Suzie Martin
Suzie Martin on what true entrepreneurship looks like
Many people have an appetite for running their own business, but do they know what true entrepreneurship really looks like? In her own words, award-winning business owner Suzie Martin shares the sacrifices you have to make and the intentions you have to set if you want to grow your own company.
Edited by Richard Dawson Photographs by Christopher Owens
Tell me about your career and background.
My background is in banking and mortgage advice, and I have run various businesses. I am now building a luxury holiday cottage portfolio and coming back into mortgage advice with advice and financial support tailor made for women.
What do you attribute to your success?
I was very lucky to receive some amazing training by Halifax bank, who I worked for in my 20’s. This along with my love of great customer service is what has made me successful. All my businesses, past, present, and future have had the customer at the very heart. It’s very important to believe in what you are doing. If I wouldn’t buy it, I wouldn’t sell it.
What do you love most about what you do every day?
As with most entrepreneurs, I love variety. Every day is different, you’re in control of your day and what you make of it.
Have you had to make sacrifices in your chosen career, and have they been worth it?
Yes! When you’re growing a business, you ultimately sacrifice your salary to plough funds into your venture. In the financial industry, you also have to study a lot, which is very time consuming. It’s hard when you have a family but it’s all part of the journey.
“It’s very important to believe in what you are doing. If I wouldn’t buy it, I wouldn’t sell it.”
What does your daily routine look like?
Get up, eat breakfast, take the dog for a walk. Breakfast is so important to me, it’s when my husband and I chat about our day and set our intentions. We encourage the kids to do this too.
Time out of the office is also crucial – I have some of my best ideas when walking my dogs alone.
What does work/life balance look like for you?
I work from home and share some businesses with my husband so work-life balance can be tricky!
Meeting up with friends and doing fun things with the kids forces me to put down the phone and laptop. Leaving the phone at home is also a good one. I do this quite a lot and it really helps me.
How do you stay focused and productive in a world of distractions?
I write a lot of lists and set an achievable to-do list every day. I am very easily distracted so this helps me a lot.
Working from home is hard as family tend to think you’re not working and visit for coffee. I have to lie a lot and tell them I’m out!
If you had the power to change the world, what would you change?
How long have you got! Destroy all nuclear weapons, nationalise utility companies, reduce plastic and ban balloons.
