# Taking the leap at 50 – Five things I learnt from starting my own business at 50
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-03-14
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Collaboration: The Key to Success for Female Entrepreneurs
Meta Description: Discover the journey of Daphne Thissen, a Civil Servant turned entrepreneur at 50. Learn the power of collaboration, SME partnerships, and support for women in
URL: https://financedigest.com/taking-the-leap-at-50-five-things-i-learnt-from-starting-my-own-business-at-50html

![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1317640215-1736815970189-compressed.jpg)

_![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/534-1736815970215-compressed.jpg)_

_By **Daphne Thissen** of_ [_Thissen Consulting_](https://www.thissenconsulting.com/)

After building a career working as a Civil Servant in an international environment, when I turned 50, I decided it was time to take the leap and become my own boss. I wanted to build a business of my own that could provide me with a long-desired sense of professional space and the creative freedom to shape my own work environment.

Since making the transition, I have undergone huge personal and professional growth and have learnt an array of things about myself, the industries within which I work and about becoming a female entrepreneur aged 50.

1. **[Collaboration is key](https://www.financedigest.com/c-suite-collaboration-is-key-to-moving-the-financial-services-sector-into-the-new-era-of-digital-transformation.html "C-Suite collaboration is key to moving the financial services sector into the new era of digital transformation")**

Since [launching my consultancy business](https://www.financedigest.com/new-business-launches-to-support-it-professionalsfacing-mission-critcial-sector-challenges.html "NEW BUSINESS LAUNCHES TO SUPPORT IT PROFESSIONALSFACING MISSION CRITCIAL SECTOR CHALLENGES"), collaboration has been at the heart of all I do and is where some of my best successes have come from. From [networking with others within the industry through to joining groups such as my local chamber of commerce or professional organisations](https://www.financedigest.com/6-steps-to-organising-an-introvert-friendly-networking-event.html "6 Steps to organising an introvert-friendly networking event ").

Starting a [business can be a lonely and daunting time](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-new-year-is-the-best-time-to-start-your-dream-tech-business.html "Why the New Year is the best time to start your dream tech business"). However, by being a part of these communities, I have been able to [build connections that I would have missed by not having a team](https://www.financedigest.com/build-a-strong-remote-team-with-these-5-steps.html "Build A Strong Remote Team With These 5 Steps") around me.

In addition to this, I have been able to build relationships with other business owners who have been happy to make introductions to help [grow](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-grow-your-business-despite-a-bad-credit-score.html "5 Ways to Grow Your Business despite a Bad Credit Score") my business whilst in its infancy. Being a part of these communities has been inspiring and there has been real encouragement from those I have met, it is true that the British [entrepreneurial spirit](https://www.financedigest.com/entrepreneurial-spirit-turn-your-hobby-into-a-lucrative-career.html "Entrepreneurial Spirit – Turn your Hobby into a Lucrative Career") really does exist.

This [collaboration has also been cost-effective for my business](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-cfo-and-cio-collaboration-can-benefit-the-business.html "5 Ways CFO and CIO collaboration can benefit the business"). As a start-up, every pound counts so by having access to commercial services I would have otherwise had to pay out for has been extremely helpful in the [growth of my business](https://www.financedigest.com/which-kpis-should-a-budding-business-focus-on-for-sustained-growth.html "Which KPIs should a budding business focus on for sustained growth?").

2. **I love working with SME’s**

When launching a business, aiming for the [big players in the industry can seem like the smartest business](https://www.financedigest.com/smishing-is-a-new-virus-plaguing-big-business-conversational-commerce-to-the-rescue.html "‘Smishing’ is a new ‘virus’ plaguing big business – Conversational Commerce to the rescue!") move. With larger budgets, it can be easy to think they are the most likely to have the [money to spend and will therefore have the biggest impact on your business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-save-money-on-business-tripsabroad.html "How to save money on business trips abroad") and its growth. This can definitely be the [case in terms of selling your services](https://www.financedigest.com/growing-cases-of-down-syndrome-to-drive-the-speech-therapy-services-market.html "Growing cases of “Down Syndrome” to drive the Speech Therapy Services Market").

When it comes to [support for my business](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-sunak-to-halve-support-that-helps-businesses-pay-fuel-bills-the-times.html "UK’s Sunak to halve support that helps businesses pay fuel bills -The Times"), working with SME’s has had one of the largest, and most positive impacts on the growth of Thissen Consulting.

In general, I have found that SME’s and freelancers, are very loyal to their clients and suppliers. Whilst servicing many clients at a time, they [don’t lose](https://www.financedigest.com/in-planning-for-today-dont-lose-sight-of-tomorrow-avoiding-short-termism.html "In planning for today, don’t lose sight of tomorrow – avoiding short-termism") focus and tend to build partnerships that are long lasting as opposed to one-off projects.

