Date posted: 09 November 2011 Category: archive
It’s a business! Congratulations on the birth of a success story
Anniversaries - love them or hate them they're a reminder of achievements or significant occasions that can't help but define who we are.
In November 2001 Approach began as an opportunity to achieve that distant dream, the work-life balance. As a new mum, I'd found agency life in the PR capital of Leeds wasn't conducive to my sanity or new found perma-guilt that flooded me when my daughter took her first breath!
In 2001 large and full service PR agencies were the dominant industry players and leaving all that behind seemed a huge risk. I still needed and wanted to work but I’d made my decision to go it alone and made my break as a freelancer in 2000.
After a brief stint as SJ Communications, Approach PR Ltd was born in November 2001 with the encouragement of my long term friend and business associate Hems deWinter who heads leading Chester agency deWinter Marketing.
Looking back over a decade which also saw the arrival of my second child, I’ve often considered Approach as my third baby. Running a business is uncannily similar to parenthood. You’re giving birth to something that needs constant attention, unconditional love and discipline. It’s hard work, it never stops, you don’t switch off… But the rewards, the pride and the sense of fulfilment make all your efforts worthwhile.
As we hit the landmark “double figures” this month, we are already looking ahead at the next decade. My daughter may be at university, my son may be doing his A-levels and Approach… well, who knows. But with so much love, commitment and belief behind this business that we cherish, as all encouraging parents would say, anything is possible.
Happy anniversary Approach. And heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of the story so far.