wish I'd done more networking. I also felt I had stagnated — I wanted to get the 'fear' back. As a consultant you have to be constantly learning and solving problems. It can be stressful, but also exciting. I felt I had stopped learning, and therefore needed to do something different.

Part 2: The Adjustment

I found it took me longer to adjust than I expected. Previously, travelling to London every week had become the focal point of my working life. When I stopped, it was a little disorienting. It took me a while to find a new rhythm. Now my focal point is taking my daughter swimming on a Saturday morning — a far nicer one.

One of the most important things I had to learn was not to forget why I went independent in the first place. Ensure you remember your reasons and don't let yourself drift too far from your original plan. I found myself at points trying to fit my family around work — it took me a while to remember that this was the wrong way round.

I also decided to build a website and experiment with social media to see what gained traction. My expectations were low — I hoped they'd help me articulate better, rather than generate business directly. I also tried to create a brand rather than simply promote myself, which has been both challenging and a lot of fun.

Part 3: Key Lessons

• Get an accountant early. It doesn't need to cost the earth (typically £50–100/month covers everything regarding set-up, tax, etc). They can also advise on whether to set up a limited company or as a sole trader.
• Network before you leap. Build up your contact list and research the market for at least 6–12 months before going independent. You can never have too much information.
• Build a brand, not just a LinkedIn. Try to create something beyond promoting yourself personally — it's harder, but more rewarding and resilient long-term.
• Treat your family like a client. Block out time and don't double-book them. Planning ahead helps scope and prioritise client work more effectively too.
• Don't beat yourself up early on. It takes time to build something from scratch. @analytdata took 9 months to reach 100 followers — be patient with the process.
• Remember why you did it. The flexibility, the learning, the ownership. On the hard days, those reasons are what keep you going.