From my experience, I have found that the SME’s I’ve worked with have also been very willing and [invested in supporting my own business](https://www.financedigest.com/investment-opportunities-for-businesses.html "Investment opportunities for businesses") to grow alongside theirs.

3. [**Women are celebrated**](https://www.financedigest.com/bloom-uk-celebrates-500-new-members-as-it-looks-ahead-to-international-womens-day-and-launches-its-2022-mentoring-scheme.html "Bloom UK celebrates 500 new members as it looks ahead to International Women’s Day and launches its 2022 mentoring scheme")

Working across typically male-dominated industries [including construction](https://www.financedigest.com/3-ways-to-safeguard-and-include-women-in-construction.html "3 ways to safeguard and include women in construction"), engineering and property, I have been pleasantly surprised to see how much women are celebrated across the sectors by both males and females.

Whilst there is still work to be done in terms of encouraging more female talent into those industries, I have been impressed with the commitment many [businesses and organisations have made to improve](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-improve-your-business-finances.html "5 Ways to Improve Your Business Finances") gender diversity and provide equal opportunities.

I have also learnt a lot from working with other [female entrepreneurs](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-that-female-entrepreneurs-can-supercharge-their-hiring-process.html "Three ways that female entrepreneurs can supercharge their hiring process") on a range of projects. This has given me the opportunity to share my [growth and experience](https://www.financedigest.com/urinalysis-market-is-predicted-to-experience-noticeable-growth-by-2024.html "Urinalysis Market is Predicted to Experience Noticeable Growth by 2024") to both help my own development, and the development of others.

Starting my own [business as a woman](https://www.financedigest.com/overcoming-challenges-faced-in-business-from-one-woman-to-another.html "Overcoming challenges faced in business: from one woman to another") has certainly empowered me.

4. **[Values are at the heart of business](https://www.financedigest.com/keeping-data-connected-for-greater-business-value.html "Keeping Data Connected for Greater Business Value")**

When I launched Thissen Consulting, I knew that no matter what, I would not compromise my personal values of kindness, representation and respect. I wanted these values to be at the forefront of all that I do, and I am proud to have adhered to this aim.

I have kept these values in mind throughout all my projects and whilst delivering my service and I am confident that my values-led approach has contributed to the [success of my start up business](https://www.financedigest.com/tips-on-how-startups-can-turn-their-business-into-a-success.html "Tips on how startups can turn their business into a success"). It has ensured all clients I work with are aware of and share these [values](https://www.financedigest.com/iris-acquisition-enables-accountants-to-add-greater-value-to-their-clients.html "IRIS acquisition enables accountants to add greater value to their clients") and has therefore helped ensure that the partnerships I am building with my clients are long-term and beneficial for both parties.

These values have also led me to be a part of two charitable boards within the [creative industries](https://www.financedigest.com/dont-judge-a-business-by-its-location-entrepreneurial-creativity-could-help-fix-the-fraud-industry.html "Don’t judge a business by its location: entrepreneurial creativity could help fix the fraud industry"). Being a board member has kept me aligned within an [industry I am passionate about as well as exposing me to new ideas](https://www.financedigest.com/5-business-ideas-influencing-the-travel-industry.html "5 business ideas influencing the travel industry") and people. Most importantly, it has provided me with the opportunity to give back and help others which is something that as a [business owner](https://www.financedigest.com/5-reasons-why-you-need-to-step-into-your-ceo-role-as-a-small-business-owner.html "5 Reasons why you need to step into your CEO role as a small business owner"), I have always known that I wanted to do.

5. **It’s never too late**

After deciding to make the jump from a stable, employed job to my own self-employed business aged 50, I can honestly [say it’s](https://www.financedigest.com/midlands-accountants-say-its-never-too-early-to-get-financial-protection.html "MIDLANDS ACCOUNTANTS SAY IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GET FINANCIAL PROTECTION") never too late.

Whether you [choose to launch your own business](https://www.financedigest.com/tips-for-choosing-the-right-chief-finance-officer-for-your-business.html "Tips for Choosing the Right Chief Finance Officer for Your Business") in your 20s, 40s, 60s or even 80s, there are always opportunities for those with a plan and a purpose.

The professional experience that I have gained over the years has contributed to my [success and I am excited for what the coming years will bring as an entrepreneur](https://www.financedigest.com/hiring-smart-is-the-key-to-success-for-entrepreneurs-heres-how-you-do-it.html "“Hiring Smart” is the key to success for entrepreneurs. Here’s how you do it.").


---
This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more.
---