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So often, we’re afraid to go after the things we want because we fear that our lack of previous experience in the area will be a barrier to our success. This stops us from potentially realizing our truest potential and achieving the happiness and success we’re capable of and deserve in our lives. This post is part of a series of stories about women who have made a success of themselves and built successful businesses in industries that they previously knew nothing about.
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Cassandra Stavrou started PROPERCORN while trying to create a snack that was “genuinely satisfying but didn’t leave you feeling guilty. ”
After moving back home to live with her mum and work on the business, Cassandra threw herself into the challenge of starting an unfamiliar business from scratch. From learning about P&L to trying to design packaging to experimenting with recipes at home, the now highly successful entrepreneur had to do it all.
“ With any kind of startup you have to be resourceful. We needed something to tumble the seasoning so I thought, let’s get a cement mixer. So I got a cement mixer, lined it with steel and then I remember watching an episode of Top Gear where they explained that the way they spray paint cars is with the finest mist you can get. So I bought a car spraying kit online. The initial batches were me and a cement mixer and a hand-held spray gun and it kind of worked! “
And the challenges and obstacles along the way didn’t stop there.
I hit a low point when I was feeling very alone. It’s really difficult doing it on your own I really have my hats off to anyone who has seen it through on their own. I was very lucky to be introduced to Richard Reid who is one of the innocent founders. He was very generous with his time and gave me lots of advice. On one particular catch up, he turned round to me and said you don’t need to do this on your own. It’s important that you know where your limitations lie and that you’re able to share this load with someone…
Despite all the challenges and the highs and lows, the business venture that started in her mum’s kitchen has since grown into a multi-million-pound well-loved brand.
Key Takeaways from Cassandra Stavrou’s story
Starting a business requires you to be resourceful. You’ll need to think outside the box and wear lots of hats. While it won’t always be this way, you need to be prepared for the juggling involved.
What’s more, entrepreneurship comes with a huge number of psychological challenges, from imposter syndrome to comparing and despairing to loneliness and more. The obstacles which can pull you down and stop you in your tracks are often not external but internal factors.
This makes it super important to make sure you connect with other like-minded people who can understand what you’re going through. Starting a business with a co-founder will certainly ease that pressure but if you do opt to go it alone, make sure you make time for building relationships.
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Listen to the full interview with Cassandra Stavrou and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for more inspiring stories!
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