Hear Helen's top tips on starting a small business.
When I retrained as a nutritionist after many years in the media, I thought launching my own brand would be a creative challenge. It is - but it’s also a test of endurance, curiosity, and conviction. Here are five lessons I’ve learnt while building SUCSEED:
Keep learning - formally or informally
Retraining in nutrition gave me the depth, credibility, and scientific grounding I needed to build a business rooted in trust. But learning doesn’t have to mean going back to college. I’ve absorbed so much from free business webinars, local enterprise schemes, industry trade shows, podcasts, and the generous founders who share their mistakes online. Stay curious. Every interaction adds to your toolkit.
Find your people (and don’t be afraid to ask for help)
Entrepreneurship can be lonely, especially at the beginning. Surround yourself with those who 'get it’. Join founder groups, networking breakfasts, or platforms like By Women Built, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tastebuds Collective or Enterprise Nation. I’ve met brilliant peers through Bread & Jam, local business hubs, and trade stands at food festivals. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, favours, or advice - people are far more generous than you think. If you can, find a co-founder or mentor who balances your skillset. If not, build a network that does.
Lead with purpose, not just passion
You’ll need both, but purpose is what keeps you steady when things go wrong (and they will). Building Sucseed wasn’t about creating another 'healthy snack'. It was about helping people add meaningful nutrition to their meals, while supporting sustainable farming practices. Whatever your ‘why' is, make it clear and keep it close.
Build resilience into your routine
No one talks enough about how physically and emotionally demanding it can be to run a small business. Late nights, self doubt, endless admin, delays, and rejections are part of the process. Create ways to recharge - walks, exercise, time offline, connecting with people outside your industry. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and your clarity will depend on how well you protect your energy.
Action beats perfection - every single time
If I’d waited until everything was “ready,” Sucseed would still be a folder on my laptop. The packaging wasn’t perfect, the website was basic, and the product photos weren’t professionally lit, but they were good enough to start. Learning to make decisions fast - without overthinking - might be the most valuable skill of all. Each small action builds momentum, and momentum builds confidence. Clarity rarely comes before action; it comes because of it.
Launching a small business is equal parts humbling and exhilarating. I've make mistakes, asked for help, and reinvented things a hundred times. But I've grown faster than I ever imagined possible.
